The master of the clay court, Rafael Nadal continues his hunt for a 10th French Open title with a second round all-Spanish match up against Nicolas Almagro in what could prove to be an interesting match. Join The Roar for live scores from around 9pm (AEST) when the match gets underway.
Nadal and Almagro have a rather long history of playing each other. Almagro turned pro in 2003, while for Nadal it was 2001 when he turned pro. Since then they have played each other 13 times, Almagro only getting the better of Nadal on a single occasion. Interestingly, out of the 13 clashes between the pair, 10 have been on the clay court.
They first met way back in 2004. Nadal has won 10 of the games in straight sets and the pair have already played twice this season. Firstly, in Miami and then in Barcelona. Nadal won both of these encounters in straight sets, only dropping a combined total of 10 games over the five sets.
The game in Barcelona was on clay in the round of 32 and Nadal won 6 – 3, 6 – 1. It was a shamashing and will be in the heads of both players coming onto the court at Rolland Garros today.
Interestingly the pair have met three times in the French Open in 2008, 2010 and 2012. All three occasions have been in quarter finals and Nadal won all three games in straight sets.
Coming into the French Open Nadal has been in solid form winning plenty of matches and progressing right to the pointy end of clay court tournaments.
His most recent even was in Madrid where he defeated both Grigor Dimitrov and Thomas Berdych on the way to losing the final against Andy Murray. It was a similar case in Monte Carlo where he defeated both John Isner and David Ferrer before losing the semi final to Novak Djokovic.
Of course Nadal has won nine French Opens and has an excellent record at Rolland Garros. Incredibly he has only entered 10 French Opens.
Nadal’s first round victory at the 2015 French Open was an absolute smashing of Quentin Halys. It was expected by everyone, however Halys was able to fight and gain the odd break point which must worry Nadal. His inability to beat the big guns, in the lead up to the French Open must also worry him.
Meanwhile, Almagro was five and five in his last ten matches heading into the French Open. The world number 154 has struggled to match it with a number of players. However he has had victories recently against the likes of world number 25 Leonardo Mayer and if we go back to February he beat world number 18 Tommy Robredo.
Almagro’s first round victory took four sets and a tie breaker, but he will be undoubtedly happy with his performance against the 69th ranked Alexandr Dolgopolov.
PREDICTION: You can’t go past Nadal, but I tend to think it won’t be in straight sets.
Nadal in four sets.
Join The Roar for our live scores of this game from around 9pm (AEST) and don’t forget to leave a comment if you’re following along.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Unfortunately, that's all I can provide for you this evening. Be sure to follow Shane Jones coverage of the Kokkinakis vs Tomic game and check back in tomorrow night for more French Open on the Roar.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Almagro fights hard to stay in the game, but Nadal holds him to 30 on serve and wins the first set. Nadal 6 Almagro 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
Both players have had a pair of advantages here after the game went to Deuce. Almagro struggling to close the point out on serve and keep the set alive before he finally does with a forehand. That was on the fifth deuce. Almagro fighting hard here as expected. Nadal now to serve for the set. Nadal 5 Almagro 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
Both players hold serve now, Almagro to love and then Nadal does it a little less easy. Almagro manages to get it to deuce, before Nadal shows his class and goes bang bang taking the game Nadal still really struggling with his serve however only hitting about 50% of his first serves Nadal 5 Almagro 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nadal holds serve but again struggling to get his serve the way he would like it. Alamgro fighting hard but needs a break here. Nadal 4 Almagro 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Almagro now holds to love, a good hold of serve for him forcing Nadal to make some errors there. Can he break back now? Nadal 3 Almagro 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nadal still missing a number of first serves here but Nadal strong on serve holding Almagro to love and consolidating the break point. Nadal 3 Almagro 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
Don't forget Shane Jones is live with the Kokkinakis v Tomic match: http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/05/28/bernard-tomic-vs-thanasi-kokkinakis-2015-french-open-live-scores/
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nadal wins the first three points playing good tennis and Almagro making some errors on serve here. He finally answers back taking back 1 of the 3 break points that Nadal holds before Nadal closes out the game with a solid back hand. Nadal breaks Almagro pretty easily there. Nadal 2 Almagro 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
Almagro now goes to break point after Nadal again misses the first serve. Nadal fires back with an ace to take it to deuce before Nadal misses yet another first serve but manages to recover and win the game, without losing a point from deuce. Nadal 1 Almagro 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
Almagro manages to take the first point of the second game before Nadal answers back with a forehand. Almagro takes another point off Nadal before he makes another unforced error and it is all square at 30-30. Nadal really struggling to get his first serve in, just 1 from his first 4. Nadal 0 30 Almagro 1 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Almagro wins 2 points and takes the first game. Nadal 0 Almagro 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nadal starts things off with a backhand winner before he wins another point. Almagro answers back before Nadal gets himself onto 2 break points. Almagro saves the first and then Nadal makes a mistake taking it to deuce. Nadal 40 Almagro 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Game is underway. Almagro on serve.
Scott Pryde
Expert
News just filtering through that Benjamin Becker has pulled out of the 2015 French Open. He was due to play Nei Kishikori in the third round, so he will now go straight through to the 4th round.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Players are out there warming up at the moment.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Plenty of history between these two players - unfortunately for Almagro it points all the way to Nadal. Almagro has won just the 1 game our of 13... 1 from 9 on clay and he has been knocked out by Nadal three times in the French Open.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nadal shouldn't have too many problems here against Almagro but you just never know. Wozniacki wasn't supposed to lose either.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Evening all, Match shouldn't be to far away... This is supposed to be a live scores page but i'll provide some updates... Caroline Wozniacki has just been knocked out in straight sets by Julia Goerges.