Rafael Nadal has survived a trio of three-setters and will face Richard Gasquet in the Basel semifinals on Saturday. Another intriguing semifinal showdown pits Roger Federer against an in-form Jack Sock.
(3) Rafael Nadal vs. (5) Richard Gasquet
Nadal and Gasquet will be going head-to-head for the 14th time in their careers at the ATP level when they collide in the semifinals of the Swiss Indoors Basel on Saturday. All 13 of their previous encounters have gone Nadal’s way, including five on hard courts (two indoors). The Spaniard has won 21 consecutive sets at Gasquet’s expense dating back to the 2008 Canada Masters. Gasquet actually once got the best of his nemesis, but that came via retirement after the opening set at an indoor Challenger event in France back in 2003.
The Frenchman is unlikely to benefit from that kind of luck this time around because Nadal appears to be heating up as the season comes to a close. The world No. 7 reached the Beijing final and the Shanghai semis, and so far this week he has survived Lukas Rosol, Grigor Dimitrov, and Marin Cilic all in three sets. Gasquet escaped a thriller of his own on Friday, when he saved one match point to scrape past Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-6(6). The fifth seed preceded that victory by taking out Jiri Vesely in three sets and Dominic Thiem in straights. Gasquet is an awesome 41-15 for the year and appears to be on his way to London as an alternate. This matchup, however, is quite clearly a disaster for him. He is unable to hit his opponent off the court with Nadal’s heavy forehand consistently getting the best of his one-handed backhand. Count on more of the same continuing, although this one should at least be competitive.
Pick: Nadal in 2
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(1) Roger Federer vs. Jack Sock
Federer and Sock will be squaring off for the second time in their careers and for the third time this season on Saturday. Their only previous meeting came in Indian Wells, where Federer coasted 6-3, 6-2. This is not exactly the setting Sock would choose in order to exact some revenge. After all, Federer is a six-time champion of this tournament, has been to nine consecutive finals, and boasts a 59-9 lifetime record. So far this week the 34-year-old Swiss has defeated Mikhail Kukushkin, Philipp Kohlschreiber, and David Goffin–surrendering sets to Kohlschreiber and Goffin in the process.
A red-hot Sock finished runner-up in Stockholm six days ago and he has not looked back. The 29th-ranked American rolled over Denis Kudla and John Isner before beating yet another countryman, Donald Young, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday. Sock is 35-16 for his 2015 campaign and he all but clinched a seed for the upcoming Australian Open. The underdog will be able to pepper Federer’s backhand with his own forehand that has been calculated at more revolutions per minute than that of Nadal. But Sock has played a ton of recent tennis and either fatigue or simply an overall dip in form showed up against Young. Unless Sock picks it back up and Federer plays like he did in set two against Goffin, this should be mostly straightforward.
Pick: Federer in 2
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Yes!! Finally Rafa wins and in straight sets! A hard fought one though. He really must up his level in the final. He’s still playing from way behind the baseline, not ideal but I guess its hard for him to change that.
Now, all those who say Rafa is no good on indoor hard courts go to the back of the class..
(*cough*, straw man argument, *cough*)
Should I put $800 on federer to win $100?
in a word, NO
For what it’s worth, no one here has said that Rafa is no good on indoor hard courts. Of course he can play on the surface, but it has not been his best.
DJ Why would anyone want to do that?
In his on-court interview, Rafa talked about his right knee: “I was a little bit scared too, but just I felt something …not in the knee I usually have problems… I ran a lot after that and I feel good, so I’m happy about everything and hope to be ready for tomorrow 100%.”
Rafa’s on-court interview on 31 Oct. 31, 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhpT034qsqU
How did Nadal play?
He play well for sure, no? Even though I think the match stats were pretty forgiving on his UE count.
I think Rafa still has some work to do, especially with getting broken in his first service games, but overall I think this is the best he’s looked this year. Much more aggressive, moving into the court to hit his groundstrokes with more depth and accuracy, stepping up to the baseline to receive second serves, serving smart.
The key for me is that Rafa is much more mentally focused now. He is also able to come back after getting broken. He’s staying in the fight and also making some key adjustments in his matches to change the dynamic and give him an advantage.
He’s not at his best yet but working to get there. This result speaks for itself.
Two pictures of his knee issue:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSqOPqdWcAAdI36.png:medium
Looks terrible!
what happened to his knee?
He explains in the on-court interview.
Who ya got in the final Ricky?
Wait Ricky said Rafa wouldn’t play Fed. Might be a hole in the space time continuum.
Looking forward to Ricky picking Rafa over Fed anywhere anytime.
Last chance Ricky. You can use the knee concern to pick Fed.
#DoYou???
Rafa was sliding on his left knee and then something seemed to happen to the right knee. He bent down and grabbed it and seemed to be in some pain. But after the trainer came and Rafa took a pill, he seemed okay.
Who’s playing in the final, anyone know?
Fed is winning easily as expected.
I think two guys named Fed and Rafa will be playing the final.
When is tomorrow’s match prediction coming out, does anyone know?
Sock is hilariously bad.
He could have been number 2 early in the weak era.
We have a Fedal final! Yipee!
Vamos Rafa!
Who’s the pick?
#AnywhereAnytime
^^^Any surface.
^^^Any Rafa.
I say – bring it on!
According to Sky, Roger is the favourite.
He is. A big one. 3:1 at the moment.
#HopeThisHelps
Rafa has only lost one set in the last 12 vs Roger winning the last five matches. Roger hasn’t beaten Rafa in 3.5 years,
It’s been almost two years since they played.
Fed in 2.
Is that your logic?! I really cant judge Roger’s game at the mo, he has had two 3 setters and his opponents I cant even remember their names. Between him and Rafa right now, I really cant say who is better. Just hoping for a great match…but one thing I know, whenever Rafa sees Fed on the other side of the net, he gets inspired…..i mean really, really inspired!!! Cant wait….vamos Rafa!!!
I don’t think it’s inspiration as much as it is that Rafa is simply the better player historically.
But right now Fed is No. 2 and Rafa is No 6 or 7 whatever it is.
And there is a reason for that.
hawkeye, predictions mean nothing to me. Hope this helps.
Your opinion on predictions means nothing to me. Hope this helps.
If predictions meant nothing to you, you wouldn’t post “According to Sky, Roger is the favourite.” lol.
#HereToHelp
I posted it for people like you who care about predictions.
OOP for Sunday:
http://www.protennislive.com/posting/2015/328/op.pdf
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Probably not.
A so-so Fed in 2 over a knobbly kneed non-peak Rafa.
#GloryDays
As usual Rafa will find a way to win. Fed was shanking all over the place and its Sock who was really bad to lose in straight sets. I doubt Rafa would be as clueless as Kukushin or Sock. If Kohl or Goffin could each win a set, Rafa should do better than them having beaten some quality opponents to arrive at the final.
Btw, what happened to Fed? After the USO, he seems to be shanking so badly these days.
stopped caring as much, probably
planning to peak again for #AO16