Shanghai R3 preview and pick: Nadal vs. Berlocq

October 9, 2013 Ricky Match previews, Predictions 0

Rafael Nadal takes the court on Thursday for his second match this week in Shanghai. Standing in Nadal’s way of the quarterfinals is Carlos Berlocq. Hasan Murad previews the action.

Rafael Nadal will be up against the 30-year old Carlos Berlocq for the third time in his career on Thursday night at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. Both previous meetings took place this year on the clay courts of Sao Paulo and Barcelona. Even though this upcoming encounter will be played on a hard court, the scenario for Nadal is far more auspicious in comparison to their first meeting in Sao Paulo, where he was struggling for confidence and Berlocq even got himself in a winning position in the second set before Nadal’s dogged perseverance earned him a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.

The Spaniard was brimming with confidence in his emphatic 6-3, 6-2 dismissal of an erratic Alexandr Dolgopolov in the Beijing second round to improve to 27-1 on hard courts this year. The biggest positive from the victory was undoubtedly his improved serving. He landed 83 percent of first serves in, recorded nine aces, and did not face a single break point–a massive improvement from last week in Beijing, where the world No. 1 had his serve broken in every match he played.

Berlocq has already scored two upset wins this week. He showed great resilience in overcoming Dmitry Tursunov  4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and went on an even higher note Wednesday with a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over big-serving American John Isner. Berlocq plays his best tennis on clay, but a great start to the week has improved his record for the year to a respectable 28-23. However, the Argentine should not expect any further favors in Shanghai as his next opponent is virtually unbeatable nowadays.

Berlocq will likely try to break down Nadal’s backhand, but the favorite should have plenty of rhythm in this match.

Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 6 games or fewer

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73 Comments on Shanghai R3 preview and pick: Nadal vs. Berlocq

  1. your thoughts guys?

    A good opportunity for rafa to plat himself into rhythm….he said the courts are playing quicker than last year so he needs to find the right rhythm.

    Reply

  4. I don’t see anyone stopping this Rafa. He looked good today! Watch out Djokovic, your nemesis is back!!!!!
    Fed is ok but I do not think he can stop Nole. However I am praying that he will.
    Although I feel this Rafa can stop Nole, Rafa’s grip on year end ranking would be confirmed if Nole loses in the Quarters and Rafa wins the tournament. Rafa can relax and take the rest of the season off!
    So let us hope all the Fed hype helps Fed to beat Nole!!!

    Reply

  5. I am waiting to see how rafa serves…he needs his serve to be like it was against dolgo … and of course he needs to be more aggressive with his groundies… he seems to be getting back on track though !

    Reply

  8. Rafa says he prefers fast courts (like in Shanghai], if is playing well. On fast courts his serve is more powerful.

    Rafa’ interview on Wednesday after the match vs Dolgopolov.
    [FULL] TRANSCRIPT – 9 Oct 2013 Rafael Nadal
    http://en.shanghairolexmasters.com/transcripts/transcript-9-oct-2013-rafael-nadal-122.aspx

    Excerpts:
    —Q. Your thoughts on Carlos Berlocq.
    RAFAEL NADAL: …He’s a different kind of player than Dolgopolov. Is a player more from the baseline, more rhythm player. I going to try to play the way that I did: playing aggressive, trying to take advantage with my serve, then when I have the chance to attack with my forehand, try to go for the shots, no? But we’ll see. Every day is different.

    Q. Talk about the surface. You said the surface is faster than the other years. Considering the recent changes to your game, playing more aggressive, less spin, is this a time where you feel more comfortable on faster surfaces like this?
    RAFAEL NADAL: The thing is if I am playing well or not. If I not playing well, is true that for me is better to play in little bit slower surfaces. If I am playing well, I prefer to play in these kind of surfaces. I had success in these kind of surfaces. In Montréal, I had success. Similar ones. A little bit faster here, I don’t know. But both are fast.
    The faster surface helps to my serve. Sometimes the directions on my serve are good, remain a little bit more of power. In a fast surface, the surface create the power. That helps me a little bit more. If I am playing well from the baseline, I’m able to play aggressive, can be a positive thing for me. But we’ll see. Today I played well. —

    Reply

  9. vamosrafa,

    Nice preview again! I voted for Rafa in straight sets losing less than eight games. I did get to see his match with Dolgo earlier this afternoon. I thought Rafa’s serving was so much better and to see him hitting a bunch of aces was really nice. As far as the match, Dolgo came out blasting in that first set. He double faulted away a break and that was it. Once he missed that overhead smash, he kind of fell apart. It was only late in the second set when he woke up and started playing well again, but it was too late.

    I would like a bit more aggressive play from Rafa. He seemed to be hitting his shots from further behind the baseline. I want him to get closer to the baseline or inside the court. But there were some great shots at net from Rafa. So I think he is in the right place now.

    Rafa seems very focused in Shanghai. I feel good about what I am seeing. He should make short work of Berlocq.

    augusta,

    Thanks for posting those comments from Rafa. I really like hearing his thoughts. He knows what it’s all about with his game If he is playing well or not. Yes, that’s the key.

