Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray in Madrid Open quarter-final action
Defending champion Andy Murray faces Tomas Berdych
Saturday 7 May 2016 11:46, UK
Novak Djokovic meets Milos Raonic and Rafael Nadal faces Joao Sousa in Friday's Madrid Open quarter-finals, live on Sky Sports 2 HD.
Andy Murray begins the day's action from 11am when he takes on Tomas Berdych.
The Scot resumes his rivalry against the big-serving Czech and leads the head-to-head 7-6, having only got himself in front with victories on the last three occasions they have met.
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A note of caution for Murray is that Berdych has won all three of their clay-court encounters, with the world number two taking just one set in those meetings.
The last of those encounters on the red dirt came in 2013 and Murray is a very different beast these days. He comes into the match having shaken off the rust following some understandable time off as a new father.
After reaching the final of the Australian Open, Murray took almost a month out of the game before returning successfully with two wins in the Davis Cup.
Early exits in Indian Wells and Miami followed, but a semi-final run in Monte Carlo and his form here suggest that he is getting back to his best ahead of the French Open later this month
Murray, the defending champion, was in fine form to see off the potentially awkward Gilles Simon in round three, while Berdych was equally impressive in beating David Ferrer in straight sets.
Rafa Nadal is aiming for a third successive tournament victory, having won in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He is currently on a 12-game winning streak - Sam Querrey his latest victim - and is demonstrating that talk of his demise is premature.
That run is unlikely to come to a halt against Portugal's Joao Sousa, who has done well to reach a first-ever Masters quarter-final but won only one game in his only previous meeting with the Spaniard. Nadal is expected to come through comfortably.
One to Watch
Novak Djokovic and Milos Raonic meet in the final match of the day on the main stadium court and it could be a cracker, despite the one-sided nature of their head-to-head - the world number one has won all six previous meetings, including a 6-2 6-0 success at the Indian Wells final earlier this year.
Raonic was struck by injury in that match and when he hasn't been sidelined, the Canadian's form has been as good as anyone this year. He is up to number 10 in the latest world rankings, claiming one title - the Brisbane International - to go with his runs to the semi-final of the Australian Open and the Indian Wells final.
However, Djokovic looked ominously back to his very best with a ruthless 6-2 6-1 destruction of Roberto Bautista Agut in the last 16 and looks to have put his second-round Monte Carlo defeat to Jiri Vesely firmly behind him.
Surprise in Store?
Nick Kyrgios is one of two unseeded players left in the draw and he takes on sixth seed Kei Nishikori in what we have to pick as our surprise, although the game itself could easily have made our one to watch.
Nishikori has been in terrific form without quite getting over the line, reaching the final in each of his last two events (Miami and Barcelona), while Kyrgios has shown a maturity to his game and behaviour this year that has seen him claim a maiden ATP title in Marseille and make a first Masters semi-final in Miami.
The 21-year from Canberra will hope to add a second when his faces Nishikori, the man who ended his run in Florida with a straight-sets win in their last-four showdown.
In Case You Missed It
Bernard Tomic has been in the news again for all the wrong reasons, despite appearing to have regained his focus for much of the season.
And earlier this week, he appeared to give up against Fabio Fognini when he turned his racket upside down to receive at match point down with his handle! Hit play on the video below to see that again.
You can follow all the action from Madrid live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 11am.
