Rafael Nadal will be back in Rio de Janeiro action on Thursday for a second-round date with Pablo Carreno Busta. Fabio Fognini and Pablo Andujar are also trying to claim a spot in the quarterfinals.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. Pablo Carreno Busta
Playing his first match since an Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Tomas Berdych, Nadal kicked off his Rio Open campaign on Tuesday with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Thomaz Bellucci. The third-ranked Spaniard dropped serve twice in the opening set without saving a break point, but he raised his level in the second to finish the job in one hour and 31 minutes. Nadal is now 6-0 lifetime in Rio having won the inaugural event in 2014.
Up next for the top seed is a first-ever meeting with Carreno Busta on Thursday. The 55th-ranked Spaniard got his week started by holding off Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-0. Carreno Busta is a mediocre 3-4 on the year and he is coming off an opening-round loss in Sao Paulo to Joao Souza. Unfortunately for the underdog, he does not have the necessary weapons to overpower Nadal–even though his two-handed backhand can be dangerous. With a decent match already under his belt, an increasingly comfortable Nadal should cruise into the quarters.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 5-7 games
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(4) Fabio Fognini vs. Pablo Andujar
Fognini and Andujar will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers and for the third time at the ATP level. All four of their previous encounters (all on clay) have gone Fognini’s way and he has never lost a single set to Andujar. However, two of their meetings came on the Futures circuit back in 2005 and they have faced each other only once since 2009. Fognini most recently prevailed 6-4, 6-3 last year in Buenos Aires.
A much better opportunity should await Andujar on Thursday. The 50th-ranked Spaniard is off to a slow start this season, but he seems to play well in Rio. He reached the semifinals in 2014, lost to Nadal 12-10 in the third-set tiebreaker, and overcame Paolo Lorenzi 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 on Tuesday. A slumping Fognini, meanwhile, faced three match points in his opener against Jiri Vesely but stormed back for a 1-6, 7-6(7), 6-1 win. Although it was an impressive fightback by the 28th-ranked Italian, he needed some significant help from Vesely.
Pick: Andujar in 3
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OOP
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2015/6932/op.pdf
Andujar sleepwalking in two is the pick.
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Fabio was absolutely on it today. Wasn’t expecting that. Andujar wasn’t really at the races.
why is Nadal down a break?
PCB started strongly and Rafa was sluggish.
He’s definitely out of sorts and getting rattled…….
I miss seeing Rafa play his A-game on a consistent basis.
Been a long time.
#BetweenTheEars
He’s particularly bad on the break points. The one break her converted was an unforced error gift.
#Telling
Commies are particularly annoying.
Agree. They’re salivating at Rafa” s discomforture
Rafa chokes on break and set point.
Rafa chokes yet another set break point.
Rafa blows three set points.
#LoseThePink
Unforced errors continue to pile up.
Nice depth.
15-all
Nice ace.
30-15
Mute nice depth. Keep it up Rafa.
40-15
Nice serve.
Game Rafa
This wouldn’t even be close if Rafa had his A-game.
He is simply not focussed. Something is bothering him.
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To be fair PCB played a great set. Rafa did well to win it despite being a fair way below his best. Great game-plan from PCB, really aggressive.
His timing is up the creek, he has no rhythm yet still he manages to take the set.
Rafa needs to up his game, but it’s easy for me to say. I think he is doing his best.
Vamos Rafa
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He’s doing his best. He’s just not playing his best.
As a result of playing short he’s allowing his opponent to be aggressive.
What I mean is, he is trying his hardest to play his best.
Yes I agree with you. That’s always a given.
He will certainly need to step it up to beat Cuevas in the next round (assuming he gets there). Potential upset alert.
^^^^@createdsick
that comment is sick 🙂
Again this reminds me of how he was playing on clay last year prior to the French.
The real Rafa comes through now and again but not enough.
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So much better from Rafa to hold for 3-2.
Terrible outside fh miss from Rafa would have been love 30. 3-all instead.
Rafas gna have to dig deep to take this in 2. PCB has the belief and the shots tonight.
Rafa is an enabler
Pfftt for love 30
Just. Wow.
Yet another match I’d have switched off by now of it wasn’t Rafa.
Rafa slips to 4 in the world if he doesn’t defend his title.
The part of willmw101 will be played by…
Uncle Toni would not be happy.
0-15
Nice Rafa. Need more like that.
0-30
Pub going to the drop skit too much.
Another bad fh error from Rafa
Nice return winner and Rafa will serve for it.
#LabourOfLove
Wow. Great fhdtl. 15-0
Wow horrible bh error. 15-15
Choke df.
Jesus Rafa.
There we go. We didn’t see vintage Rafa tonight, but we did see some great stuff from Carreno Busta and that’s good news for the future. 2-0 is a good win for Rafa considering how the match played out. Toughed it out against a very dangerous and confident opponent.
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Best thing about that display was Rafa winning ugly. Vamos Rafa.
#PinkIsNotYourForte
OOP for tomorrow:
Not Before 3:30 pm
Juan Monaco (ARG)
v
[2] David Ferrer (ESP)
H2H
[WC] Joao Souza (BRA)
v
Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT)
H2H
[4] Fabio Fognini (ITA)
v
Federico Delbonis (ARG)
H2H
Rafael Nadal (ESP) OR Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)
v
[6] Pablo Cuevas (URU)
ATP
The result of the match is all that matters. Well done, Rafa!
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Still trying to fathom out why Rafa made such heavy weather of this match. PCB deserves full credit for making Rafa work for the win. But jeeez, blowing match points against an inexperienced player, even if he was brimming with confidence, doesn’t bode well.
why was PCB so confident?
The folly of youth
Also scratching my head.
How do people rate Cuevas’ chances against Rafa then? Can anyone remember the last time Cuevas lost a match on clay?! I doubt he can, which could help him out tomorrow.
sometime around 2003 was the last time Cuevas lost on clay
That sounds about right. I remember the 10 year anniversary celebrations a couple of years ago. Rafa’s a gonner.
would be surprised if its not 0 and 0
It’s all about what Rafa shows up. Has little to do with whos on the other side of the net particularly on clay.
real talk
Word to the people.
I think Rafa did alright. Just got his serve broken once in the whole match. There were a few forehand errors but he did not have to raise his level at all the whole match
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Cuevas, another one Rafa has never played before. I expect a tight match, Rafa trying to figure out Cuevas’s game.
Rafa for the win.
I think this match was good for Rafa. Carenno Busta didn’t quit and hung in there to make it a match. Rafa didn’t play well in that first set and his serving wasn’t great either. But he managed to take the set. I thought Rafa played better in the second set and served much better. But Carenno Busta stayed with him.
It’s always on Rafa’s racket when it’s clay, but I do think that this guy Cuevas will give Rafa a match. The tennis channel commentators have been going on about him and his hot streak for the last two days. It can be tricky when Rafa faces someone he’s never played before, but I expect Rafa to get a read on him and get the win.
I voted for 8-10 games for the match against Carreno Busta. He won 8 games. This time I am not sure, but I again voted for Rafa winning losing 8-10 games.
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#burroFanatic