Rafael Nadal will continue his French Open campaign in an all-lefty affair with Guido Pella on Thursday. Kyle Edmund and recent Geneva champion Marton Fucsovics are also aiming for a place in the last 32.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. Guido Pella
Nadal has not dropped a set at the French Open since losing to Novak Djokovic in the 2015 quarterfinals, a streak that is still intact through round one of this year’s event. But it almost wasn’t. If not for another third-set rain delay that pushed the conclusion of his showdown against Simone Bolelli from Monday to Tuesday, the 10-time champion may have been extended to four. Instead, he recovered from a 3-0 deficit and forced a tiebreaker–after which he fought off four set points to get the job done 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(9). Nadal is now 80-2 lifetime at Roland Garros, 105-2 in best-of-five matches on clay, and 20-1 on the red stuff in 2018.
Up next for the world No. 1 on Thursday is a second career meeting with Pella, who lost 6-3, 6-2 last spring in Indian Wells. The 78th-ranked Argentine enjoyed a surprisingly routine time earning another shot in this head-to-head matchup, as he trounced Estoril champion Joao Sousa 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 during first-round action. Aside from victories over Sam Querrey in Houston and Geneva (both in third-set tiebreakers), Pella had not beaten anyone ranked better than 50th during this clay-court swing. He has never defeat an opponent in the top five and this is obviously not where his first such upset will come.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 8-10 games
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Marton Fucsovics vs. (16) Kyle Edmund
Edmund and Fucsovics will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Thursday. Their only previous encounter came last summer in Winston-Salem, where Edmund cruised 6-2, 6-1. Both players are more experienced and more confident now; in fact, Edmund is a Grand Slam semifinalist (2018 U.S. Open). The 17th-ranked Brit struggle for a couple of months thereafter, but he has heated back up with a runner-up finish in Marrakech, a quarterfinal performance in Madrid, a third-round result in Rome, and a straight-set beatdown of Alex de Minaur on Tuesday.
Fucsovics has picked up plenty of clay-court momentum, as well, with his first career ATP title this past week in Geneva. The 45th-ranked Hungarian, who reached round four of the Aussie Open before succumbing to eventual champion Roger Federer, maintained his fine form following the Geneva run by disposing of Vasek Pospisil 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(5) during first-round action at Roland Garros. But Edmund isn’t Pospisil; the 16th seed is playing much better tennis right now and is much more competent on clay–likely too competent for Fucsovics.
Pick: Edmund in 3
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What’s wrong with the timing on the backhand?!
Rafa has more UE’s than Pella.
8-3
Can Rafa get this break?
These UEs!!!
And low serve speeds!!😕
amy,
Yes it’s frustrating but better to try to work through it now. The tennis channel commies won’t shut up about players now using the Bolelli technique in going after Rafa hitting hard and trying to disrupt his rhythm.
Pella doesn’t have that kind of speed or power.
Brilliant I/O forehand winner from Rafa. I think he’s starting to get going.
low serve speeds? Not good.
I think Rafa may be lowering the speed on his serves to get more in.
Rafa has had three set points and has not done it yet.
#4
Finally! Rafa gets the first set.
6-2
Rafa is playing more aggressively than in his first match hense higher number of UEs. Rafa dictates points and is moving Pella around. Pella hits hard like its the end of the world, won’t last long playing like that. He will be exhausted by the end of this set…Rafa’s hitting deep, trying to paint the lines…love his aggressive tennis!
Vamos Rafa!
Saw that match. Nothing Rafa can’t handle unless he has a brain freeze. I must say a lot of the youngsters have been acquitting themselves well whereas the senior (or relatively senior players) have been making heavy weather of their matches.
Well done rafa!!
Cant believe gow long it took for Rafa to close out the first set 🙁
They need to get a crack on. Rain clouds are moving in. A rain break is the last thing we need.
Oh no! Not rain again!
A glacier could form in the time it takes rafa to serve!!
He is imperious now!☺☺
Barry Millns timed Rafa and said he is within the 25 seconds; that’s before he got the warning. When I was in Madrid, I timed him live and he was taking about 16-17 seconds. I know he’s got far too many things on his list of things to do getting ready to serve and it does get tiresome watching him go through all of them but I’m sure Toni and others have tried to change that but seems it’s not going to happen. Rafa is very stubborn, it seems.
amy,
LOL!
😄
Rafa serving better now, getting in 60% first serve this second set so far. When his first serve is good, it’s so much easier for him to win the point and his service game.
This turning into a rout. Now the tennis channel switched to Isner’s match! Typical! Any excuse to show an American!
It’s good to see Rafa serving better. It really helps open up his game. He seems to be feeling it now.
Pella started off very well and I thought this would be another hard day at work for Rafa although I thought it would be routine before the match.
Rafa clay court exho now!!😀
At least you don’t have to watch aKyle Edmund !!!
Am hoping foggy takes him out next round!!
Sorry was replying to nny!!
This site has become very difficult to use…it gobbles up posts and log in details like a gigantic turkey!!
Amy,
Are you having the same trouble that myself and others are having with signing in every time we post a comment? We have to put in our user name and email address.
It’s nice to see Rafa in control here.
Yes I do nny!!!
And I lose posts!!
A little more respect from you, please, for Britain’s No.1 player 😉
RIP Andy Murray …useless hasbeen!!!☺
These comparisons with Andy are utterly absutd!!
At least we only have Edmund left so they won’t saturate all the channels with Edmund, Konta, Watson and Norrie.
Let’s be thankful for small mercies!!!
2nd set took exactly half the time of the first. Not Rafa’s finest hour but looks like it will be over in straight sets.
But talk about watching paint dry -:(
Bolelli did Rafa a favour by making him battle hardened.
Vamos champ!!!
Rafa looks fab in the blue no?!
This is my favorite outfit of Rafa’s! Love it!
Nat
@amy,
Yes! Loving the blue. Nike has done well by our champ this clay court season.
Rafa serving 56% first serve in but won 85% of those so not that bad. He was serving well during last few games of set two and the whole of set three; it seemed that he’s in a hurry, wanting to finish the match ASAP before the rain came (which so far hadn’t and hasn’t).
When he’s in a hurry to get off the court, he played his best tennis, turned aggressive and hit every shot as hard as possible but with precision! He should play like that more often (which is a joy to watch!) and not let his opponents boss him around.