Davis Cup previews and picks: Nadal vs. Stakhovsky, Verdasco vs. Dolgopolov

Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco will lead Spain on the first day of Davis Cup playoff action against the visiting Ukraine. They are set for respective meetings with Sergiy Stakhovsky and Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR)

Four days after winning the U.S. Open, Nadal will be back in action for the Davis Cup World Group playoffs at home in Madrid, Spain against the Ukraine. Nadal rolled to his second triumph in New York and 13th career Grand Slam title while losing only two total sets in the process–one to Philipp Kohlschreiber in the fourth round and one to Novak Djokovic in the final. The second-ranked Spaniard is an amazing 60-3 this season with 10 titles.

Nadal will contest the second singles rubber on Friday against Stakhovsky, whom he has never faced. Stakhovsky, of course, stunned Roger Federer in the Wimbledon second round earlier this summer. However, it has been an otherwise dreadful year for the former world No. 31. He is just 9-14 at the ATP level and barely inside the Top 100 at 92nd. On anything other than clay, a few sets in this one could be competitive given Nadal’s quick turnaround after such an emotional win. Because of the surface, though, this will be an absolute romp.

Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 5-7 games

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Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR)

Verdasco and Dolgopolov will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers and for the second time this season when they kick off the playoff tie on Friday afternoon. They faced each other last spring on the clay courts of Rome, where Verdasco won the first set 6-0 before Dolgopolov retired. Their most recent encounter came this summer on the grass of Eastbourne, with the Spaniard prevailing 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.

It has been an abbreviated summer for both men. Verdasco went back to clay after Wimbledon, skipped the U.S. Open Series until Winston-Salem, then lost in the first round of the U.S. Open to Ivan Dodig. The world No. 33 is a mere 22-18 for the year. Dolgopolov beat David Goffin in New York then fell in the second round to eventual quarterfinalist Mikhail Youzhny. The 40th-ranked Ukrainian is 20-21 for his 2013 campaign, including 5-7 since Wimbledon. Playing at home on clay, Verdasco should be able to take advantage of a slumping opponent despite not being in great form, himself.

Pick: Verdasco in 4

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116 Comments on Davis Cup previews and picks: Nadal vs. Stakhovsky, Verdasco vs. Dolgopolov

  1. I agree with Ricky’s picks. I was a bit undecided with Verdasco and Dolgo, simply because you never know with either one of them these days. But given that this is clay then I think Verdasco will get the win. I voted for him in four sets.

    I can’t see Stak being competitive with Rafa at all. I am a bit concerned that Rafa is playing so soon after the USO final. I do hope that Rafa does not have to play again on Sunday. Things are going so well for Rafa and there is still more hard court tennis to be played this year.

  2. Spot on pick Ricky re Fer vs Dolgo! So far so good, am sure Rafa will be chomping at the bit after that result knowing a victory by him puts them one win away from an overall win, meaning he won’t have to play on Sunday……….

    Vamos!

  3. RT @ptbodo: “This DC week is a rebuke to Roger, only one of “Big Four” to take a pass despite home tie when he’s the one could most use the easy wins.”

    • Yeah. I gather the rule has changed recently re: Davis Cup and qualifying for the Olympics. Roger has no choice now if he wants to go to Acspulco but to serve his country and knuckle down to DC on a regular basis.

  4. RT @DavisCup: “US Open champion @RafaelNadal emerges into the Caja Magica to Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger (the tune from Rocky).”

  5. Rafa still on hardcourt mode 5-0, Rafa to serve for the set.

    Go Rafa, no matter what the court is, just play like you did in the Hardcourt. Good preparation for the Asian Swing LOL.

    Vamos

  6. rafa is currently riding a 22 match win streak on clay as well ! Has anyone ever held two such remarkable streaks on two surfaces in a single season ? I doubt it..

  7. RT @SI_BTBaseline: “A fresh McBagel served up in Madrid by Rafael Nadal on Sergiy Stakhovsky. Would you like fries with that? #daviscup”

  8. ohhh gheee…stakov double faulted to get broken again at the second set 3-0. He is yet to register a score at the board. He’s being butchered by Rafa at the moment.

  9. Oh no! Muzza’s back acting up again…….

    RT@russellcfuller: “Andy Murray & Leon Smith will be locked in conversation tomorrow morning to decide whether the Murray back is up to doubles & Sunday singles”

    @vamosrafa, I responded to your enquiry about tennis Twitter sources with a couple of site links. Guess Ricky is still asleep as the post has been flagged for moderation, am sure he will clear it when he wakes up!

  10. I hope Rafa donates a couple of games to Stakho……..at this rate I fear NASA might be tempted to haul him in, cut him up, run some tests to check if he is human…………….

  11. RT @infostrada2016: “For the first time in 769 career singles matches, Rafael Nadal has won each of the first two sets by 6-0. Double bagel for now. #daviscup”

    • RITB: I’m not sure but I’m guessing a triple bagel straight sets victory would have been an Open Era record. Ha Ha. Glad Rafa eased up a bit in the third set for Stav’s sake. He was very good humoured about it wasn’t he. Had a good laugh when AC came onto the court to give Rafa some coaching tips during the last set. Rafa didn’t look very amused.

  12. told you, now stako got on the board…and I am a bit excited with that Ricky’s lousy score prediction LOL.

    Vamos Stako you can do it.

  13. Congrats Rafa fans, My man Stako will learn from this beatdown from King of Clay. If it only on grass, he will crush Rafa like he did to Roger 🙂

  14. Chapeau to both Rafa and Novak really, fantastic team spirit………….

    Btw, I agree with Ricky and hope Rafa skips the China Open and the other small one even at risk of point penalties. All he needs to do is reach the quarters in Shanghai and he is #1. He needs to rest.

