Rafael Nadal will begin his bid for a second title in as many weeks when he faces fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers on Wednesday in Barcelona. Thomaz Bellucci and Alexander Zverev are also in second-round action.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. Marcel Granollers
Three days after capturing a ninth title at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, Nadal will kick off his week at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. The fifth-ranked Spaniard lifted a winner’s trophy for the first time since last summer (Hamburg) after outlasting Andy Murray in the semis and Gael Monfils in the final. Nadal is now 17-6 for the season and 9-1 in his last 10 non-retirement matches. He is 43-3 lifetime in Barcelona with eight titles, but it was Kei Nishikori who triumphed in both 2014 and 2015.
Up first for Nadal on Wednesday is a countryman who also fared extremely well in Monte-Carlo, albeit with plenty of luck. Granollers lost in qualifying but got a spot in the main draw–and straight to the second round–when David Ferrer withdrew. The world No. 50 parlayed his good fortune into wins over Alexander Zverev and David Goffin before succumbing to Monfils in the quarters. Granollers is 0-3 in his head-to-head series against Nadal and 0-6 in total sets. Nadal, who has never even played a tiebreaker against Granollers, last prevailed 7-5, 7-5 on the indoor hard courts of Paris in 2013. With the top seed increasing in confidence on the heels of his Monte-Carlo success, this should once again be one-way traffic.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 7 games or fewer
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(15) Thomaz Bellucci vs. Alexander Zverev
Bellucci and Zverev will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers on Wednesday. Zverev has won both of their previous encounters from a set down; 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-4 on the grass courts of Nottingham last summer and 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 one month later on the clay courts of Bastad. The German, who is playing this one on his 19th birthday, really made a name for himself in 2015 but has taken his game to new heights this season. Zverev owns 12 ATP-level match wins, including three each in Montpellier and Indian Wells, after taking care of compatriot Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 6-3 on Monday.
Bellucci just barely managed to snag an opening-round bye as the 15th and second-to-last seed in Barcelona. Such a status is no thanks to his form in 2016, which has seen him slump to a 4-9 record. The 35th-ranked Brazilian has lost his opening match in five straight tournaments and is 0-6 in his last six matches dating back to a final setback at the hands of Victor Estrella Burgos in Quito. Even on a surface that favors Bellucci, there is nothing much to like about his chances against a red-hot Zverev.
Pick: Zverev in 2
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well done rafa!
and thanks for sparing us another nervous collapse by getting it done in straights!
more of the same please….
Looking at rafa’s draw it seems like clear sailing to the final. I don’t want to jinx it, but I think it’s on rafa’s racket,
i mean, it’s on Rafa’s racket against anyone except Djokovic on clay
and Djokovic ain’t in the draw
Djoko included.
^not for now… if he can find his best tennis, then yes..
Nole is 6-14 on clay vs Rafa and three of those wins were since 2014 when Rafa’s “mental problema” was in play.
So VR is right without exception.
Djoko has lost his 2 last matches on clay.
So your point is? When was the last time he lost to Rafa on clay?
You are making an assertion that is not supported by recent history, specifically the last year and a half. Or have you forgotten that Rafa lost to Novak at RG last year in the quarterfinals?
There is nothing wrong with being realistic here. No one is saying that Rafa will never beat Rafa on clay again. Just not at this time.
Yes, I have to agree about not including Novak. Rafa has more work to do if he is to beat Novak on clay.
Agreed, this is very obvious nny. Especially if Nole is at his best.
Sorry, I meant to say that no one is saying that Rafa will never beat NOVAK on clay!
NNY (AT 5:43 PM)
—So your point is?—
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It’s a fact.
Nativenewyorker (AT 5:44 PM),
—no one is saying that Rafa…—
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I wonder how YOU know what EACH one is saying. 🙄
Nice win! Rafa’s on a roll now… Needs to improve the BP conversion rate and get more solid on service games…
Agreed. Very positive signs as of late but still much more consistency required to win a slam against tougher components over more rounds and BO5.
Rafa defeated the reigning Roland Garros champion in Monte-Carlo last week.
Hawkeye,
I am in agreement with you and VR. There is more that has to be done. But for now, it’s all about winning. Rafa has a great opportunity to get more wins and a title here. That can only help his confidence and that will mean good things when he has to face tougher competition at Madrid and Rome.
I know what people are saying here because I actually read the comments.
What you said is about Rafa just beating Stan as the RG champion may be true, but it has precisely nothing to do with the discussion we were having relative to Rafa beating Novak on clay.
Hope this helps.
“I know what people are saying here because I actually read the comments.”
For a select few, don’t bother. I don’t once I see the name.
NNY (AT 7:44 PM),
—it has precisely nothing to do with the discussion we were having—
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YOU are having discussion? YOU didn’t have any discussion about Djoko before I replied with 2 words to Ricky’s comment:
augusta08 APRIL 20, 2016 AT 4:23 PM “Djoko included.”
Hope it helps.
Bravo for the win in straights! Keep improving, Rafa!
Vamos Champ!
Novak is clearly not at his best! This Rafa would definitely beat Nole’s MC version!
