Rafael Nadal will be back in action when he takes the court for a first-round match against Simone Bolelli on Monday in Basel. David Goffin and Dominic Thiem are also kicking off their campaigns.
(Q) Simone Bolelli vs. (2) Rafael Nadal
Nadal has been plagued by wrist problems and appendicitis, but his season will trudge along when the Swiss Indoors Basel begins on Monday. The third-ranked Spaniard has played only two tournaments since Wimbledon and to say they have not gone well would be an understatement. He won two matches in Beijing but then got upset by Martin Klizan before dropping his Shanghai opener against Feliciano Lopez. Nadal, who is reportedly not expected to participate in the World Tour Finals, is 0-2 lifetime in Basel but has only played the event in 2003 and 2004.
Up first for the No. 2 seed is Bolelli, against whom he is 3-0. Nadal prevailed 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 five years ago in Rotterdam then cruised 6-3, 6-3 at the 2010 Doha event and 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 at the 2012 French Open, thus leaving the favorite 2-0 in the head-to-head series on hard courts. Bolelli has enjoyed a resurgent season that has him up to No. 77 in the world as of Sunday. The Italian is just 1-3 (qualifying not included) since a controversial U.S. Open loss to Tommy Robredo and he failed to qualify in Beijing. However, he successfully qualified for the main draw this week by taking out both Lucas Pouille and Andreas Haider-Maurer in three sets. Nadal’s last match of 2014 could come at any moment, but this one should not be it.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 8-10 games
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(7) David Goffin vs. Dominic Thiem
Goffin and Thiem will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers and for the fourth time this season when they face each other again on Monday. All three of their previous encounters have gone Goffin’s way, but they have not yet squared off on a hard court. The Belgian won 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(1) in Acapulco qualifying, 6-4, 6-2 at Queen’s Club, and 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the Kitzbuhel final.
Since Wimbledon, Goffin has played 41 matches and is an unbelievable 39-2. Although much of his run has come at the Challenger level, he not only captured his first ATP title in Kitzbuhel but also triumphed on the indoor hard courts of Metz. Thiem reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open, but his fall-swing match record is a disappointing 1-3. The 21-year-old Austrian is an all-court player, but he seems to fare better on a slower surface like clay that gives him time for his one-handed backhand and for a forehand that uses a extensive windup. There is no reason to think Goffin’s hot streak won’t continue.
Pick: Goffin in 2
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“It’s going to be one of the most dangerous first rounds in a 500 tournament that I’ve played in a long time,” admitted the Manacor native. “I am not 100 per cent sure what is going to happen tomorrow. I haven’t practised well enough or enough times. My body feels more tired than usual when I’m playing.”
Vamos Rafa! Do you best……….
^^”your”
don’t you?
or do you?
Bolelli winning has 26 votes
1st serve % is gonna be critical for Rafa today……………
so far NOT good!
Rafa getting warm……….
nice hold for 2-1
Rafa breaks without having to work particularly hard………
Bolelli pressing too hard.
direct quote by the TTC announcer!
Can’t let Neil Harman have all the fun, thought I’d try my luck at a little plagiarism!
4-1
“Bolelli pressing too hard” is mine though, not plagiarized.
just saying…..
#analysis
Rafa didn’t need to get out of the locker room to win that 1st set, atrocious from Bolelli…..
set Nadal
Rafa is doing well, considering.
Vintage DTL running FH winner for Rafa to break……………
Easy-peasy for Rafa!
Vamos!!
What a player Rafa is. He simply lights the place up with his scintillating tennis.
Rafa stormed into the second round!
Vaamoos!!
http://www.funutilities.com/files/smileys/07/02/100.gif
Two days ago I was asking people to remind me why?! what is the reasoning behind this rather foolish decision for Rafa to play Basel?! I thought he must have decided to do so due to his sponsors and the pressure they put on him…But, seeing him play today my heart feels worm again…I just LOVE watching Rafa on court even though this is indoor tourney, even though Rafa is not healthy and not even close to his best, even though Rafa has a pending surgery and this is the least favorite time and surface for him, even though he never won a match at this tourney…oh, so many reason why I should hold no expectations…however, this very moment I feel so proud of Rafa not giving in to the unfortunate circumstances…and it is nice to see Uncle T. on the stands…
Love you Rafa no matter what!
Vamos Rafa!
It was a full house to watch Rafa play, sold out. Empty seats for Goffin vs Thiem………..
despite the fact that it’s a way better match
Then why am I watching re-runs of Breaking Bad instead?
#Rhetorical
i can’t think of a worse decision
I used to like Juan Jose, not any more! Not after a comment like this:
RT @juan_jo_sports : “I see Mr. Appendicitis wins. Can’t claim I’ve ever seen a medical subplot quite like this one.”
Go to hell, Juan Jose!
Ricky, the Nadal/Bolelli match was great. OK, Rafa won in straight sets, but it’s the process in a Nadal match that is so fascinating to watch.
“matchup” is what i meant
but yes, the match is better too
Here’s Rafa’s on court post match interview:
http://youtu.be/7MoWCyDZH9M
It’s Herbert for Rafa in the 2nd round.
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