Fellow Spaniards and World Tour Finals hopefuls Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer will be in second-round action on Wednesday in Beijing. They are going up against Vasek Pospisil and Lukas Rosol, respectively.
Vasek Pospisil vs. (3) Rafael Nadal
Nadal and Pospisil will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they collide in round two of the China Open on Wednesday. Benefiting from a favorable draw against Chinese wild card Di Wu, Nadal advanced through his opener 6-4, 6-4 despite another unspectacular performance on Tuesday. The eighth-ranked Spaniard is 46-15 for the season and looking for just his fourth title while also hoping to wrap up a spot at the World Tour Finals.
Pospisil also struggled at times in his first-rounder but managed to scrape past Victor Estrella Burgos 4-6, 7-5, 6-0. Overall it was a productive day at the office for Pospisil, who ended a five-match doubles losing streak with partner Jack Sock by overcoming Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli 7-6(5), 2-6, 11-9. In singles, the Canadian is a decent 21-20 for the year and registers at a solid 44th in the world thanks mainly to a quarterfinal run at Wimbledon. Nadal is extremely vulnerable right now and Pospisil has the big-hitting game that can trouble Beijing’s No. 3 seed, but the underdog is 0-11 against the current top four players in the world and may lack belief against this kind of opponent.
Pick: Nadal in 3
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(4) David Ferrer vs. Lukas Rosol
Ferrer and Rosol will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers on Wednesday. All four of their previous encounters have gone the way of Ferrer, who is 8-1 lifetime in total sets at Rosol’s expense. The two veterans most recently faced each other earlier this year in Miami, where the Spaniard prevailed 6-4, 7-5.
Fresh off a title in Kuala Lumpur, Ferrer does not appear to be looking back in Beijing. The world No. 7 opened on Tuesday by disposing of Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-3. Rosol kicked off his week with a 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 comeback win over Aljaz Bedene. The 79th-ranked Czech is a dismal 17-26 at the ATP level in 2015 and he has not won more than two matches at a tournament since the French Open. This is a nightmare matchup for Rosol, as Ferrer is one of the best returners in the game and can break down more one-dimensional opponents.
Pick: Ferrer in 2
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Rafa hitting short lets pops get back to deuce
Pospi playing even worse than Rafa as predicted.
Rafa hitting short lets pops get back to deuce again
Rafa’s 1st serve pct dropping
Rafa hitting short but Pospisil playing horribly.
#AsPredicted
The question is who will hit less UEs in the tiebreak.
I say Rafa.
UE from Pospy back to deuce
Winner from Pospy for 1-1
Nadal has set point but Pospisil held serve to force a tiebreak, Nadal is a mini break up in tiebreak now
what happened on SP at 5-6
Rafa up a mini 2-1 serving.
Good serve Rafa up 3-1
UE from pospy gives Rafa a 4-1 lead.
Lob winner from Pospy for 2-4
that point was insane
FH UE gives Rafa a 5-3 lead.
Well done Rafa! I like what I am seeing from him, especially in the TB. Good serving.
Set Rafa. I was right. Vamos.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQuLgUAUAAEd75L.png
Nadal wins 7-6 (7-3) 6-4
Rafa has one set in the bag, 76.
#nail biting
Vamos Rafa!
They showed some stats late in the first set and Rafa had only won one point at net! That is surprising. But I thought Rafa was more aggressive in Pospi’s last service game to try and get the break and win the set then.
I think Rafa looks focused and body language is good. Also good movement. It’s the first chance I’ve had to get a good look at him. Now he has to stay tough and keep it up, maybe going into the net more and trying to be aggressive.
The stats do confirm one net point won out of two. Also serving stats are good. Keep it up Rafa!