French Open R3 previews and predictions: Nadal vs. Gasquet, Schwartzman vs. Coric

June 1, 2018 Ricky Match previews 39

This may not be a good thing for Richard Gasquet, but the Frenchman will get a 16th career shot at Rafael Nadal on Saturday at Roland Garros. Diego Schwartzman and Borna Coric are also aiming for a place in the fourth round.

(1) Rafael Nadal vs. (30) Richard Gasquet

Does anybody beat Richard Gasquet 16 times in a row? Well, Rafael Nadal probably does. The head-to-head series stands at an overwhelming 15-0 in Nadal’s favor as the good friends and familiar foes head into a third-round French Open showdown on Saturday. Six of the Spaniard’s 15 wins have come on clay, a surface on which he is unsurprisingly crushing Gasquet 14-2 in total sets and 12-0 in their last 12 sets. The two veterans have not faced each other on the slow stuff since 2011 and their most recent meeting of any kind came last summer in Cincinnati, where Nadal coasted 6-3, 6-4.

Roland Garros, of course, is the last place where Gasquet would want to attempt to turn things around against his nemesis. Nadal is a well-documented 81-2 lifetime with 10 titles, and he is also 106-2 in best-of-five matches on clay to go along with a 21-1 record on clay this season. The world No. 1, who recently triumphed in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome, has defeated Simone Bolelli and Guido Pella in straight sets so far in Paris. Gasquet had no trouble disposing of decent opponents in Andreas Seppi and Malek Jaziri, which is somewhat surprising given that the 32nd-ranked Frenchman had been 1-4 in his last five matches prior to arriving in Paris. As usual, Gasquet will be unable to hit his one-handed backhand against Nadal like he does against other opponents and another straight-set beatdown will almost certainly be in the cards.

Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 8-10 games

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(11) Diego Schwartzman vs. Borna Coric

In terms of number of games lost, the 12th-ranked Schwartzman has been the most dominant player at Roland Garros–yes, even more dominant than Nadal (Fabio Fognini is actually No. 2 in fewest games lost). Of course, the draw has something to do with that. The 25-year-old has benefited from facing world No. 130 Calvin Hemery and world No. 185 Adam Pavlasek, hammering the former 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 before disposing of the latter by the exact same 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 scoreline. Schwartzman is now 20-12 this season, with a title on the red clay of Rio de Janeiro and a fourth-round performance at the Australian Open.

Up next for the 11th seed on Saturday is a third career meeting with Coric, who leads the head-to-head series 2-0. The 21-year-old cruised 6-2, 6-1 at the 2015 Winston-Salem event before picking up a 6-3, 6-2 victory last spring in Marrakech. Although age would arguably indicate that Coric should have made even bigger improvements than Schwartzman since those encounters, that is not the case. The Croat has stalled at No. 40 in the rankings after climbing as high as 33rd back in the summer of 2015. He is a modest 5-4 on clay in 2018 following four-set wins this fortnight over Philipp Kohlschreiber and Thomas Fabbiano. Schwartzman is playing way too well for Coric to finish this one quickly, and in a long, drawn-out baseline battle it is the Argentine who would likely have an edge in the physical department.

Pick: Schwartzman in 5

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39 Comments on French Open R3 previews and predictions: Nadal vs. Gasquet, Schwartzman vs. Coric

  15. Rafa far from his best today! Mistimed so many returns and did not seem like he had the intent that he normally has. May need it from Schwartzman onwards in qf

    Reply

      • I watched the Monfils/Goffin match. Monfils battling through illness and let a bunch of match points get away.

        They switched from Rafa’s match to Monfils/Goffin so I did not see most of the third set. When they started showing it again Rafa was up 4-1.

        I don’t get the complaining about how Rafa played. He won. That is what he needs to do, get through the early rounds and peak in the second week.

        Reply

    • The tennis channel commies just interviewed Rafa on their set. Very nice to see Rafa talking and looking relaxed.

      They gave him a present for his birthday tomorrow. Another fishing rod.

