Rafael Nadal will look to win back-to-back hard-court Masters 1000 events when he takes the court on Sunday in Cincinnati. Standing in his way is surprising finalist John Isner.
Rafael Nadal and John Isner will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers when they clash in the final of the Western & Southern Open on Sunday afternoon. They have not faced each other since 2011, when Nadal survived a first-round French Open thriller 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-4. The Spaniard also took came out on top in a pair of 2010 encounters; 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 at the Indian Wells Masters and 7-5, 6-4 on the clay courts of Madrid.
Nadal, of course, is in rare hard-court form at the moment. He is 15-0 on the surface this season, with Masters titles in Indian Wells and last week in Montreal. In fact, other than his well-documented hiccup at Wimbledon, Nadal has been on fire just about everywhere. The third-ranked Spaniard 52-3 for the year following Cincinnati scalps of Benjamin Becker, Grigor Dimitrov, Roger Federer, and Tomas Berdych.
This is a matchup between two of the hottest players on tour, as Isner is up to his usual tricks–and even exceeding them–on U.S. hard courts. After reaching a grass-court semifinal in Newport, the 22nd-ranked American took home the title from Atlanta and finished runner-up to Juan Martin Del Potro in Washington, D.C. It has only gotten better for Isner in Cincinnati. His road to the final features three Top 10 scalps (Milos Raonic, Novak Djokovic, and Del Potro) in addition to straight-set dismissals of Florian Mayer and Richard Gasquet. Isner is 32-18 for his 2013 campaign, including 28-9 in the United States and 21-2 in his last 23 matches on home soil.
“Nobody likes to play against a player who you will not have a chance to be on rhythm most of the time,” Nadal explained. “John is this kind of player. He should be fighting for the Masters, for the Top 10. With his serve, advantage is huge. He’s playing well, mentally, and making the right decisions in important moments.
“It’s the kind of match that the only thing you can try is what is in your hands. What is in your hands is serve well and play solid from the baseline and play aggressive.”
The world No. 1 had been serving extremely well this week until he double-faulted six times–all in the second set–against Berdych. If Nadal cleans that up, he should have an edge in this one. He has dropped only one set (the first to Federer) in Cincinnati, whereas Isner is coming off consecutive emotional three-setters that lasted a combined five hours and 11 minutes. The underdog can level the playing field and keep it competitive with monster serves and forehands, but capping off his remarkable run with a win over Nadal may be too much to ask.
Pick: Nadal 7-6(6), 6-3
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Ricky is right. If Rafa gets through the first week, he will very tough to beat. It’s the early rounds that could prove dangerous.
However, I will say that beating Rafa in a best three out of five is a very difficult thing to pull off. So even if he gets one of these guys like Gulbis, JJ, Dimitrov, they won’t be able to beat him in a slam.
Tops on my wish list is Isner NOT in Rafa’s draw, half or whatever.
I think it’s time for Fed to show up in Djoker’s part of the draw.
The most important thing is who Rafa gets in those early rounds. Once you get to the quarterfinals, it’s usually a good player who you know. There could be upsets. It can happen at any slam.
The draw is going to tell us a lot.
I am just grateful that finally Rafa will not have to meet Djoker in the semis. Of course, he does have to get there!
match recap – https://tenngrand.com/2013/08/18/nadal-topples-isner-for-first-cincinnati-title/
NNY..Earlier rounds in NY USO are less of a scare than grass..grass comes too soon after clay and he barely has any practice and transition time ..he is also usually too spent after winning a lot in clay season..grass in first week plays very different..its just 2-3 shot strike tennis..
I think Rafa will be fine for USO unless he has a really off day.
He has reached SF & above since 08
Sanju,
I take nothing for granted when it comes to the early rounds of any slam. This time at least Rafa will go in with enough match play and good preparation. I think he is in outstanding form and feel good about his chances. But playing lower ranked guys who can come out without any pressure and just swing for the fences and maybe play one great match in their lives, is the reason why I am always cautious.
I don’t see a repeat of what happened the last two years at Wimbledon, for the reasons you suggested. This is not grass. Rafa is fresh coming off six or seven weeks off. He has had the best preparation possible. He is feeling good, happy and ready to rumble!
He won’t say it, but he has his sights on winning the USO! Oh and the #1 ranking!
Delpo doesn’t bother me as far as Rafa is concerned. Gulbis is on the top of my bogie list because he is determined to beat Rafa. The funny thing is, this year, Isner has lost in the 2nd or 3rd round 6 times this year but he played so well today. He was such a handful for Rafa, yet he tried to give Delpo the match yesterday and Delpo refused to take it.
no, that was Delpo trying to hand the match to Isner…and Isner ALMOST decided not to take it.
