The Grandstand’s Ricky Dimon and Joey Hanf of The Tennis Nerds preview and pick the best men’s singles matchups on Day 4 of the Australian Open. This is the fourth of 13 installments of expert picks during the season’s first Grand Slam.
Yen-Hsun Lu vs. (22) Grigor Dimitrov
Ricky: Don’t look now, but Yen-Hsun Lu is one of the hottest players on tour. Chinese Taipei’s top player boasts a 6-1 record this season and he was the best man–by a decent margin–from start to finish in Auckland (John Isner struggled all week but served his way out of trouble against Lu to win a competitive final). Lu, who destroyed countryman Jimmy Wang on Tuesday, should benefit in hot conditions against Dimitrov. The Bulgarian’s fitness has always been a question mark, as is his ability to play five-setters. Lu 6-4, 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2.
Joey: This one should be fun to watch. It pits Grigor’s new “no-nonsense” approach with coach Roger Rasheed against one of the most in-form players on tour, Rendy Lu. The key factor for Lu is to get in as many backhand-to-backhand rallies as possible, in which he has the advantage. Everywhere else Dimitrov holds the edge, and in the end I think the Bulgarian’s big serve will win him a lot of free points in big moments. Dimitrov 7-6(4), 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
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Marin Cilic vs. (18) Gilles Simon
Ricky: Simon transformed Melbourne into Sparta on Tuesday evening. The Frenchman arrived at the Australian Open on crutches, but–after being expected to withdraw from the event–he turned in an absolute warrior performance against Daniel Brands. Incredibly, he saved seven match points before prevailing 16-14 in the fifth. Cilic also needed five sets, but he arguably has even more momentum after storming back from two sets down against Marcel Granollers. Simon should not be doubted after what he did in round one…but I’m going to doubt him anyway. Cilic 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Joey: I didn’t think Simon would be playing his first-round match against Daniel Brands, let alone winning it 16-14 in the fifth. Cilic came back from two sets to love down to beat Granollers. This one has five sets written all over it–if Simon can manage his ankle injury. Cilic has been playing more aggressively to start 2014 and his serve should be the difference in this one, which could take a very long time. Cilic 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5, 4-6, 7-5.
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(27) Benoit Paire vs. Nick Kyrgios
Ricky: The future may be now for the 18-year-old Kyrgios. He has a huge game and a great draw Down Under. The Australian already capitalized once by dismissing Benjamin Becker and although Paire is way more talented than Becker, the Frenchman rarely maximizes his talent. Kyrgios is going to want this one more, and what is sure to be a raucous crowd will be quick to jump on any unnecessary antics by Paire. Kyrgios 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(5).
Joey: The crowd will be rocking in this one. The young Kyrgios has some serious game. A big serve and monstrous groundstrokes make him extremely dangerous. Paire might be the most up-and-down player I’ve ever seen; if nothing else, he’s exciting to watch. Expect Paire to drop-shot the teenager without end. The only thing that concerns me about Kyrgios is a shoulder injury he is nursing. But in front of his home crowd, the adrenaline should minimize that pain. Kyrgios 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-2.
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(24) Andreas Seppi vs. Donald Young
Ricky: Speaking of warriors saving match point, Seppi surprised the home crowd by holding off an in-form Lleyton Hewitt on Tuesday afternoon. The Italian survived 7-5 in the fifth after thwarting a match point with an ace at 4-5 in the decider. That effort may take just a little bit out of Seppi, but he rarely has trouble staying on the tennis court all day long. He is content to play long point after long point and should have too much consistency for an erratic Young. Seppi 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
Joey: After taking out Hewitt in a five-set marathon, you might think Seppi will have some sort of letdown in this one. However, he is playing the much-denounced Young, so anything could happen. Young has been playing well on the Challenger circuit for the last seven months and he’s started 2014 well, taking a set off David Ferrer in Auckland. The lefty forehand could give Seppi some trouble, but Young doesn’t have anywhere near the composure and confidence of the Italian. Seppi 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.
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Sock needs a change of shorts………..and socks as well.