      Reply

  17. Not his finest by a long chalk but he got the job done in straight sets

    Onwards and upwards

    Vamos Rafa

    Reply

    • Don’t worry Sanju,Rafa can moonball him and given the high bounce,the ball will fly way over Diego shoulder,especially on the BH side it will be very difficult for him to handle such balls. Also,it’s good for Rafa to have a solid opponent before the QF,where he must probably will face a big hitter.

      Reply

      • We are worrying about Diego now? This is why I don’t look ahead, one match at a time. First this guy I never hear of – Mauterer?

        Reply

        • heh heh!…Nny & guys!….First & foremost,all we have to worry….is the weather….If it’s going to be rain[which is NO!!!!….NO RAIN PLEASE!!]…we have ALL the reason in the world to worry….BUT..if it’s sunny,beautiful sunshine hitting faces & spring blooming everywhere..including our beautiful faces…then give the mother,father,grandmother,grandfather of Marterer or Speedy Gonzalez Schwartzy…Insyaallah Rafa will spank their a@#$es too….Of coz with Rafa in his excellent health!…I’m in the TRAIN OF BEL11EVE now!!…Who wants to join me?????I can’t hear u!!…C’Mon!!Let’s go!!Whoooooo!!!…Pit!!Pit!!

          Reply

          • MA,

            Love your attitude! Just what I needed to hear! Hiwever, the weather is not supposed to be great this coming week. I am hoping it will be wrong and the sun will be shining.

            I don’t know anything about this Mauterer. They interviewed Rafa on the tennis channel set after his match and he said that he saw the ma5ch with Shapo and a match this guy played in Munich. He says he’s got a big serve and a big forehand. They will be scouting him I am sure, since Rafa has never played him.

            I think Rafa will get better and peak starting in the quarterfinals.

            I need you to keep saying these good things and sending out positive vibes!

            😍

          • Hey hey hey back Nny!!…hehehe….See?All we have to do is positive thinking…We have no reason to think otherwise Nny…coz why should we?When things 99% very possibly will turned out to positive…I’ll give u a couple of reason k?

            1]…I admit,Marterer started makes his presence known on Tour since last year…But a little bit inconsistently & this is the 1st time he breakthrough to 4th Rd in slams..so he have no experience at all to play this far in a Bo5..In a huge stadium like SL @ PC,where Rafa rules…My guess he will come out gun blazing left & right,testing Rafa to no ends…But,like i said..if it’s sunny…then even with that gun blazing,insyaallah Rafa will sorted him out in 3…If it’s rain,he maybe will steal a set from Rafa[But,i still go with Rafa in 3]…

            2]I also will admit that Rafa maybe nervous to play him coz we all know Rafa tend to get nervous when he’s not familiar with his opponents play…So.i will be surprised if Rafa makes all the stupid & unnecessary UE’s & play passively & all the things that he’s done when he’s nervous…But,don’t worry Nny!…like i said up there…Insyaallah Rafa will sorted him out in the end,no matter what the problems will be…

            3]..Also u have to remember Nny…Both times Rafa lost here,he had a problems…And right now,as far as i know..there’s no serious/not serious problems lurking around him…

            4]…I think Rafa have to contend with greater pressure from Novak[in his peak] in the past,and still managed to came out victorius Nny…So,i didn’t mean to belittling Marterer or Schwartzy or others contenders…but,if Rafa can halted Novak[in his peak]…i…honestly don’t think Rafa will fail this time around too…Unless there’s a special & sudden something happen…Yeah!…that is my answer Nny!…
            Hehehe…sorrrryyyyy for the looonngggg reply!Hahaha…

          • Thanks for the positive toughts Mira 🙂
            It’s been way more stressful for me to follow Rafa on his garden this year,no time to watch his matches except at the weekends …
            I believe Rafa will be in the final. Many are stating that Delpo/Cilic can give Rafa a hell of a match,let’s see how it will unfold. IMO,the only player with a shot against Rafa is Thiem,even so he’s not a lock to reach the final.

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