From another website comments section
*Nadal by the records at Masters 1000*
Nadal has the following all-time records on Masters 1000:
– Most titles: 26
– Most finals: 35
– Most semifinals: 49
– Best winning percentage: 84.36% (only player above 80%).
– Most consecutive years winning at least one title: 9 (2005–2013).
– Most titles in a single season: 5 (2013. Shared with Djokovic).
– Most finals in a single season: 6 (2013. Shared with Djokovic).
– Most clay court titles: 18
– Clay Slam (Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid and Roland Garros, 2010.)
– Most consecutive years winning 3+ titles: 2008-2010.
– Most consecutive titles: 4 (Rome to Cincinnati, 2013).
– Most consecutive finals: 5 (Monte Carlo to Cincinnati, 2013).
– Most consecutive finals allowing for a skipped event: 6 (Indian Wells to Cincinnati, 2013).
– Most consecutive quarterfinals: 21 (Madrid 2008 to Cincinnati 2010).
– Most times defending tournament titles: 11
– The only player to have won 5 different tournaments at least 3 times each:
Monte Carlo: 8
Rome: 7
Indian Wells: 3
Madrid: 3
Canada: 3
– The only player to have won 2 different tournaments at least 7 times each (Monte Carlo & Rome).
– The only player to have won a tournament 8 times (Monte Carlo 2005–2013).
– The only player to have won a tournament at least 4 consecutive times (Monte Carlo 2005–2013).
– The only player to have won a tournament 4,5 6, 7 and 8 consecutive times (Monte Carlo 2005–2013).
– The fastest player to win Masters 1000 titles:
5 titles: in 1 year, (Monte Carlo 2005- Monte Carlo 2006).
10 titles: in 3 years, (Monte Carlo 2005 – Monte Carlo 2008).
15 titles: in 4 years, (Monte Carlo 2005 – Rome 2009).
20 titles: in 7 years, (Monte Carlo 2005 – Monte Carlo 2012).
25 titles: in 8 years, (Monte Carlo 2005 – Canada 2013).
roddick is impressed too 😛
Just heard an insane stat…. Rafa has a winning record against every current player in the top 30…. That’s unreal
– Andy Roddick at 2:19:32 pm ET Aug 18th
sanju,thanks for the stats ! interesting list…there is a correction be made though, rafa has made it to 37 finals, not 35 🙂
all,
I still can’t figure out how to get most recent commented articles (instead of most recent comments) up in the top right. So I just put in “top posts and pages”–which is articles with most views in the last 24 hours. Views and comments go hand in hand, so most of those 5 articles in the most viewed section at the top right will probably be the most recently commented on as well.
Appreciate any feedback if you think having that is better or worse. I feel like “most recent comments” is worthless because all 5 of the most recent comments are almost always on the same article.
all,
I still can’t figure out how to get most recent commented articles (instead of most recent comments) up in the top right. So I just put in “top posts and pages”–which is articles with most views in the last 24 hours. Views and comments go hand in hand, so most of those 5 articles in the most viewed section at the top right will probably be the most recently commented on as well.
Appreciate any feedback if you think having that is better or worse. I feel like “most recent comments” is worthless because all 5 of the most recent comments are almost always on the same article.
lol. even Ricky manages a double post!
as soon as i visited the home page and saw this change , I was glad ! this is definitely a better way ! 2 thumbs up from me
thx
Definitely a better system. It was too easy to miss the end of a discussion before.
Rafael Nadal says:
“If Federer is the Goat, then I am the farmer”………………………lol!!!!
From a fan on Bleacher
Rafa would have beaten Djokovic record if he had his fortress MC in the bag this year. What an irony. THis year he loses the title he has held for ages and wins the title he has never made a final in 😀
Ricky,
That is what I have been waiting for with the most recent articles on the upper right hand corner. But there was tennis going on, so I forgot to ask if you could do that.
I guess you read my mind! It’s great! 🙂
Well I am just waiting so that I can see the moment where Rafa is in tears (hopefully after winning USO ) and taking No 1 at the same time. That will truly truly be something to cherish for all Rafans to see the sheer tears of joy and he being emotional after clocking an excellent year from a 7 month absence. And yeah I dont mind shedding few tears too seeing him all emoional and happy after what he achieves.
I am really waiting for that moment, let us all pray for that to happen 🙂
sanju,
that’s an amazing list of masters 1000’s records, thank you
tiny correction: a couple of times the years with MC wins end in 2013, should be 2012
Most recent commented articles a la old TT would be ideal but what you have done is better than most recent comments as you say.