Beijing R1 previews and picks: Nadal vs. Wu, Isner vs. Thiem

October 5, 2015 Ricky Match previews 101

IsnerRafael Nadal will begin his bid for the Beijing title when he opens against Di Wu on Tuesday. First-round action also features John Isner vs. Dominic Thiem.

(WC) Di Wu vs. (3) Rafael Nadal

Nadal hopes to right the wrongs of a tough 2015 campaign as he kicks off the finishing fall swing at the China Open on Tuesday. The former world No. 1’s slippery slide down the rankings continued when Kuala Lumpur champion David Ferrer passed him for No. 7 on Monday, relegating his fellow Spaniard to eighth. Nadal is a decent 45-15 for the season but he owns just three titles and none have come at anything more than a 500-point event (two of the 250-point variety).

Up first for the No. 3 seed on Tuesday in Beijing is Wu, whom he has never faced. Wu registers at 230th in the world and obviously needed a wild card to get into this tournament. The little-known Chinese player, who is 24 years old, has two ATP-level match victories in 2015 and 15 in his entire career. Every single one of those 15 has come in Davis Cup; Wu has never won an ATP tournament match. He is coming off a horrendous 6-1, 6-0 loss to Hyeon Chung last week in Shenzhen. This, of course, should be utter domination in Nadal’s favor.

Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 6 games or fewer

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Dominic Thiem vs. (6) John Isner

Isner and Thiem will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time this season on Tuesday. Their only previous meeting came on clay in the Nice semifinals this spring, when Thiem prevailed 7-6(5), 6-3. A hard court should give Isner a better chance even though both men are capable on all surfaces. Almost all of Thiem’s best results have come on the slow stuff aside from a fourth-round showing at the 2014 U.S. Open and a quarterfinal performance this year in Miami.

At No. 13 in the world and 11th in the race, Isner has a realistic chance of being an alternate at the World Tour Finals. He would have to win this title in order to surge into serious discussion for qualification heading into Masters events in Shanghai and Paris. The 6’10” American is 37-20 for his 2015 campaign and coming off a fourth-round finish in New York. Thiem registers one spot off his career-high ranking at No. 19. The 22-year-old Austrian endured a disappointing hard-court summer but he managed to reach the St. Petersburg semis last week. With a slight edge in both current form and surface, Isner should power his way to a hard-fought victory.

Pick: Isner in 3

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40 Comments on Beijing R1 previews and picks: Nadal vs. Wu, Isner vs. Thiem

  8. Wow everyone thinks Rafa is gonna actually be tested. Sorry but I don’t think so. Now Ricky why does Wu have game of top 600-800 if he’s 230 is it because he played futures to climb the rankings like duckhee lee?

    Reply

    • all he does is vulture FUTURES in China. Every time he plays anyone I have even ever heard of, he cannot get a set. The only good player he has ever taken a set off is Isner, and that was when Isner was a serve-bot and not an actual tennis player.

      Reply

  9. Who thinks Rafa is going to be tested? Rafa losing six games or more is not being tested. Now if Rafa goes three sets and there is a TB or two, then that’s being tested.

    Reply

  10. Ricky picked 6 games or fewer.

    As for my pick, I am always a bit conservative when I try to pick Rafa’s first match. I totally get that if this match is even remotely competitive, it would be a disaster. I will be happy if I am wrong on this one.

    Reply

  13. This is what I mean when I say Rafa’s game is predictable…Wu is wining the rallies… Rafa UEs are unreal…I can’t say I am sad…I am mad at Rafa! He must stop this nonsense!!!

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  17. Rafa being broken three times by the fellow who has never won an ATP match says it all…this was a torture for Rafa and his fans…nothing changed if not being worse…Pospisil will be another huge obstacle for this Rafa…

    Reply

    • Di Wu has won some (at least 9) matches in qualifying rounds, among them the match at the 2014 USO against Philipp Petzschner 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 (PP was then No. 503 in ATP rankings).

      Reply

    • in the second set at 3:1 for Wu Rafa’s statistics showed that he had won ONE point on his serve??? ONE!? And he has been broken three times immediately after he was able to break this “strong” opponent…I really see nothing positive in this…if this was someone in the top 50 I would say “whatever”…but Wu???

      anyway, unless Rafa changes something in his mindset and starts playing with more confidence and cutting those stupid UEs he will be blown of the court by yet another low ranked player…I come to think Rafa acts like an open target for just about anybody these days…I can’t believe what I am seeing…

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      • In 2013, one of Rafa’s best seasons, he played horribly at Beijing, even though he still reached the final. He was terrible vs Fog, and was fortunate that Berdych retired in the SF; lost in straight sets easily to Novak in the final.

        I think we shouldnt expect much from this current Rafa, especially when the Beijing (and Shanghai) quick HCs are not favorable surfaces for Rafa. I expect him to struggle here at Beijing, his next opponent has a big serve, I’ll be glad if Rafa can get past him. There’s Sock and then Berdych in his path and both are tough opponents.

        I was hoping for Rafa to win Miami, Shanghai, Paris and WTF but i think will not see that happening this year.

        Reply

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