    • rafaisthebest@September 13, 2013 at 5:10 pm
      —I agree with Ricky and hope Rafa skips the China Open and….All he needs to do is reach the quarters in Shanghai and he is #1—

      Rafa can lose #1 spot again. Djoko has only 10 points to defend in Paris!

    • He was completely relaxed on court today which accounts for those high stats on his serve..

      There was a delicious moment near the end when he scooped up a half-volley which just sailed out. He stood and stared ferociously at the ball for several seconds as if to say ‘how dare you do that to me’.

  15. RT @feliciano_lopez: “Mañana @RafaelNadal y @marclopeztarres a rematar en el doble!! Vamos!!!”

    Damn Corretja, he’s playing Rafa in the dubs tomorrow! Where’s Uncle Toni?

      • I meant, why is he allowing this crappy decision-making from Corretja? He should step in and say no to Rafa playing dubs. If, God forbid, they lose tomorrow, Rafa will have to turn up for the 4th rubber on Sunday! That’ll be Rafa potentially playing 3 days in a row, makes no sense to me.

  16. I read on vb that Dr. Cotorro said Rafa lost weight during the USO because of the terrible humidity. He also said that the final was brutal. The speed and intensity of the ball was like nothing he had ever seen.

    It’s nice that Rafa won this victory for Spain, but he needs to just stop and rest now. He has not yet recuperated from the USO.

    It makes no sense to me to play Davis Cup and then skip the China Open.

  17. Oh so now I see that Rafa has to play again in doubles? If that happens, then he is not going to be able to play other tournaments. This is just too much for me. They rely on Rafa all the time. He’s not Superman.

    This makes me very unhappy.

  18. RT @SI_BTBaseline: “Big Three Bakery has a nice ring to it: Bagels by Murray vs. Coric, Djokovic vs. Posipisil, and Nadal had two vs. Stakhovsky b/c he’s greedy”

  19. Why shouldn’t they play Rafa and ride on his shoulders? It’s not the first time, that’s for sure. This is the way it always goes because they know that Rafa will pull it out for Spain. No matter what the cost.

  20. I guess the #1 ranking will have to wait. If Rafa is going to play another match, then he will need more time to recuperate.

    I just don’t like seeing this. Of course he beat Staks. Was there ever a doubt? Am I the only one concerned after his doctor’s comments?

  21. Rafa is very keen for Spain to move back up into the World Group so I don’t think he is being forced to play, I think he wants to.

  22. Is anyone else watching the Raonic-Tipsy match. You could die from boredom watching Raonic strolling around the court. All serve and not a great deal else and his return of serve sucks today.

  23. Relax folks. Doubles is not too stressful and this is clay.

    China Open is after 2 weeks, he can rest for 6-7 days well, provided he does not practice.

    Also let us not forget , he rested for 6 weeks (apart from practice) after Wimby before Montreal

  24. Ricky has erred on the side of caution regarding Rafa ever since he gave a categorical assurance in 2009 that ‘nobody beats Rafa over five sets at RG ‘.

  25. ritb: that’s what the adrenalin rush of competing can do for Rafa!

    We now know what he was doing during that enforced absence – working ferociously hard to maintain his physical conditioning even though he couldn’t take to the court.

    .

  26. ed251137@September 14, 2013 at 9:32 am

    Do you keep in view the photo from the US Open?
    In the photo, from left to right:
    “Tuts”- Rafa calls him ‘my good friend Tuts from Nike Spain’
    Benito Pérez-Barbadillo – Rafa’s public relations manager
    Rafael Maymo – Rafa’s physiotherapist
    Rafa
    Carlos Costa – Rafa’s agent
    Angel Ruiz-Cotorro – doctor of the Spanish Tennis Federation
    Antonio Nadal Homar – Uncle Toni & coach

    https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1001259_10151719786876026_2105331931_n.jpg

    • Thanks I know most of the faces but was never sure who was who.

      I’ve always found it funny he Djokovic share the same PR man. Rafa must be the dream client – incapable of putting a foot wrong: Djokovic a complete nightmare with his exhibitionist antics and intemperate outbursts.

      As for his doctor and physic, they both deserve whatever the Spanish equivalent of a Knighthood is: not only did they bring Rafa back to full health but they also delivered a new, improved version.

    • Thanks @vamosrafa, will visit. Hope Ricky introduces a Rickster Tweets column soon on Tenngrand! Just his tweets and the conversations he has with those who follow him and those he follows. Because tweets are spur of the moment, I find people reveal more on what they think about issues……..

  27. So folks, what are your thoughts on how Rafa will do rest of season? Will he pick up a title or 2 or go titleless?

    How do you folks see Novak n Andy coming back?

    And Roger, you think hell finally set things right in indoor season and win a title or 2?

    Who do you all think is Fav for WTF title?

    Would like to hear your thoughts.

  28. ed251137@September 14, 2013 at 11:54 am
    —Rafa must be the dream client – incapable of putting a foot wrong—

    He is! Benito Pérez-Barbadillo (who is Rafa’s PR manager since y 2006) said three years ago: “Rafa is a dream to work with, because he understands the work, he gets it. He’s a nice guy, easy to work with. I don’t even have to brief him on things. He says whatever he wants. I just tell him what the situation is.”

    • He was moving well on the clay. I really, really hope he gives RG a go next year. He’ too good not to surely……………….

      Caveat: I have selfish reasons for wanting Muzza to do well at RG……….provide competition to Novak so Rafa has “an easier” time of it there!

  29. Lol RITB 🙂 Would much rather Andy did poorly at RG and defended Wimbles successfully. He’s not gonna win RG any time soon, but Wimbles, repeat totally possible.

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