La Vachette is back in action

Vacherot hasn’t played since Monte Carlo and is managing his schedule well; normally this week he’ll be giving it his all and be highly motivated!

It's good for Vacherot that he stopped after his great run in Monte Carlo, I think he’s smart off the court too. Now he’s ready for this new Masters 1000 as a seeded player on top of that. What can we expect from him this week? The conditions in Madrid seem made for him: with his serve quality and his athletic playing style, I think he’s capable of performing at a very high level. The guy is still full of confidence and proves week after week that he deserves his seeded status. In the first round he faces Nava, the American who’s capable of anything.

Nava has just beaten Brooksby in a match he controlled overall but that was a bit messy as usual; he’s all fire and intensity, but his game can work in these conditions, he’s the kind of player you have to be wary of if he catches fire. Against Vacherot he’s going to have to tighten up his game or he risks not really existing in the match, given that the Monegasque should be comfortable on his own service games. I don’t really see many ways out for Nava; Vacherot would really have to be far from his top level for him to do something, but in theory the match‑up doesn’t speak to me all that much.

Vacherot in boss mode or Nava as a big upset?