A below-par Andy Murray will be no match for Rafael Nadal today
Published:Rafael Nadal’s straight sets domination of Robin Soderling in the French Open quarter-finals has put an end to the critics claiming the Spaniard isn’t in his best form.
It’s now four straight set victories in a row for the Spaniard and while Nadal may end the day as the world number two – if Novak Djokovic beats Roger Federer the Serb will take top spot – Andy Murray faces a real fight to stop Nadal making the French Open final.
Nadal is the 1/6 favourite to win today and considering he has lost just one of his last 44 matches at Roland Garros, it’s difficult to even prepare a case for Murray.
The two did meet recently in Monte Carlo where Murray managed to take a set off of Nadal, going down 2-1, but the Scot has never beaten the Spaniard in three attempts on a clay court, and Nadal has dropped just the one set in that time.
Murray is a 7/2 shot to win today but Nadal is 10/11 to win the match 3-0 and the French Open betting would suggest this is a walkover.
An ankle injury has left punters wondering whether Murray is in peak condition and after battling to victories over Viktor Troicki and Juan Ignacio Chela, the world number four doesn’t look in the best of form.
To beat Nadal on clay you have to be at your very best which leaves Murray’s chances of victory very slim indeed.
Nadal leads Murray 10-4 in head-to-heads and in the 10 matches that the Spaniard has won, Murray has only managed to win four sets.
The Scot has two Grand Slam victories to his name to Nadal’s three, but both of those came on Murray’s favoured hard court surface and on Nadal’s preferred surface, this should be a rout for the Spaniard.
