It will be a big-hitting affair when Marin Cilic and Juan Martin Del Potro battle for the likely right to meet Rafael Nadal in the French Open semifinals. Nadal, meanwhile, has a quarterfinal contest on his hands against Diego Schwartzman.
(3) Marin Cilic vs. (5) Juan Martin Del Potro
Cilic and Del Potro will be squaring off for the 13th time in their careers and for the second time at the French Open when they clash in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Del Potro is dominating the head-to-head series 10-2, including 4-0 on clay after prevailing 6-3, 7-6(7), 6-1 at Roland Garros in 2012. They have since faced each other three times on hard courts, with Del Potro sweeping all three of those encounters to extend his winning streak against Cilic to seven matches.
Although he is ranked two spots better than the Argentine at No. 4 in the world, Cilic may be hard-pressed to turn the tide on Wednesday. Del Potro is an outstanding 27-7 this season with titles in Acapulco and Indian Wells. The 29-year-old is now through to his third French Open quarterfinal–despite missing the tournament in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016–following mostly routine victories over Nicolas Mahut, Julien Benneteau, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, and John Isner. Cilic cruised past James Duckworth, Hubert Hurkacz, and Steve Johnson before getting tested by Fabio Fognini, whom he held off 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-3 in the fourth round. The Croat started off slow on clay earlier this spring, but he paved the way for a solid Roland Garros performance by reaching the Rome semifinals. This likely where Cilic’s run comes to an end, as a red-hot Del Potro has his opponent’s number and is simply in superior form at the moment.
Pick: Del Potro in 4
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(1) Rafael Nadal vs. Diego Schwartzman
Simone Bolelli and Maxmilian Marterer probably could not have brought any better tennis to the table in their respective French Open efforts against Nadal. Still, the 10-time champion did not lose a single set en route to another quarterfinal appearance. In between a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(9) victory over Bolelli and a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(4) defeat of Marterer, Nadal trounced Guido Pella and Richard Gasquet while dropping a total of 11 games. The top-ranked Spaniard is now 23-1 on clay in 2018 with titles in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome.
Up next for Nadal on Wednesday is a sixth career contest against Schwartzman, who trails the head-to-head series 5-0 and 12-1 in total sets. Unsurprisingly, both of their previous clay-court encounters went the way of the 16-time Grand Slam champion in routine fashion; 6-4, 6-4 last spring in Monte-Carlo and 6-3, 6-4 this past month in Madrid. Schwartzman has twice been competitive on hard courts, falling 7-6(5), 6-3, 7-5 at the 2015 U.S. Open prior to a 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3 setback at this year’s Australian Open. Schwartzman is 11-2 in his last 13 matches at majors, which is almost as shocking as his Monday win over Kevin Anderson. Although it was just about an even matchup on paper, the 12th-ranked Argentine trailed by two sets and by a break in the third, and he also watched Anderson serve for the match twice before mounting a 1-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(0), 6-2 comeback. As if Schwartzman needed any more odds to be a stacked against him, having spent almost four hours on the court will not help his slim hopes of putting a dent in Nadal’s Paris armor.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 11-14 games
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Del Po in five and Rafa in three
Del Potro in 4
Nadal in 4.
Nadal in 4 in an unexpectedly tough match
How the Hell do 16 people think Rafa will lose?
Nadal lost to thiem as a -1600 favorite not too long ago. Maybe tomorrow he don’t feel good or he got a summer flu or something.
16 people know it’s possible
Hello, it’s been awhile.
How are you all doing?
Schwartzman, Del Potro, Cechinatto.
Now things will start getting interesting for Nadal. Although he’s a level above everyone right now, especially on this surface, things will start to get interesting. These are all high quality opponents that are DANGEROUS!
Jim Courier, for once I mostly agree with you. The rest of the tournament won’t be a cake walk for Rafa. In order to bite the trophy again, he has to go through three quality opponents – although I doubt that he will meet Cecchinato if he reaches the final for the 11th time. Thiem is the more likely finalist.
