Rafael Nadal will be back in action at the Cincinnati Masters on Thursday night. Grigor Dimitrov in standing in Nadal’s way of a quarterfinal showdown against either Roger Federer or Tommy Haas.
Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers and for the second time this season when they square off in round three of the Western & Southern Open on Thursday night. Nadal has won both of their previous encounters in three sets; 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 four years ago on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam and 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 just recently on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo.
The third-ranked Spaniard is in rare form at the moment. Aside from two of the three Grand Slams (missed Australian Open, lost first round of Wimbledon), his 2013 campaign has been just about perfect. Roland Garros, of course, is among his eight titles this season and Nadal improved his record to 49-3 with a 6-2, 6-2 blowout of Benjamin Becker on Wednesday night. That erased any concerns over the quick turnaround in between the Montreal final (Nadal beat Milos Raonic to win the tournament on Sunday) and Cincinnati.
Dimitrov already has two victories under his belt this week and he has not dropped a set. The 29th-ranked Bulgarian ousted Nicolas Almagro 7-6(3), 6-4 then rolled over Brian Baker 6-3, 6-2. Dimitrov, who upset Novak Djokovic in Madrid, is 28-17 for the season.
“He’s a great player; he’s a young player,” Nadal said of the 22-year-old. “He’s really destined to be in the top positions in not a very long period of time. Tomorrow will be a tough match for me, so I have to keep playing this way.”
He doesn’t necessarily have to because more of his current form will undoubtedly result in a straight-set dismissal of Dimitrov just as it would almost anyone else in the tournament. The underdog’s only real chance is for Nadal suffer a lapse in concentration due to either a work overload or the U.S. Open looming on the immediate horizon. While neither is likely, Dimitrov at least has the talent to be competitive for a third straight time against the 2013 ATP race leader.
Pick: Nadal 7-6(5), 6-4
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yes, i changed my pick. had to after what i saw on Wednesday. Nadal simply on fire
Rafa for the win, but I expect it to be much, much more competitive than Becker’s match.
Becker played well but Rafa was just too sharp.
^^^^ Haha!!!
Both their matches so far have been competitive, one was indoors and the other was in MC where Rafa wasn’t really firing on all cylinders. Dimitrov has a great serve which will make Rafa have to work hard, but I feel he had a dry run yesterday against Becker who also serves and IMO a better all court than Dimitrov. I think Dimitrov’s 1HBH is a liability against Rafa.
As Sharapova went out to Sloane yesterday, Grigor might want to join her in some quality sightseeing before heading to NY.
Marion Bartoli has announced her retirement.
quality sightseeing 🙂
Keep your mind wholly concentrated and be strong like a rock, Rafa!.
August 15th is an important date in Rafa’s career!
—Nine years ago on August 15, 2004, Rafael Nadal won his FIRST career ATP singles title. He defeated Jose Acasuso of Argentina 6-3, 6-4 to win the Idea Prokom Open in Sopot, Poland.
At 18 years and two months, Rafa become the youngest player to win an ATP event since Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt’s victory in Delray Beach, Fla., in 1999 at the same age.—
[Rafael Nadal Fans]
http://rafaelnadalfans.com/2013/08/15/flashback-rafael-nadal-wins-his-first-career-atp-singles-title-august-15-2004/
I think that Dimitrov has two main weaknesses – his fitness and lack of mental strength. I would also add inconsistency. So Rafa has the advantage in those three areas. Dimitrov certainly has the game to give Rafa a challenge. But he is going to bump up against a Rafa who is playing some outstanding aggressive hard court tennis.
I see this match possibly going two tight sets or three sets. Dimitrov is capable of taking a set off Rafa if he is really swinging for the fences and gets on a roll. But I think Rafa will be ready for him. I expect him to step it up in this match. If he could beat Jerzy after having played just one match, then he should be able to take care of Dimitrov.
