It was the unseeded player who had a much easier time advancing to the Basel second round, but both Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov managed to set up a blockbuster encounter on Wednesday. A place in the quarterfinals is at stake.
Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov will be facing each other for the seventh time in their careers when they collide in round two of the Swiss Indoors Basel on Wednesday night.
Nadal is sweeping the head-to-head series 6-0, including 3-0 on hard courts. Only their first-ever meeting came indoors, with the Spaniard surviving 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 at the 2009 Rotterdam event. Dimitrov took a set in each of their first four encounters, but Nadal blitzed through the last two. The current world No. 7 cruised 6-2, 6-2 last year in the Rome semifinals and 6-3, 6-4 earlier this season in the Madrid quarters.
This showdown came perilously close to being denied by none other than Lukas Rosol. The big-hitting Czech stormed out of the gates against Nadal on Monday and served for a straight-set win. Leading 6-1, 5-4, 30-0, however, Rosol cracked at the finish line and Nadal eventually prevailed 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) after two hours and 16 minutes.
“It was a very tough match emotionally,” Basel’s No. 3 said after scraping past Rosol in what was a predictably contentious battle. “At the same time, it’s a great victory. It’s important for me to have these kinds of comebacks. I’ve been in these situations more times than I would like this year, so I’m happy to win a match like this.”
Nadal may be in the midst of a disappointing year overall, but he is a solid 9-2 since the U.S. Open.
Not unlike his opponent, Dimitrov will take a win any way he can get it these days. The 28th-ranked Bulgarian pocketed a refreshingly routine one on Tuesday, easing past Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-3, 6-4 without facing a single break point. Dimitrov is 31-20 for what has been a rough 2015 campaign and he is a similarly mediocre 5-4 since the start of the U.S. Open.
Although the former world No. 8 is far more dynamic and overall better player than Rosol, he cannot trouble Nadal in the same way. Rosol blasted Nadal off the court for a set–and almost two–on Monday, just as he had done for three out of five sets at Wimbledon in 2012. Dimitrov has never been able to do so and his current form suggests nothing will change in this one.
With a match under his belt, Nadal should raise his level considerably and defeat Dimitrov for a seventh straight time.
Pick: Nadal in 2
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Nadal in straights
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
I like Rafa’s chances against Dimi. He will come out with a big boost of confidence after the win against Rosol. In the past I would expect Dimi to maybe present a challenge, but not now. He’s had a rough year and this should be clear sailing for Rafa.
Rafa in 2 sets.
Rafa in 2….but he was lucky to get by Rosol!
I need a kudla vs Jack sock analysis. Kudla looks to be in lower form recent but sock has played a lot recently and may be fatigued also kudla beat sock their most recent meetings. I think kludla can win you?
no. Sock will be inspired to beat a fellow American. He hates losing to those guys. Kudla has been a disaster. Sock wont get tired until R2.
Nadal was playing his 1st match indoors for a year against Rosol and Rosol had had a good run in Vienna, coupled with the fact that Rafa’s serve was below par at the beginning of the match. So there were reasons why Rosol was able to take charge of the match until late in the 2nd set when he blinked and Rafa stepped up. Rafa will need to serve well to be in the driving seat today.
Now that Rafa has rubbed away the rust, he should play better against Dimi who really didn’t have to do a lot to win against Sergio yesterday.
Keep your mind focused, remain calm and show your fighting spirit, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSZp2nSWIAA6sRR.png:medium
Bernard tomic is kyrgios mug friend. It’s funny he lost. In a similar fashion as kyrgios. I really think they both throw matches in these smaller tournaments and they have their friends bet against them. It’s totally possible look at. Kyrgios vs nedovyesov. Kyrgios was a -3000 favorite but he openly tanked the match and his reason was that he didn’t want to be there. I’m almost certain he told friends to bet against him for +1400 and they gots paid hard that Davis cup match. The fact that he has a bad boy personality supports him doing this with tomic. Tomic was arrested not too long ago from bs. Him and krygips are corrupted.
he didnt throw a Davis Cup match
I don’t agree with the comment about Tomic and Krygios. It’s a pretty serious allegation to level at any player, that they would deliberately throw any match to give their friends a good betting win. I just don’t see that.
here is a examples of kyrgios throwing matches
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/11720887/Nick-Kyrgios-gives-up-entirely-during-game-against-Richard-Gasquet-at-Wimbledon-2015.html
please look up the davis cup match when kyrgios saids “i dont want to be here” he threw that one as a -3000 favorite
also bernard tomic was a -600 favorite during his newport match but he lost that one because he tanked it. he just dont care about winning. around this match time, he was drinking all night partying look here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3164231/Disgraced-Australian-tennis-star-arrested-Miami-scuffle-security-wild-penthouse-party-lavish-beachfront-hotel.html
he has been and will always not take tennis serious. He and kyrgios has the skills to beat almost anyone on their day but they just dont commit to it.
Correct.
Nadal will serve first players warming up.
I’ve had it enough of Koenig and Knowitall and they’re still warming up.
how’s Rafa playing
Nadal with a forehand winner,then misses a forehand as Dimi forces him into an error, Nadal nets a cross court forehand to fall behind 15-30, Dimitrov nets a return 30 all Dimi has a Bp and he does get the break.
Rafa broken in his first service game. I think Rafa tried to come out aggressive but was kind of sloppy with the errors.
inauspicious start for Nadal.
Dimi holds to 30 and has a 2-0 lead.
Finally Rafa gets on the board with a hold on his serve. 2-1 Dimitrov.
Nadal drops first 2 points on serve but recovers to hold and he is on the board.
Dimitrov 30-0 but serves a double fault 15-30 but Nadal with a forehand miss gives Dimi 2 game points and Dimitrov holds with an astonishing shot.
Nadal wins the 1st point when he forces Dimi to miss a backhand, Dimitrov hits a forehand winner but Nadal has 2 game points he misses the 1st but takes the 2nd. Dimitrov 3-2