A blockbuster quarterfinal on Friday in Basel will pit Rafael Nadal against Marin Cilic. A far more surprising showdown features fellow Americans Jack Sock and Donald Young.
(7) Marin Cilic vs. (3) Rafael Nadal
Nadal and Cilic will be squaring off for just the fourth time in their careers and for the first time in more than four years when they clash in the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors Basel on Friday. Nadal is leading the head-to-head series 2-1 after cruising 6-1, 6-3 on the clay courts of Rome in 2011. They have split their two previous hard-court encounters with respective blowouts; Cilic dominated 6-1, 6-3 in the 2009 Beijing semifinals before Nadal coasted 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 in round four of the 2011 Australian Open.
Despite a mostly disappointing season, Nadal qualified comfortably for the World Tour Finals. The seventh-ranked Spaniard is starting to post improved results, with a final in Beijing, a semifinal in Shanghai, and now a quarterfinal in Basel thanks to three-set wins over Lukas Rosol and Grigor Dimitrov.
Unless he gets an alternate spot, Cilic will not be returning to London–where he made his year-end championship debut in 2014. But that is mainly because a shoulder injury forced him to miss basically three full months of the season. At the moment, the 13th-ranked Croat is playing like a sure-fire top 10 player. He is 17-4 since the start of the U.S. Open and 6-0 in his last six matches, a stretch that includes a title last week in Moscow and straight-set Basel victories at the expense of Marco Chiudinelli and Teymuraz Gabashvili. Cilic has the prototypical game that can trouble Nadal: big serve, first-strike groundstrokes, and a flawless two-handed backhand. And unlike Rosol, he is consistent enough to execute his game-plan.
Pick: Cilic in 2
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Donald Young vs. Jack Sock
It’s not often that anyone–especially not an American–faces three consecutive Americans at a 32-man indoor event in Europe. But that is what Sock will do when he goes up against Young on Friday. The world No. 29 has already taken out countrymen Denis Kudla and John Isner, both in straight sets. A red-hot Sock is an outstanding 34-16 for the season and coming off a runner-up showing last week in Stockholm.
Surprisingly, this is only the second career meeting between Sock and Young, and first at the ATP level. They previously collided at the 2013 Winnetka Challenger, where Sock prevailed 6-3, 6-4. Also back on the rise just like his opponent, Young registers at 49th in the world thanks in part to an improbably dramatic run to the U.S. Open fourth round. The 26-year-old has advanced this week with victories over Henri Laaksonen and Kevin Anderson. This should be high-quality affair with both men extremely confident right now, but an edge goes to Sock based on superior firepower.
Pick: Sock in 3
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Sock will continue to go as the Royals go. When he wins, they win.
“He is 17-4 since the start of the U.S. Open and 6-0 in his last six matches,”
None of those wins against a player ranked better that No. 18.
It would be Cilic’s first victory over a Top 10 player in over a year since he beat Fed at the US Open in 2014.
That said, picking Rafa matches is a coin toss.
The Cilic who beat Fed at the USO was an impersonator. 🙂 He hasn’t shown up since.
Have you been asleep in 2015?
I haven’t been asleep at all.
This is Rafa’s least stressful match so far in Basel.
Shouldn’t be but probably will be. I didn’t realize Cilic has beat Nadal one out of three I thought or assumed really that Rafa had won like 5 out of 5 or something. Still I don’t know if Cilic has the mental strength or belief to beat a top player right now even if it is a less dangerous version of Rafa. Still I think Nadal will fight through. I was thinking Nadal in two but I’ll give Marin a set. An upset isn’t out of the question but I’m taking Rafa nonetheless.
I wouldn’t call a guy who is ranked #13 should be dismissed. It’s true that Cilic is not playing at the level he was in 2014, but the shoulder injury cost him three months this year. He’s done well to be where he’s at right now.
Sorry, I meant to say I wouldn’t say that a guy ranked #13 should be dismissed!
I can see why Ricky took Cilic in straights though. I just have a feeling Rafa will step u his game when it matters most and Marin will disappoint with the opportunity kinda like dimitrov did.
That match in Beijing in 2009 when Cilic easily beat Nadal, Nadal didn’t turn up, he said he wasn’t mentally on court, I expect due to the emotional stress he was under with the divorce of his parents going through and being on call from Spain with the latest developments, so I discount the result of that match.
Of course, if Rafa turns up below par, anything can happen, but if he is switched on, he should come through.
As for the all American match up I’m gonna take young in 3. I think this will really solidify young’s recent improved consistency. Plus he will be less tired and I think he should match up well with sock.
Rafa will find a way to win. Cilic does serve well but hes more one dimensional than Dimi. Cilic’s weakness is his FH and if Rafa knows and exploits that, I like Rafa’s chances of winning.
Rafa will find a way to win. Cilic does serve well but hes more one dimensional than Dimi. Cilic’s weakness is his FH and if Rafa knows and exploits that, I like Rafa’s chances of winning.
I should say Cilic is one dimensional compared to Dimi (Dimi isnt one dimensional).
I agree that Rafa will find a way to win. But I don’t think it’s going to be easy. Cilic hasn’t been great this year, nowhere as good as last year when he won the USO, these indoor hard courts suit his game.
I like the way Rafa has been fighting and changing his tactics in his matches. He’s got the better tennis brain and also more weapons at his disposal. But I think it could go 3 sets.
I don’t think winning necessarily makes a player tired. I am going with Sock to get the win over Young in 3 sets.
Another match with two American men. Nice to see!
Team Cutness lost 75 76 to Rojer/Tecau. Not a bad showing, their opponents where the #2 seeds.
I just want a Fedal final to see Ricky pick Rafa as the favourite anytime anywhere.
That would be epic.
Wouldn’t that be lovely!
Depends.
Nadal vs Cilic AO 2011
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xmuk49_australian-open-2011-4-th-round-rafael-nadal-vs-marin-cilic-highlights-hd_sport
These were the days, oh how I really miss those days!!!
I’m neutral on these matches but it would be really interesting to see how much young could challenge Rafa on these courts and how they r both lefties would make for an entertaining matchup imo unless of course young got blown off the court.
The chance would be a fine thing as that would be the final although I prefer Fedal in the final myself. Epic.
Oh geez lol thought that could be a semi nvm there’s basically no way that’s happening lol.
Fedal would be awesome.
If Fed can’t beat this version of Rafa indoors in his home town, there is no hope for him to ever beat him again.
True.
Sock might take care of Federer.
Not in Switzerland that just won’t happen imo.
Why not?
Not anywhere anytime.
Obvious reasons lol. Roger in Switzerland, more experience, federer’s serve, fed is fed, etc.
Yes, Sock is not beating Fed in Basel!
OOP for Friday:
http://www.protennislive.com/posting/2015/328/op.pdf
flawless backhand Cilic really? it was awful today
yes, technically. His forehand is the side that breaks down.
It’s true. His backhand is really smooth.
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
Be calm, be focused, be confident, be brave, be strong, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSjO62-WUAAn0cw.png:medium