Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are on a collision course for what would be a rare quarterfinal head-to-head contest at a 500-point event. They first have to get past Roberto Carballes Baena and Martin Klizan, respectively, on Wednesday.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. Roberto Carballes Baena
It is safe to say that Carballes Baena is not catching Nadal at a good time for his first-ever shot at his heavily-favored fellow Spaniard. On a hard court or grass when Nadal is less than 100 percent would be ideal, but the opposite will be true for Wednesday’s battle at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell: the world No. 1 is perfectly healthy and also playing on clay. He has bounced back from a hip injury with a perfect 7-0 record on the slow stuff this season, including 16-0 in total sets. Nadal destroyed everything in his path en route to an 11th Monte-Carlo title last week and he will be looking to accomplish the same feat in Barcelona.
It has already been a breakout 2018 campaign for Carballes Baena, mostly thanks to his first career ATP title on the red clay of Quito–where he beat a red-hot Nicolas Jarry and also world No. 21 Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the final. The 25-year-old, who is currently five spots off his career-high ranking at 77th in the world, has already won seven ATP-level matches this season after previously winning 12 in his entire time on the professional circuit. Carballes Baena maintained his fine form with a 6-2, 6-4 rout of Andreas Haider-Maurer on Tuesday. But this occasion–and certainly this opponent–will likely be way too big for the underdog.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 3-4 games
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(Q) Martin Klizan vs. (6) Novak Djokovic
Djokovic and Klizan will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers on Tuesday. All four of their previous encounters have gone the way of Djokovic, who is 8-1 in total sets against the Slovak. The two veterans have never faced each other on clay, but they squared off on two different surfaces in 2017; Djokovic prevailed 6-3, 7-6(4) on the hard courts of Acapulco before getting a second-set retirement from Klizan at Wimbledon.
The 12th-ranked Serb appears to be heating up just in time to make a run at a second French Open title–or perhaps saying “just in time to save his season” would be more accurate, given that it looks like everyone other than Nadal is playing for second place on clay. Djokovic has been plagued by injuries throughout the last 10 months, but he looked much better in Monte-Carlo with wins over Dusan Lajovic and Borna Coric prior to a three-set loss at the hands of Dominic Thiem. Due to physical problems of his own, Klizan is toiling away at No. 140 in the rankings. The 28-year-old has at least managed to turn in an already productive week in Barcelona, with successful qualification for the main draw followed by a 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4 defeat of Federico Delbonis on Tuesday. A quick turnaround to face Djokovic following a two-hour and 56-minute contest is not a recipe for success.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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WWW?
Hey Ricky you think Nadal will win a set 6-0 or 6-1?
what kind of odds can you get on that?
It’s a free pick on ESPN fantasy streak game. It’s one of the selections.
Yes so what say you?
Idemo Nole! Hope it’s in 2 sets but …we’ll see – Klizan can get hot 😀
Rafa in 2 – no more losing no more than a game or 2. Vamos Rafa!
Nny…This is for u…
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/950680/Rafael-Nadal-Carlos-Moya-preparation-Monte-Carlo-Masters
MA,
Thanks so much for that! I love these articles you post! So Rafa did feel the need to practice more before the final!
It’s great to hear from Moya that Rafa is healthy and feeling good!
Vamos Rafa in Barcelona!
😍
Hehehe…I knew you’re gonna love that articles Nny!…And you’re very much welcome Nny!…As soon i finished reading,i thought of u immediately coz i know knowing about Rafa’s health is really important to u….Especially when it came from Carlos himself…
Yeah Nny…as soon as he finished his semi,he immediately took the phone & ordered Carlos to book a court..i guess he was not satisfied with his game that day..especially the FH that strewn all over the place…
Nny!…This article is interesting too!…
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/950907/Rafael-Nadal-news-Carlos-Moya-Barcelona-Open
Stay focused, remain confident and enjoy the game, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dbni1OcX0AEsQmS.jpg
Djokovic is clearly lost in the wilderness! Pepe his guru (who is in his box today) has turned into a malevolent presence.
he was still way better than in IW or Miami
It’s no secret I’m not a Djokovic fan but it’s sad to see a champion of his caliber in such a prolonged slump.
It was never about physical injury for me.
I don’t think any player could sustain the lack of respect he gets from the tennis world (fans/media alike) for as long as he did to be honest. Lendl was mentally able to deal with mass unpopularity for a few years like Djokvic but never won another slam or main Masters event once he turned 30.
Like Lendl, it was just a matter of time for Nole.
#BetweenTheEars
Rafa in straight, losing 5-7.