RT @SI_BTBaseline: “Vasek Pospisil withdraws from the Australian Open with a back injury. Wawrinka gets a walkover to 4R. #ausopen”
Ebden must be pissed
Oh what a shame! really like little Poppit 🙁
http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/video/index.html#ooid=81b3Exazq-ZAY3Bttq-BXfV8yl18NUln kokk joking with rafa
dimitrov is getting more consistent nowadays… two games away from R32
La Monf/Rafa it is…………….
Cracker to come! People were denied Bernie/Rafa (which was overrated imho) but La Monf/Rafa is the real deal………..it is here.
Vamos!!
Dimi takes the match in a third set tie break (13.-11). So Dimitrov will likely take on Raonic now ! that will be interesting…who stands a better chance against Del Potro (assuming he wins today) ??
Raonic
Paire to win against kyrgios
Bautista Agut is a solid player…
anything on the shoes?
rafa’s presser:
Q. Did it feel like you were playing a player ranked 570 in the world out there today?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. Even if that’s the ranking when you are playing against a young player, you never have that feeling. He was able to win the first round against a tough opponent like Sijsling. That’s not the real ranking on him.
He played juniors, two finals on Grand Slams last year, so he has a great future. He has the right level to try to be in the tour very soon. So just keep working and that will happen.
Q. Were you impressed by him, 17 years old?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes. There is now new generation that should come. Kokkinakis is one of these ones that can be there in the next couple of years. Is normal that new players are coming, new generations are arriving. That’s happened in all the parts of the history of our sport.
Strange for the last few years didn’t happen, so that’s something really normal that should happen and probably will happen and that’s good for the game.
Q. Did you prepare yourself to be on the court with the roof open in terms of physically getting yourself ready for the match, and would that have changed earlier if you had known you were going to be playing under the roof?
RAFAEL NADAL: I prepare myself to play a tennis match, drinking the things that I have to drink before the match start and try to be ready for the really hard conditions out there.
Then with the roof, the conditions are better, no doubt. Very happy to see the roof out there today. But still very humid. Still very hard conditions even with the roof on that match. But still hard.
I felt that I was ready.
Q. Pretty regulation game today. Are you happy with the amount of game time you’ve registered coming into the third round?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I played a great first set, not many mistakes, serving well, finishing the set playing aggressive with my forehand.
I think I played really well first set. Then the second set I didn’t play as good as I played the first. I stopped a little bit. I played with less intensity. Playing with less intensity equal more mistakes, and that’s what happened.
Was important that the serve was there during the whole match. And, in my opinion, the third set I finished the match playing well again, good forehands down the line. That’s give me a lot last year, so is the way to keep improving.
And is true that here that shot is a little bit more difficult because the court goes very quick when the ball bounce. When the ball bounce on the floor, is like goes very, very quick, so is very difficult to adjust with the balls.
But I think I played at a very good level. The serve, that is a very important thing here, was working well.
Q. With your opponent today, you identified a couple of his strengths. Would you see over three sets anything he could be working on to improve his game at this stage?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. Always is the same thing, no? If you are able to keep improving in all aspects, then you will have the chance to be in the top position of the ranking and compete for the best tournaments.
If you are not able to keep improving, your chances will be less. Because if you are not improving new things, the things that you have are going worst. That’s my feeling.
So always is the same thing when you are a young player. The main goal is keep improving in all aspects, no? But is true he has a great serve to be 17, so keep doing that.
The normal thing is he will be serving better and better every year. Forehand, he has a good forehand. The normal thing is if he is able to improve with being humble, being with the right people around that don’t make you feel you are a star before the right time.
So he will have the chance to be a great player. That’s my feeling. He has everything to do it.
Q. Last year at this time what were you doing and how much did you follow the Australian Open? What times of the day did you follow it?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, last year I was starting to practice. I remember that. I was in Barcelona practicing a little bit on clay. And was hard to see Australian Open, because in Spain only shows Australian Open Eurosport.
I don’t have Eurosport in my home (smiling), so was a tough situation to see.
But anyway, I saw a little bit, a few matches. I was able to see that when I was in Barcelona. Was practicing the tennis in Barcelona and there they have the channel. I saw a little bit the match against Federer/Tsonga I think.
Saw a little bit David Ferrer against Almagro and David against Djokovic, and I was not able to see the final.
