The Mutua Madrid Open has lost its top seed Roger Federer as the Australian Nick Kyrgios registered his second top ten win as he beat the three time champion at this event 6-7(2),7-6(5),7-6(12) in second round action on Wednesday. Fresh from his win at the Inaugural TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open, Federer was the top seed in the absence of the world number one Novak Djokovic. However the only player to have won this event on three different surfaces could not convert the two match points on the dramatic third set tie-break and despite saving 5 match points could not deny the young Australian who was runner up at last weeks Estoril Open (loss to Gasquet). Federer won this event on indoor hard court in 2006, on red clay in 2009 and on the controversial blue clay in 2012.

The Pre quarter-final to be played on Thursday with my picks mentioned first :-

John Isner (16) v. Nick Kyrgios(-)
Tomas Berdych (6) v. Jo Wilfred Tsonga (12)
Rafael Nadal (3) v. Simone Bolleli (-)
Stanislas Wawrinka (8) v. Grigor Dmitrov (10)
David Ferrer(7) v. Fernando Verdasco(-)
Kei Nishilori (4) v. Roberto Bautista Agut (14)
Leonardo Mayer (-) v. Milos Raonic (5)
Andy Murray (2) v. Marcel Granollers (-)

Second seeded Andy Murray finished the days proceedings at 3AM local time in a repeat of the final in Munich two days ago against the German Phillip Kohlschreiber 6-4,3-6,6-0. He next faces the Spaniard Marcel Granollers who took more than three hours to defeat the mercurial Frenchman Gael Monfils. Another local favourite and four time winner in Madrid Rafael Nadal who has surprisingly struggled on his favourite surface winning only in Buenos Aires out of the four events he has played on clay this year, made the perfect start to his campaign as he came through in straight sets against the American Steve Johnson 6-4,6-3. He next faces the Italian Simone Bolleli.

Elsewhere the US Open champion Marin Cillic fell to the Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco in three sets. However another Spaniard Feliciano Lopez was less fortunate as he lost in two tie-breaks to the fast rising Argentine Leonardo Mayer. Other wimners included the American John Isner, Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, Fance’s Jo Wilfred Tsonga, Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, Grigor Dmitrov of Bulgaria, Kei Nishikori of Japan and the Spanish duo of David Ferrer and Roberto Bautista Agut. Canada’s Milos Raonic had already progressed on Tuesday as he beat the Argentine Juan Monaco.

– Rasesh Mehta [Rasesh Mehta is an analyst with the Tennis Galaxy.You can reach him at the email: sportzcosmos@gmail.com]