ATP Cup 2020 – Rafael Nadal vs Yoshihito Nishioka Preview & Prediction

THE FACTS

Where is Rafael Nadal vs Yoshihito Nishioka taking place? RAC Arena, Perth, Australia

When is Rafael Nadal vs Yoshihito Nishioka on? Wednesday 8^th January, 2020 – not before 16:00 (UK)

What channel is Rafael Nadal vs Yoshihito Nishioka on? This match will not be televised live in the UK

Where can I stream Rafael Nadal vs Yoshihito Nishioka? Amazon Prime subscribers can stream the match via Amazon Prime Video

Where can I get tickets for Rafael Nadal vs Yoshihito Nishioka? https://www.atpcup.com/tickets

Who won the last meeting between Rafael Nadal and Yoshihito Nishioka? Rafael Nadal beat Yoshihito Nishioka 7-6, 6-3

THE LOWDOWN

RAFAEL NADAL

• World number one Rafael Nadal has been taking care of business so far at the ATP Cup with two straight-sets wins from two over Nikoloz Basilashvili and Pablo Cuevas.
• The 33-year-old has been able to play without too much pressure for the ATP Cup favourites Spain as Roberto Bautista Agut has been clinical in the first rubbers, with Spain winning both ties 3-0 so far.
• Nadal will be aiming to end this match as soon as possible in order to conserve himself for the latter stages of the tournament, where they should face an easier route to the semi-finals as Spain will draw the first runner-up.

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA

• Yoshihito Nishioka completed a surprising win for Japan over Georgia by beating the world number 26 Nikoloz Basilashvili in straight sets after compatriot Go Soeda claimed the first rubber.
• That win saw the Japanese go 2-0 up alongside Spain in Group B and into a great position to qualify as a runner-up in the last eight, though they are likely to fall to a whitewash to Spain here failing a real shock win.
• Nishioka has played Rafael Nadal once before back in 2017, where he reached a career-high 58^th, and did well to trouble the Spaniard to a tiebreak in Mexico but ultimately lost in straight sets.

THE PREDICTION

Without Kei Nishikori Japan might have been apprehensive coming into the ATP Cup but both Go Soeda and Yoshihito Nishioka have played brilliantly to beat higher-ranked opponents to bring Japan within possibly one match of claiming a runners-up spot. They could fall at the final hurdle, though, as it is difficult to see them taking anything off Spain, especially in this match against the world number one. Rafa Nadal will be aiming for damage limitation, but Nishioka can put up some fight in the Spaniard’s straight-sets win.