Q. Last Friday your opponent had the chance to do something that few of us in this room do. He asked you one question after another one on one at the Babolat event. You said he had a good future in tennis. Talk about his future in journalism.
RAFAEL NADAL: My advice is keep working on tennis.
Q. Can you remember the biggest match you had when you were a 17 year old?
RAFAEL NADAL: 17? Oh, I played the fifth point of Davis Cup in Brno, Czech Republic, when I was 17. I played against Roger in Miami. I was on the tour, no? I think I won a tournament with 17, 2004.
No, it was after. But I played against David Ferrer in Stuttgart. No, I think I played a lot of important matches with 17.
But is true that when you have 16, I started at 17, you know, everything is to win. You go on court and you feel everything is new. If you lose in first round, you keep working. If you lose in quarterfinals, is a great result. If you lose in semifinals, fantastic tournament.
Everything is to win. Mentally is easier to play when you are younger, but at the same time, important thing is have the chance to be the mental part very fresh, to analyze that you need to keep improving.
Q. Despite the rankings difference, it’s always going to be tough playing someone at their home Grand Slam. Did you feel the support for you out there?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think is great. The atmosphere was always great. I played against Tomic in the past. I played two big matches against Lleyton. I lost one in five and another one in three. But was the first time I arrived here. That was with 17, I think, yeah. So was a big match.
But I really enjoy a lot playing here. The crowd, even if you play against Australian, you feel that they respect every player. They know about tennis. They understand the sport. Is great.
I never felt the crowd against me. I felt most of the times the crowd behind me, and that’s something I just can say thank you very much to the Australian fans. Make me feel very, very, very happy and very special when I am there and I feel the crowd behind me.
Another times that you feel the crowd share 50/50 is great atmosphere. Played long matches here that the crowd was fantastic. When the match became a little bit more dramatic, have the crowd involved in that kind of matches makes the matches more emotional.
Thank you for posting this interview @rafaelo
this is a nice one
(and I have little time this week to look things up)
looking forward to 10 days from now watching the AO final over early breakfast with Rafa (most likely) on court
Oh Andy, u naughty boy toying with your fans like that! Last 5 games he really strutted his stuff though!
Come on!
Millot had SP?
No served for set but, I seem to recall, didn’t get a point.
I heard Millot led 5-1 40-30 then didn’t win another point the entire match…..
Correct. Down set point, Muzza won the last 23 points!
whats the pick in the 5th set of Delpo-Agut??
what’s 2+2?
In this case ,it’s certainly not four !! agut to serve for the match !! nothing has been straightforward for delpo here
two points away now ! so much for the Delpo-rafa qtr ..fed fans and nole fans will be GUTTED
Rafa’s ‘roadblock’ has been dismantled.
4-6 6-3 5-7 6-3 7-5 Bautista Agut . What an effort ! huge upset win…. Rafa will now likely have the easiest qtr final lol…:D
the only plausible explanation to delpo’s poor record here is HEAT. I think he struggles big time to adjust in the inhumane conditions Down Under
He’s lost 7 straight 5 setters
He’s lost 7 straight 5 setters and you actually thought he could take Rafa out because he did so 5 years ago?
Perhaps that’s why he took an 8 minute toilet break….
kyrgios can barely move now. Paire’s comeback has been great. Just a matter of time before he reaches R32
vamosrafa, Delpo needs to buy Nole’s autobiography: Serve To Win
haha…may be he should ! and regarding him being a serious threat to rafa, well I guess he was/is … Despite his struggles,he can on any day raise his level against the best! even if he loses to rafa in a 5 setter , the physical exertion caused would have been BAD. No secret I am RELIEVED…..may sound mean given how disappointing a loss it was for Delpo …but it is what it is !
vamosrafa,
It’s not mean, it’s honest! I am relieved, too. Considering that Djoker’s draw really is a joke (LOL!), I am glad that Rafa can get a break. Playing Monfils and then Delpo back-to-back would not be a good thing.
This loss has to be disappointing for Delpo, considering that he crashed out of last year’s USO early, too..
But you and I are in agreement that Delpo has the game to trouble just about anyone. You know what? Rafa would agree!