Compatriots might clash again in the 2013 Rome Masters

The Mutua Madrid Open 2013 witnessed some tennis action between the two Spaniards – Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer. Rafael Nadal took three sets to overcome his opponent and it should be mentioned that the clash of the two Spaniards may have left the spectators weary and tired, though the quality of the match did keep them interested till the last moment. Nadal might not have been at his best and fittest physical state after his 7 month comeback and consequently, the slower Madrid clay had slightly worked against Nadal for the start of the match. Rafa’s athletic qualities might not have worked for him in the start of the match but the world no.5 did manage to get his shots right as the match rolled on. After a disappointing first set loss of 4-6, Rafa fought his way through the tie breaker in the second set with 7-6 and got himself his first set in the match. The deciding set or the final set had raised doubts about who will find his way through the semis. It wouldn’t have been correct to downplay any of the player’s chances because both of them had played up to the expectations, but as the Taiwanese proverb says, “Even champions make mistakes-there is no one who doesn’t”.

Rafa, after committing a couple of mistakes in the first 2 sets, aced his way through the semis and booked himself a semi-final spot in the Madrid Open 2013 with a 6-0 win.

Calculations and speculations reveal that the two Spaniards have chances of clashing in current tennis tournament – Rome Masters. The players have been placed in the same section of the draw at Foro Italic. Rafa will face F. Fognini in the 2nd round and Ferrer will play his match against the winner of the first round match between Verdasco and Zeballos.

If both the players win their respective matches, we might have the opportunity to watch another clash between Rafa and Ferrer in the same stage i.e., quarter finals.

While Rafa fans want to see their player move up the ATP rankings with more victories, Ferrer might try to recover from the 6-0 loss that he suffered in last set of the Madrid Open’13 quarter finals, by trying to defeat Rafael Nadal, or as people like to address him – ‘The King of Clay’.