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
[polldaddy poll=7391313]
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
[polldaddy poll=7391309]
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!
RITB,
Not only in the Quarters but he should win it and maintain/continue the streak.
Rafa is really becoming a serve behemoth. He faced just one beak point, which he duly snuffed out.
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’.
This was Rafa and Stakho’s first meeting on Tour……….
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?
UncleToni watched Rafa’s match.
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.
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.
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.
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”
No, because Rafa was “hungry”. 😀
Thanks for the updates!
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.
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?
nativenewyorker7@September 13, 2013 at 6:47 pm
—Am I the only one concerned after his doctor’s comments?—
I think, Rafa is under the watchful eye of doctor Cotorro.
In the picture: the man standing next to Uncle Toni is Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, doctor of the Spanish Tennis Federation.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1001259_10151719786876026_2105331931_n.jpg
augusta,
Thanks as always for your efforts to provide information, links, all of it. It is greatly appreciated!
I am glad that Rafa’s doctor is there keeping any eye on him.
Rafa is not a machine.
Thanks @augusta08, I have often wondered who he is because he is always in and around Rafa’s party in photos………
nativenewyorker7@September 13, 2013 at 7:24 pm
The doctor continues his work in Madrid.
A photo from the Davis Cup. Doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro is laying his hand on Rafa’s shoulder:
http://instagram.com/p/eNtyXJksqu/
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.
Of course he wants to play, knowing Rafa I bet he volunteered! But it cannot be good for him with all the miles he’s put in on the HC in North America. Not saying Rafa does not know what’s good for him, just feel at a time like this, another voice needs to step in with a gentle no……….
I agree.
Are any of Rafa’s team with him in Madrid?
I only saw Uncle T, and the ubiquitous (and comforting to Rafans) Dr. Cottoro…….
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.
The joke is he outlasted Tipsy in spite of double faulting on first match point ?
@ 8.30pm I may have been doing Raonic an injustice. Just learnt he injured his ankle in the 3rd set and had to have it taped.
Losing 5-7 games? Ricky, told you you need glasses or your crystal ball needs some cleaning. 😛
being ONE GAME off is GREAT improvement from picking Nadal to lose the U.S. Open
Haha…true. We’ll never let you live it down that U.S. Open pick. 😀
Don’t worry Ricky, even you are a mere mortal!
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
^^^ And he is awesomely fit. After many of Monday’s brutal rallies he was barely out of breath whereas Djokovic was often gasping for air.
I noticed that too, Novak looking winded while Rafa looked fresh, which was the opposite in 2011.
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 ‘.
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.
.
PS: Can you identify the other members of his team in the group photo you put up?
I expect you have all watched this by now but here is
‘Don’t stop now’ anyway ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQZ_RGXiWRs&feature=em-uploademail