    Reply

  14. good to see indeed….Rafa seems focused on Shanghai….A good show here would all but lock the No.1 ranking for rafa for 2013

    Reply

  15. good to see you atul !

    Yeah, rafa looks more ‘energized’ and ‘focused’ ..clearly his best tennis since the USO…that was one high quality set ! insane stats too…19 winners to only 4 U.E for Rafa and 10 winners to only 3 U.E for rafa…KEEP IT UP RAFA

    Reply

  16. Ricky, can you please have Hasan Murad’s name blinking like a Christmas tree (joking) so it’s easier to see who did the preview?

    Seriously though, maybe a different colour/font so name pops out the page? As it is it just looks like you did the preview until one R.E.A.D.S through and finds Hasan’s name…

    #NeedleInAHaystack

    ps: Good job, guys! Nice preview….

    Reply

  17. This is the perfect match for Rafa. Just what he needs at this stage in the tournament.
    Berlocq is no pushover but Rafa is on fire. But I would like to see the BH working a bit better.

    Reply

  19. Ed, so true ! I knew this match would give rafa plenty of ‘rhythm’ ..glad in more than than one way that he is not returning the missiles from Big John right now..

    Reply

  22. How is Rafa looking in the 2nd set? Am only able to follow livescores today, is Berlocq picking up or has Rafa’s level dropped?

    Reply

  23. RITB, you can say its a combination of both….rafa’s intensity has just dropped a little…he has two break points now though

    Reply

  29. just not sharp enough in this set….I hope he seals it with ease in the T.B… berlocq has played a pretty solid set of tennis though….oops here goes the mino break to berlocq,that was a novak-like pattern of play by him

    Reply

  32. I just read a not so nice comment from another blog that Rafa’s breaking down, hitting shot or long………………..

    Reply

  39. Raonic is out, so it’s Wawa for Rafa.

    Good match against Berlocq, I didn’t expect a walk in the park for Rafa even though I expected him to win. My heart was in my mouth when it went to a TB, because I did not want a 3rd set.

    Reply

      • they aren’t going to make him have a quick turnaround. once you get a late match at a tournament where there are no days off in between matches, you are kind of stuck.

        same as what happened this summer in Cincinnati. Nadal night match every time.

        Reply

  43. There is something positive about Rafa here, something which was lacking in Beijing.
    Maybe he is not worrying about his knee.
    Anyway, a Rafa-Nole final seems inevitable.
    I will now cheer for Monfils. Allez Monfils!!!!!
    Monfils, you beat Fed, now the responsibility of beating Nole is yours so our Rafa could become the year end no. 1 at Shanghai!!
    Of course not only does Nole have to lose in the Quarters, Rafa has to win the tournament. But I don’t see anybody stopping Rafa. Vamos Rafa!

    Reply

      • For this Rafan, first prize is getting the YE#1 wrapped up then Rafa can play with “colm” and look forward to the next goal, WTF. Rafa will have plenty of shots at Djoker, it’s not like he is still under his spell, Rafa still has the upper hand until proven otherwise…….

        For me, Novak can beat Rafa again if they meet in the final, I don’t mind. The important thing is he will be in another final, and getting closer to wrapping up the top ranking.

        Reply

      • Have to agree with RITB. Another final appearance for Rafa means getting even closer to the YE No 1 spot. If this includes another Novak win, so be it. Nole certainly won’t take residence in Rafa’s head again. There willl be fresh cards on the table in 2014 anyway.

        Reply

  45. Thx augusta08 for the highlights, that was quick off the mark.
    Sweating buckets with that high humidity.
    I like the way Rafa’s playing.
    It’s impossible to keep up the same level of agression for long with that humidity.

    Reply

  47. Rafa is playing better than he did in Beijing so I don’t mind if he meets Nole in the final. The sooner he beats Nole again, the better, so I do mind 2 losses to Nole in a row.

    Reply

    • Don’t get me wrong, I would love it if Rafa won Shanghai, sweeter if he beats Novak in the process. A win over Novak would be important in so far as it chips away at Novak’s confidence with the AO coming up, a huge bonus. I am looking at short term gains for now and I just want Rafa to compartmentalise his goals and tick them off one by one. It also helps that, for Rafa, clinching YE#1 is not dependent on him beating Novak.

      Reply

  48. Rafa up against the Swiss No. 1 in the Race to London in the QFs!!!

    chr18 would have to change his name to chr0 in honor of the new top swiss player of the year!!!

    #VamosRafa
    #0-10

    Reply

  50. I was watching the Fed/Monfils match last night and fell asleep. So I started watching the replay on the tennis channel. Fed just won the second set tb, but I came on here and saw that Monfils ended up winning.

    I was a bit surprised to see that Rafa had to win a second set tb again Berlocq. Will have to see the replay later.

    atul,

    Welcome! Glad to see you here!

    Reply

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