Lendl had back problems in the latter part of his career. That is what caused him to stop playing. He did not care about being liked by the fan. He had to ge very tough in that era. He was up against bith McEnroe and Connors and ultimately had to beat them both to win his first US Open. Back then players would try to hit the ball at their opponents. It was not nearly as civilized as it is now.
I see no similarities between Lendl and what is going on with Novak. I said last year that I did not think Novak would come back quickly. I see his problem as mainly mental, a kind of burnout.
I agree with ed. I am no Novak fan, but it is difficult to see him struggling this way. He may be making improvement, but it is coming slowly. He is a shadow of the player who dominated this sport for several years.
Same here. I haven’t watched any of Novak’s recent matches closely, but he really does seem to have “forgotten how to play tennis”. Maybe he’s presently just not capable of the sustained effort. Whether that’s primarily mental or physical I can’t say. I will say that to win, you have to summon the will to win. But something’s keeping him out there, and it isn’t a lack of money.
I’ve never noticed any disrespect on the part of the media or commentators. Most Rafans and Fedfans don’t care much for him but you gotta expect that and he does have those who love him.
Disagree. Fans cheer his errors and missed first serves when he’s ever about to beat Fed in a slam.
Lendl’s back problems came years after he stopped winning slams. It was his wrist that caused him trouble in 1990. Regardless. Doesn’t matter.
Physical and mental injuries are not necessarily unrelated and either one can relate to cause and effect.
Media very disrespectful to Nole many time and here in the way he was badgered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjpivhHD_qU
Here’s a great article on Lendl, the writer saying “we don’t hate Lendl” but then being disrespectful about why he’s disliked. WTF???
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1986/07/04/champion-of-apathy-lendls-attitude-sours-regard-for-his-skills/3c73fa8a-c7b6-4366-9592-cf1115e949a4/?utm_term=.d4c4a105e0d5
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1986/07/04/champion-of-apathy-lendls-attitude-sours-regard-for-his-skills/3c73fa8a-c7b6-4366-9592-cf1115e949a4/?utm_term=.d4c4a105e0d5
Anyways, we see things differently is all.
I see a lot of parallels.
Disagree. Fans cheer his errors and missed first serves when he’s ever about to beat Fed in a slam.
Lendl’s back problems came years after he stopped winning slams. It was his wrist that caused him trouble in 1990. Regardless. Doesn’t matter.
Physical and mental injuries are not necessarily unrelated and either one can relate to cause and effect.
Media very disrespectful to Nole many time and here in the way he was badgered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjpivhHD_qU
Here’s a great article on Lendl, the writer saying “we don’t hate Lendl” but then being disrespectful about why he’s disliked. WTF???
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1986/07/04/champion-of-apathy-lendls-attitude-sours-regard-for-his-skills/3c73fa8a-c7b6-4366-9592-cf1115e949a4/?utm_term=.d4c4a105e0d5
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1986/07/04/champion-of-apathy-lendls-attitude-sours-regard-for-his-skills/3c73fa8a-c7b6-4366-9592-cf1115e949a4/?utm_term=.d4c4a105e0d5
Anyways, we see things differently is all.
I see a lot of parallels.
Much credit to Carballes Baena,he really made it a competitive first set,however Rafa was clutch in the key points and prevailed 💪
Rafa was broken and now they are even ar3-3-3. This guy Baena is playing very well. He seems to not be intimidated by playing Rafa on the court named for him.
I saw that Rafa’s draw has opened up. Djoker lost and Nishi had to retire.
This guy Baena is hanging in there.
Absolutely,this guy’s holding his composure in a great way,playing freely as he can.
Autocorrect butchered the score in my last post. If course I meant to say it’s 3-3.
Rafa has break point now.
Rafa breaks!
This guy Baena has won more games against Rafa than anyone else.
Rafa’s forehand firing to get the break,Vamos!
He did very well going to the net in this game,playing more agressive,finishing the points with some delicious volleys,what a joy to watch 🙂
Carballes Baena is making Rafa work slightly harder than was expected.
Baena doesn’t want to get broken to lose the match.
True,he’s hanging up pretty well and not making it easy for Rafa.
Not slightly, very hard. Rafa better go improve his FH, he’s leaking errors all over the place with that shot!
Agree,the FH was a bit off today.When he was going to the angles with his BH,like he did exceptionally well at Monte Carlo,he also committed more mistakes than usual.
Rafa has to serve it out.
Rafa wins! He got a workout from this guy.
The streak of consecutive sets won on clay keeps going,I wonder how long will it last!
Vamos Rafa 👑🎾
Another unsurprising loss for Djokovic and an unsurprising win for Nadal 😄