Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal Preview & Prediction | 2024 Indian Wells Open | First Round
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THE FACTS
What is this tournament classed as in terms of ranking points? ATP 1000
When is Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal on and what time does it start? Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal will take place on Thursday 7th March, 2024 – not before TBC (UK)
Where is Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal taking place? Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal will take place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California, USA
What surface is Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal being played on? Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal
What channel is Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal on in the UK? Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal will be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal in the UK? Sky Sports subscribers can stream Milos Raonic vs Rafael Nadal live on Sky Go, while Tennis TV subscribers can also stream the match live
THE PREDICTION
Former world number one Rafa Nadal returns to tour for the second time this season after a troubling injury saw him miss the Australian Open just two weeks after his initial restart from injury. The 37-year-old finished runner-up to Taylor Fritz here in 2022, his most recent appearance in the desert, but he has won the title three times previously, beating Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro in 2007, 2009 and 2013, respectively. Nadal has said he feels better than expected coming into the draw but he faces a tough task from the off against fellow veteran Milos Raonic, who has also seen his recent seasons tarnished by relentless injuries. The 33-year-old has never won a Masters 1000 event but he has come close on a number of occasions, possessing a fearsome serve rivalled only by contemporary John Isner’s in his prime in the previous decade.
Raonic notably came back from a set down to stun Nadal in the quarter-finals here back in 2015 but the Spaniard leads their head-to-head 8-2 overall and 7-2 on hardcourts. The slower conditions in Indian Wells will aid Nadal in tackling that imperious serve but this is no gimme after Raonic enjoyed a decent run in Rotterdam last month. The sad fact is it would not be a surprise to see this match fall via a retirement – for either player – and so leaving it out of an accumulator would be sensible. Otherwise, take Nadal to win outright and consider adding a tiebreak for good measure.
TIP: RAFAEL NADAL TO WIN
RAFAEL NADAL HAS WITHDRAWN FROM INDIAN WELLS. BACK RAONIC TO BEAT SUMIT NAGAL OUTRIGHT.