No kidding, he’s the 1.13 favorite. No reason why he cant do to Theim what he just did to Djokovic, Goffin and Careno Busta.
The three players you named aren’t in the same league as Thiem right now.
I don’t care for the betting odds. The Djoker was the overwhelming favorite, too, lol!
As a rafafan I won’t mind at all if he meets Cecchinato instead of Thiem in the final, since Thiem is the only player who has beaten Rafa on clay twice in the last two seasons. But I think that Marco is a highly unlikely finalist.
I will happily eat crow if I’m wrong…
Cilic v Delpo has potential to be a great contest. Personally I had Cilic prevailing to face Nadal in the semi’s pre-tournament, but I’m now not strongly convinced this mach will go one way or another. Delpo’s form this year has been good overall, yet there are always the injury problems which tend to pop up regularly and make things difficult. For a guy who has been injured so much it’s amazing how strong he is mentally. That mental strength gives him an advantage here, and the H2H is pretty convincing, but there’s always that chance of physical issues popping up, especially if it’s a long match. I’m gonna stick with Cilic, he’s performed well at recent slams, and I think he can get it done in 5. I’m guessing Nadal would rather face him than Delpo, simply because Delpo has a better ability to close out matches and his FH is more of a weapon, but he may not have a strong preference either way. They’re similar types of players and I’m sure he would back himself to handle either of them. Probably the biggest thing that would help either of them (besides this match not being grueling) is rain, although even then…
For the other match, I like Shwartzman, but I think Nadal will just be too much for him. I hope Diego at least puts in a good performance, he looked good until he faced Anderson, although his run had been pretty easy. It’s interesting that he took a set off Rafa at the AO, yet clay is his best surface. Unfortunately, given Rafa’s clay level, being on this surface is unlikely to help him in this match-up. In that HC meeting I think Rafa was too defensive, he probably won’t make the same mistake twice, which will mean some grueling running for Diego. Diego’s going to need Rafa to have a bad serving day, because his own serve isn’t his best attribute. He’s likely to offer up quite a few BP’s, as he did against Anderson. Ultimately, either way, I think Nadal will play better on the big points if it does get tight. Nadal in 3, losing about 12 games.
I haven’t the foggiest idea who will win – Delpo or Cilic. Delpo is probably the better clay courter, and if he isn’t hampered again by an injury I would favor him slightly, especially since the rotten weather might compromise Cilic’s serving power. Both players will be dangerous opponents for Rafa if he passes the Schwartzman test today. But if he reaches the semis, the weather might actually be favorable again for Rafa.
Del Potro is Cilic’s nemesis.
H2H is 10:2, Del Potro has won the last 7 only dropping 2 sets and is 4:0 on clay. It will be a big upset if Cilic wins especially given Del Potro’s current form. If Del Potro wins, he’s a big danger to Nadal.
Del Potro has never lost a set to Clic on clay. Total games won is 55 vs 21.
Del Potro in 4 is the likely result.
Stay focused, remain confident, be strong and fight bravely, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DfALDacXcAAoU3F.jpg
I would love to see Diego win or at least give Rafa a tough match, but I don’t see any chance of it happening unless Nadal somehow plays awful. Nadal in 3, maybe one tight set.
Cilic has really performed well at slams recently, and it’s clear he brings his best for the big matches. But Delpo has his number, and I think the same result will happen here. Delpo in 4.
Just to counter Augusta’s mind-numbingly repetitive cheerleading:
“Go Diego, Go!”
Go Shortman!
Cilic has the eye of the tiger…in 3; Rafa in another beat down.
Cilic in 3?!?!?
Go Shortman!
Schwartzman should start strong today after letting Anderson completely dominate for 2 sets…and he’ll have nothing to lose. We may see the best of him today.
Rafa struggling with his serve in the opening game. Diego has come out blasting. Natuv
Not a great start by Rafa.
So,it’s bright & sunshiny day once again today!YAAYY!!…So,Rafa in 3 of coz!![Insyaallah!]…
Rafa finally holds. Diego has come out aggressive right from the start.