The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Rafael Nadal vs Fabio Fognini: 2015 US Open live scores

5th September, 2015
Start: 10:30am AEST
Head to head: Nadal 5 Fognini 2
Last meeting: Hamburg – 2015 – Nadal 7-5 7-5
Odds: Nadal 1.25 Fognini 4
TV: Fox Sports – Live and Exclusive
Rafa Nadal could win his tenth French Open. (AAP Image/Mark Dadswell)
Roar Guru
5th September, 2015
0
8307 Reads

Rafael Nadal will look to continue his good run at the 2015 US Open when he takes on Fabio Fognini in the third round at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores of the match from around 10:30am (AEST) or following the Serena Williams vs Bethanie Mattek-Sands match.

Since 2010, Nadal has lost just one match at the US Open, when he was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the 2011 final. In that time he has won 22 out of the last 23 matches, including the opening two in this year’s event.

So far it has been a comfortable start to the event for the former world number one. He defeated Borna Coric in four sets, and followed that up with a straight sets win over Diego Schwartzman.

It hasn’t been all easy though as the Argentinian tested him in the second round. He just couldn’t execute properly and win sets like he has been known to do in the past.

For Fabio Fognini, this is just his second appearance in the third round. He has been impressive so far with a four set win over the in-form Steve Johnson in the first round. In the second round, he eliminated Pablo Cuevas in straight sets, to repeat what he did in 2012.

These two have already faced each other this year, with this morning the fourth time they have battled against each other in 2015.

Fognini leads the ledger 2-1 this year, after winning his only two matches of his career against Nadal, at Barcelona and then at Rio de Janeiro. Nadal would win the last meeting though in Hamburg, on clay, as he took the title with a 7-5 7-5 win.

Overall the duo have faced each other 7 times with Nadal leading 5-2 head to head. In their only two meetings on hard courts, Nadal won them both, as he lost just one set in the contests.

Advertisement

I expect this match to be closer though with Fognini in good form this year and in this tournament. The key to this match will be the serves of both players. Nadal conceded three breaks and lost many points on his second serve against Schwartzman. Fognini only conceded one but that was against a player outside of the top 20.

Despite the good form of Nadal, he does struggle a little bit, to out power his opponent like he is used to. Fognini can capitalise on that and trouble Nadal.

This match could be a classic. Fognini is a character of the game and will look to un-nerve Nadal throughout the match. If he does that, he wins. If he doesn’t, then Nadal will win in possibly four or five sets.

Prediction: Nadal 3-2.

close