Rafael Nadal will be back in action after beating James Duckworth as he takes the court against another Aussie at the Australian Open on Wednesday. Tomas Berdych and Robin Haase are also bidding for a place in round two.
Matthew Ebden vs. (2) Rafael Nadal
Nadal headed into the Australian Open as a major question mark and he will have to do a lot more than beat James Duckworth to erase those doubts, but early returns were encouraging on Monday. The second-ranked Spaniard took care of Duckworth 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 in a somewhat bizarre match in which rallies were few and far between due to the underdog’s unwillingness to compete with Nadal from the baseline.
Up next for the 2009 Aussie Open champion on Wednesday is another Aussie in Ebden, who lost their only previous meeting 6-4, 6-4 eight years ago at Queen’s Club. The world No. 48 did well to climb out of a significant hole against Jan-Lennard Struff to pull off a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory in round one. However, Ebden poses little threat–much less than Struff, in fact–to Nadal with his relative lack of firepower. The 31-year-old will also rush the net at every opportunity in this matchup and we just saw how that worked out for Duckworth.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 11-14 games
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Tomas Berdych vs. Robin Haase
Thirteen years after their first encounter, Berdych and Haase will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers on Wednesday. Berdych leads the head-to-head series 3-2, and it is tied up at two wins apiece on either hard courts or carpet. The two veterans faced each other twice in 2017, when Haase prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in Dubai before the Czech got the job done 7-6(5), 6-3 on the red clay of Madrid.
Berdych managed to produce just one good tournament in 2018 and it was none other than the Aussie Open, where he reached the quarterfinals before falling to Federer. The 33-year-old Czech missed much of the season’s remainder because of a back injury, but he has come back like gangbusters so far in 2019. Berdych finished runner-up in Doha before blasting Kyle Edmund 6-3, 6-0, 7-5 on Monday. Although Edmund is nowhere near 100 percent, a similar performance against Haase would be more than enough for the former world No. 4 to advance. Haase, a straight-set winner over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, had previously lost during first-round action in both Doha (Nicolas Jarry) and Auckland (David Ferrer).
Pick: Berdych in 4
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Rafa in straights, Berdy in 4
Nadal in 3, Berdy in 3
Rafa shouldn’t have too many problems with Ebden unless he’s not physically okay. Ebden will make less UE’s than Duckworth and probably win more games, but I don’t think he’ll cause serious issues.
On another note, I saw some of Djokovic’s match and he looked pretty ominous, admittedly against a lowly opponent. Like pretty much everyone else I would have had Djokovic as favourite coming into the AO anyway, but he was right on the ball tonight. He did get broken early, but his opponent had started strongly & Novak wasted no time in breaking back immediately. Thereafter he was comfortably in control. Great depth of shot, excellent movement, ultra-consistent, bending the American side-to-side almost at will.
I’m still struggling to see who’s a decent shot at taking him out in this one, he does not look rusty post-Doha. His draw is actually no easy walk – he’s got returning-to-form Tsonga, probably Shapovalov, Medvedev/Goffin, maybe Nishikori, then perhaps Zverev/Coric.
On the other side, I would not like Fed or Nadal’s chances much at the moment. Djokovic looks like he has a decent grip on both of those match-up’s right now (unless it’s Nadal on clay). Aside from any mental obstacles, the court is also a bit fast for Rafa, and you’d have to question Fed’s ability to go five sets with Novak. As for any others, I would not want to see Anderson make it through, as he’d likely be toasted. Cilic or Khachanov would probably put up a better fight, on a good day they’re more of a threat with their attack.
Djokovic is literally every “expert’s” pick to win. Every one I’ve seen, which could be a first. But Nadal and Fed both have question marks over their heads re fitness, Fed due to age, and Rafa because he’s Rafa and has suffered one gazillion injuries at the AO.
Medvedev-Djokovic might be interesting. If Zverev gets to the semi he will definitely be a challenge.
