Rafael Nadal and Ernests Gulbis are one round away from a blockbuster quarterfinal in Beijing, but they will first have to get past qualifiers on Thursday. Nadal is facing Peter Gojowyczk and Gulbis is going up against Martin Klizan.
Peter Gojowyczk vs. (2) Rafael Nadal
Nadal returned to the singles court for the first time since Wimbledon on Tuesday in Beijing and roared back into action with a 6-4, 6-0 rout of Richard Gasquet. The second-ranked Spaniard showed no signs of rust after being sidelined for three months with a wrist injury, perhaps thanks to a three-set exhibition last week against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and a Beijing doubles match on Monday.
Up next for Nadal on Thursday is a second-round meeting with Gojowycz, against whom the No. 2 seed is 1-0. They squared off early this season on the hard courts of Doha, where Nadal survived 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Gojowyczk qualified for the main draw this week before coming back from a break down in the third set to stun Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 2-6, 7-5. The 122nd-ranked German evened his ATP-level record for the year at 8-8. Gojowycz wields plenty of baseline power, but Nadal will only be getting more and more confident with each match.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 8 games or fewer
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(7) Ernests Gulbis vs. (Q) Martin Klizan
Gulbis and Klizan will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Thursday. Their only previous meeting came this spring on the clay courts of Nice, where Gulbis pulled out a somewhat contentious match 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-1 before eventually taking the title. The 13th-ranked Latvian then reached the French Open semifinals, but he has slumped for the most part ever since. He turned in a strong performance on Tuesday in Beijing, though, while clobbering Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-4.
It has already been a stellar week for Klizan, who qualified for the main draw and promptly upset Leonardo Mayer 7-6(2), 6-7(3), 6-4. The 56th-ranked Slovak is an outstanding 21-12 at the ATP level this season. However, he got blown out by Sam Querrey in a recent Davis Cup match and retired in the Shenzhen first round last week as qualifier. On a relatively fast hard court, Gulbis–who did not face a single break point against Fognini–will likely have too much firepower for Klizan.
Pick: Gulbis in 3
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Bummed out because I will not be able to watch Rafa’s match live………….
I am keeping my fingers crossed Rafa will be “alive” come Sunday morning when I will be able to watch him play with a nice cup of tea in hand.
Vamos!!
RT @juanjosetennis: “Probably the most encouraging number (besides the scoreline) about Nadal’s return yesterday: 50% of return points won.
RT @juanjosetennis: “The reason being, Nadal likes to slowly ease into a return of serve rhythm. Even if it was Gasquet and not, say, Isner, it’s a good sign.”
Gulbis retired against Klizan trailing 63 60.
good for Rafa
Klizan is not a walkover for Rafa either. He’s got a big serve and great ground strokes.
Rafa through to meet Klizan. Everyone wants to beat Rafa, that is their ticket to fame, just look at Kyrgios! I do not expect Klizan to make it easy for Rafa, but I expect Rafa to pull through.
Rafa eased into the quarterfinals!
Vaaamooos!
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Rafa after the match on Thursday.
¤¤ NADAL CHARGES INTO BEIJING QFS
by ATP Staff
02.10.2014
The Spaniard said that he was happy to be in the quarter-finals in his comeback tournament, but added that there was still plenty of work to do. “In general I need to improve. It’s obvious. My serve worked well today. But in general I need more rhythm on the legs, more rhythm on the shots. I am playing okay, trying to not miss a lot, trying to play with not too many risks. That’s what I did today. It’s the only way to have matches, only way to have rhythm.” ¤¤
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Ten…adal-Wins.aspx
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/09/40/Beijing-Thursday-Nadal-Wins.aspx
Thanks @augusta08; 12:20pm
Love Rafa’s honest self-appraisals.
Nadal said “the ball is so bad here. If you throw the ball on the floor, the bounce goes everywhere.”
Even though Gulbis is out, I think that Klizan is no slouch either. He can give Rafa a match.
I always like reading Rafa’s thoughts on where his game is at. He knows that there is more work to do, but it’s still good to see him get some wins under his belt.
I didn’t see anything wrong with Rafa’s BH until the last game where he just got tight overall.
Overall I thought it was a great match for him in just his second match back.
he hit some forehands 13 feet out
Nadal vs Klizan – Wimbledon 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO3WtkJ1Y18
I think Klizan plays very much like Gojo.
nope!
You’re right.
both Nadal-Klizan matches have been 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
I think Klizan takes more risks than Gojo, if he is on, can be more dangerous than Gojo, especially in a best of 3
lefty, uses more spin
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Video by ATP. Beijing 2014, Thursday, Interview Nadal (In English until the 2:14 mark)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytF4FeasMyw