Final picks: Nadal vs. Zeballos, Gasquet vs. Paire

Vina del Mar final: (1) Rafael Nadal vs. Horacio Zeballos 

Ricky: This isn’t exactly the second week of the French Open, when Nadal annually abuses some pretty stellar competition. Still, what the fifth-ranked Spaniard has done to opponents Federico Delbonis, Daniel Gimeno-Traver, and Jeremy Chardy is impressive–certainly after seven months away from the game. Even better news is that Nadal has improve in each match, which is a great sign for his knees and a scary proposition for future adversaries. Including Zeballos. The unseeded Argentine has won 19 of his last 20 matches, a stretch that includes three clay-court Challenger titles. In case anyone was wondering, however, Nadal is not a Challenger player. This one won’t last long. Nadal 6-1, 6-2.

Steen (Tennis East Coast): As predicted, Rafa hasn’t faced any trials in his first tournament back, not dropping a set and dominating three middling opponents en route to the final. Now he will face the surprising Zeballos, who has had a bit of a harder time but still has gotten by after beating countryman Carlos Berlocq in the semis to reach his second career ATP final. While Zeballos deserves much credit for a solid run of play this week, I don’t think you can give him any chance against Nadal, who already seems locked into his game and should win yet another clay-court title. Nadal 6-3 6-2.

Montpellier final: (2) Richard Gasquet vs. (8) Benoit Paire 

Ricky: Like Zeballos, Paire is seeking his first ATP title in his second career final. The last attempt did not go well; a 6-3, 6-2 blowout loss to Andreas Seppi last spring in Belgrade, to be exact. Just nine months later, however, Paire is a different player. He has two semifinal finishes in that span, plus a third-round showing at Wimbledon, and now another final. He will surpass his career-high ranking of No. 41 in the world on Monday. All of that being said, Gasquet has too much experience and is playing too well at the moment. The world No. 10 is a ridiculous 13-1 for his 2013 campaign, which includes a title in Doha. Paire is too talented and finally taking the sport too seriously to go down easily, but Gasquet has the edge. Gasquet 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Steen: In what should be this week’s most competitive final, tricolor compatriots Gasquet and Paire will meet for the first time in Montpellier. Gasquet is gunning for his second ATP title of the year after beating countrymen Gael Monfils and Julien Benneteau, along with Jarkko Nieminen in the semis–in what was a competitive match before Nieminen got gimped up at the end. Paire, meanwhile, slipped past Menendez-Maceiras, Steve Darcis, Gilles Simon, and semifinal opponent Michael Llodra in three; all in all a solid showing. This should be a close final that could go either way, but Gasquet is confident at the moment and has shown the ability to close out matches, as his mental game seems improved. I’ll go with Reeshie in three. Gasquet 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.

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