I do think it will be much more competitive, but Rafa plays a physical game and could wear down Dimitrov. It hasn’t been hot in Cincy and they will be starting at 7:00 pm Cincy time, so conditioning may not be a factor.
I expect Rafa to ramp up the serve for this one.
I just wanted to add that it’s interesting that Ricky changed his pick now to Rafa winning in two tight sets. Isn’t that the same score for Rafa’s match with Jerzy in Montreal?
CQ@8:03am
Two bombshells in one post!
Loved your comment about Sharapova needing Grigor to keep her company ;-0
What’s the low-down on Bartoli retiring?
Re: Marion Bartoli
RT @scoobschris: “I bet she’s pregnant and John Inverdale is the father.”
Lol…..
Lol
Wednesday recap with lots of Rafa photos – https://tenngrand.com/2013/08/15/cincinnati-day-3-recap-photos-and-videos/
i don’t want to comment today 😉
Ferrer has gone out to Tursunov in straight sets 62 64
And he’ll go into the USOpen as #4 and will be drawn in Djokovic’s half…………..
disgusting .. this djoker is an ***
guys, is delpo still carrying an injury? I really want him to be fit for djo in the semi because its just not fair for the other half to be so loaded with great players
I am not liking Rafa’s demeanor on court, looked like he was wincing at one point……
How did he play looks like not
Good if he dropped a close 2nd set however 1 n 3 sets scores seem good
wat worked . n wat didn’t
Is he in good condition for fed how long was Rafa match
sanju,
the match lasted 2:01:59 (2 h, 1 min, 59 sec)
Thanks augusta08. Not too long, 2 hrs is okay , guess even Feds match was the same length or slightly shorter..however vamosrafa commented in another thread that Rafa played rubbish the entire match and even had a disgruntled and frustrated demeanour on court..not good for tomm (:-
ritb,
I am matching the tape delayed broadcast on espn2 now. At 1-1 with Dimitrov serving, I noticed a moment when Rafa put his hands on both knees and did a slight knee bend. I replayed it over and over. That’s not something I have seen him do. He doesn’t like to give anything away during a match, but that concerned me.
Oh noo here we go again (:- Hands on knees, disgruntled and frustrated look all match..concerning (:-
1-1 in which set NNY?
Game, set and match – Rafa Nadal! Vamooosss!!!
Sanju,
It was in the first set. I don’t know if you have it recorded or not. You would have to be paying attention to even notice it. But seeing a tape delayed match when you know the result, that’s when you notice the little things.
He did not look disgruntled or frustrated. He had just toweled off and was getting set to receive serve from Dimitrov. But then he just bent down slightly and put his hands on his knees and kind of stretched a little. That is not something he would normally do. So something was bothering him.
He is always careful to try and not give anything away. So it was subtle. But it was there. I hope it’s not the knee.
If it was 1st set and he played 2 hours after that..maybe it not that bad..On tennis.com, match report said movement was very good..so I am hoping not a real issue. Tennis.com said mid 2n set he made tons and tons of inexplicable errors nad FH went totally away on leave
No I did not see the match, it is at 4:30 AM IST and on work days too difficult to get up and watch. did not record it but will see highlights tonight from Rafapedia on Youtbe
Sanju@August 16, 2013 at 3:35 am
Sanju @ August 16, 2013 at 3:48 am
In this video, you can see Rafa putting his hands on both knees (at between 0:08:03 – 0:08:09):
“Grigor Dimitrov vs Rafael Nadal ATP Cincinnati Open 2013 3R Full Match”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tTV6pvT5TSY#at=492
Rafa was asked about his knees after the match against B. Becker. He has pain sometimes, but he can move normally.
—RAFAEL NADAL: I will not say I am 100% perfect, but the way that my knee works today is not limiting my game in no way. So I’m very happy for that.
I have pain sometimes, yes. That’s why I say I’m not 100% perfect. But I’m 100% perfect to compete at 100% today.—-