I don’t see Shapo giving Novak any real problems – he’s too inconsistent. Nishikori would have lost his first rounder against an American I’ve never heard of – and I am American – if the guy hadn’t cramped up in the 3rd set and finally gave it up in the 5th. If Tsonga’s really “on song” could be a good match and if Djokovic is not in top form he could go down. Goffin is pretty similar to Djokovic, only not nearly as good.
Yeah, I agree, Medvedev/Tsonga could be interesting match-ups, since they have decent defence but also attacking weapons. Goffin and Nishikori are perhaps less likely to cause problems because they rely more on creativity or consistency, which is more comfortable for Novak. And as you say, Nishikori suddenly didn’t look so good in R1, so there’s even less hope for that potential match-up.
Rafa in 3; Berd in 3….and though Joker looks good, I’m still betting a vegemite sandwich on Fed!
Vegemite sandwhich lol good one 🙂
Keep your mind focused, remain confident and be strong, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxBMhUFW0AAPwht.jpg
Vamos Rafa!
Very entertaining match between Nadal/Ebden. Ebden came on with a plan to be aggressive, as they all do, and I was a bit nervous at first because he was holding his serve very easily and Rafa was making errors. But, boy, once Rafa got into his groove, Ebden was at sea without an anchor.
Vamos!
What you said. 🙂 Rafa was groovin’, especially with his fearhand. Vamos!
Next match v the Demon will be tougher but the kid has a long hard road behind him already.
Yes, Alex DM is the BIG ONE that will have Rafa quacking in his boots.
Quacking? I don’t think so!
Rafa still needs to sharpen up his RoS but I expect that will come. Currently I’m a bit more worried about Berdy than the Demon. I think Berdy will get through to the 4th round – Schwartzman had a really tough 5 setter – it was like there was a fire sale on the things last night.
Rafa quaking in his boots about playing Demon is based on Ricky’s prediction. We will see how that unfolds on Friday.
Rafa will have to play his ‘A’ game against Berdych but Rafa has a good record against him leading their h2h 18-4. Still, every match is a new match and has to be won on the day. I am always nervous, whoever Rafa is playing.
Me too, I’m always nervous watching Rafa.
I also think that this Berdych will be a tough one should Rafa meet him. Berdych finished off his two opponents in fine style, hardly broke sweat!
Rafa will be meeting another Aussie who likes to approach the net, just like the other two. It seems that the Aussies like coming to the net! Nowadays, not only Fed, but even Rafa comes forward more often, and that Berdych guy is also doing the same! This has become a new trend among the current players – both old and young gen.
Vaamoos Rafa!! ✌ ✌
I saw my recording of Rafa’s match. I think he looked better in this match. Starting to get his feet under him and looking focused. Every match, each win is so important as Rafa trues to play himself into form.
I don’t think anyone should believe that De Minaur will be tired. At 19, you don’t get tired. Winning breeds confidence, especially give set matches where you are tested. Rafa will need to be ready for this kid. He has the advantage in experience, smarts and tactical skill. That should serve him well in this match,
Vamos Rafa!
I agree that De Minaur probably won’t have as much trouble with fatigue as older players. HOWEVER, there is no way that he will be fatigueless. And he would need to pretty much fatigueless if he wants to any shot of winning 3 out of 5 sets against Rafa. Now that Rafa has a couple solid matches under his belt, I believe that De Minaur seriously only has like a 1% chance KD beating Rafa.
If I was a betting man, I would bet a lot of money that Rafa DESTROYS De Minaur. I just don’t realistically see it going any other way. The only way De Minaur will realistically win that match is if Rafa becomes physically hampered, and I just don’t see that happening. I’m my opinion, Rafa has played extremely well the last few years at AO, last year’s injury aside. I envision De Minaur just being completely overwhelmed physically by Rafa.
Sure, his chances of upsetting Rafa are not non-existent… but they’re very low, imo.
2 Aussies down, one to go.
Rafa TRIES to play himself into form! *
Winning breeds confidence, especially FIVE set matches! *