All Rafa needs is confidence and belief! His game is on and he is still improving! Hope he makes some good results on clay and gets ready for RG!
Vamos Rafa! We believe in you!
It’s all about peaking at the right time nats.
I wouldn’t be fooled by that first round loss. As you’ve pointed out, he needs rest.
I don’t want to rely on a compromised Novak.
I want Rafa as strong as possible for RG (regardless of Nole’s level) and he is going in the right direction but his consistency and serve has to improve for chances to actually get through seven BO5 rounds and win in Paris (regardless of the opponent).
@hawks 6:54pm
Me too…I also don’t rely on Novak’s drop in level but I know one thing for sure: Novak’s losses greatly contribute to him losing his invisibilty aura and in the same time buillds Rafa’s shaken confidence. I know that Rafa can only play his best against Novak if he strongly believes in his own chances…mental game it is!
Vamos!
Agreed. At least Rafa is keeping my hopes alive for this year.
Certainly more so than last.
Hawkeye,
Bravo! Well said! Rafa is going in the right direction and is making real progress. But Novak had been the dominant player now. He presents unique challenges that even Rafa has acknowledged because he ought to know!
I applaud you for not wanting to rely on a compromised Novak! I am with you all the way! Let Rafa take him on at his best and prevail because he will have found his best.
Rafa is the one player who can challenge Novak. But he must strengthen his serve and do better converting break chances.
I look forward to seeing Rafa challenge Novak, but I know that Rafa will take nothing for granted. Anyone who is hoping for Novak to wilt or burn out is living in a fool’s paradise,
I want Rafa to face Novak even at his best and win!
Natashao (AT 6:46 PM),
Real Rafans always believe in Rafa! 🙂
Real Rafans see reality and can face it and be honest about it! We still love Rafa, no matter what!
Real Rafans can respect and praise his opponents, as Rafa himself has done. Real Rafans follow and emulate his example!
NNY (AT 7:54 PM),
The ATP players are obliged to be polite towards each other.
The ATP Rulebook, page 178:
¤¤… it is an obligation for ATP players and Related Persons, to refrain from engaging in conduct contrary to the integrity of the game of tennis.
a) Conduct contrary to the integrity of the game shall include, but not be limited to, publicized comments that unreasonably attack or disparage any person or group of people, a tournament, sponsor, player, official or the ATP. … ¤¤
.
Fans are under no obligation to praise every player.
So you are reducing rafa’s comments to a formality, just being polite because of the rules? I find that pretty insulting to Rafa!
Also, it appears that some players did not read that rule. Nik Kyrgios comes to mind. Andy Murray is another one. Even Fed for that matter. There are many players who have not been gracious and complimentary towards other players.
But I find it really surprising that you would reduce rafa’s gracious comments towards his opponents to just going along with some rule. That is not being very respectful if Rafa at all. I think it’s about the way he was brought up and the values his family instilled in him.
Players can opt to say as little, or even nothing polite about their opponents if they wish.
You are really not giving Rafa the credit he is due for being such a good sportsman.
What a shame.
NNY, as I’m sure you know, Rafa has had some choice words for Berdych, Rosol and Soderling (and a certain chair umpire) so he speaks his mind about others when he has something to say. He’s even been critical of Federer.
Anyone who says Rafa never has a bad word for other players when they deserve it doesn’t really know much about Rafa.
Rafa has also criticized and accused US Open officials of only caring about money.
Those that know about Rafa like you nny and most Rafans here, know these things.
NNY (AT 11:14 PM),
—You are really not giving Rafa the credit he is due for being such a good sportsman.—
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You are constructing your own imaginary stories, as usual. I wonder whom your made-up stories are meant for. 🙄
Just to clarify for others, the reason NNY was punching me here is that I didn’t praise…Djoko! And hawk, who is a Djoko fan, has been pleased. 😆
Rafa turned his right ankle and fell at the beginning of the 4th game. During the next changover, he told the trainer that he felt “something” in the foot at the beginning but it hadn’t bothered him afterwards and he could play without treatment. Hopefully, everything is OK with his foot.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CggevfVWwAAvtuh.jpg
Gosh, hope he is ok! No injuries please!!!
Hawkeye,
Thanks for setting the record straight and making a better case in defense of rafa’s honesty than I did. You are correct in the examples that you cited and it is actually further proof that Rafa is not someone who is being polite because of some ATP rule.
You make an even more compelling case to the effect that when Rafa praises his opponents, it is sincere and honest. Rafa was brought up to be polite and respectful to people, however he was also brought up to speak his mind when necessary,
I made the case for Rafa being sincerely honest in his praise of his rivals, but you went one step further in reminding us that Rafa can tell it like it is and be critical when he feels it necessary!
Thank you! 🙂
As a true Rafan and tennis fan, it’s my pleasure nny! 🙂
AT 1:12 & 1:19 AM.
Clear, NNY is misconstruing others’ comments for hawk.
Rafa finished the match in straightforward fashion and seemed to be moving fine.
To put an end to NNY’s imaginary stories about me above, I repeat:
real Rafans always believe in Rafa. Vamos Rafa!