After hammering two little-known wild cards, Rafael Nadal will see his competition level ratchet up in a major way when David Goffin comes calling on Friday at Roland Garros. Stan Wawrinka and Grigor Dimitrov are also in action.
(27) David Goffin vs. (2) Rafael Nadal
Nadal and Goffin will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers when they clash in round three of the French Open on Friday. The head-to-head series stands at 3-1 in favor of Nadal, who is a perfect 3-0 at Goffin’s expense on clay. Only against a hobbled opponent has the Belgian ever come out on top, which happened during round-robin action at the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals via a 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-4 decision. Nadal promptly withdrew from that event citing a knee injury. They most recently faced each other last spring in Barcelona, where the Spaniard cruised 6-4, 6-0.
Goffin is not the easiest of third-round adversaries; he would normally run into a top player in the second week of slam, but physical problems and a bit of a slump have left him at No. 29 in the world. Although the 28-year-old is a modest 12-12 for the season, he appears to be turning things around with a fourth-round performance in Miami, a semifinal showing in Estoril, and a win over Stan Wawrinka in Rome. Nadal picked up a confidence-boosting title in Rome and so far at Roland Garros he has trounced qualifiers Yannick Hanfmann and Yannick Maden. None of those results bode well for Goffin, who will at least make the 11-time champion work but is unlikely to wield enough firepower to steal a set.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 8-10 games
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(24) Stan Wawrinka vs. Grigor Dimitrov
It is not often that a third-round result can be considered somewhat of a success for both Wawrinka and Dimitrov, but that is arguably the case–especially for Dimitrov–heading into Friday’s showdown. The 28-year-old Bulgarian has slumped to 46th in the rankings, thus relegating him to unseeded status for the season’s second slam. After holding off Janko Tipsarevic 6-3, 6-0, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, he had to go up against No. 11 seed Marin Cilic in round two and prevailed 6-7(3), 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3.
Wawrinka was expected to make it this far as the 24th seed, but he faced a red-hot Christian Garin on Wednesday so it looked like a tough one may be in the cards. Instead, the 2015 Roland Garros champion destroyed the up-and-coming Chilean 6-1, 6-4, 6-0. He preceded that result with a 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-3 defeat of Jozef Kovalik. Wawrinka has won two in a row against Dimitrov to pull even in the head-to-head series at 4-4, and he has every reason to make it three straight. Dimitrov will not be helped by the fact that he already has 10 sets of tennis in his legs and was showing signs of a shoulder issue against Cilic.
Pick: Wawrinka in 3
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WWW?
Wawrinka and Nadal in four
Rafa cruises in 3; Stan in an entertaining 4.🇫🇷🎾
Wawa and Nadal in 3 or 4.
Rafa having problems defending his forehand corner
Just like last year
He is about to lose the third set. Should have broken earlier in the set.
Where is everyone? Am feeling a
bit anxious.
a) I couldn’t get into the site, some kind of error 🙁
b) Mary Carillo was annoying me so much I finally stopped watching in the 4th set.
c) the dog ate my homework.
d) I stopped watching the match during the 4th set cuz Rafa and Goffin were both PO’ing me with their play and TC was PO’ing me off with their stupid coverage, stupid commies and endless commercials for TC Plus. I should pay them $100 because they’re totally feckless???
Still, vamos Rafa!
So what was your opinion of how Rafa played? I thought he suddenly became very nervy..handed the court to Goffin …
Not sure about Rafa. I know *I* suddenly became very nervy…But his level was good overall. Goffin started red-lining late in the 3rd set (he hit BIG forehands) and got the break, but I think Rafa’s level had dipped which let Goffin in.
Everyone?? Unbelievable comment , its not a Nadal fan forum.
Rafa is looking rattled. Needs to tighten things up.
Set Goffin.
Commies going on endlessly about it being exactly 10 years since Soderling won. Driving me mad.
Crowd cheering for Goffin has geed him up
Rafa making mistakes now
Where is everyone? This is dangerous!
Rafa is definitely rattled.
dont worry! he is the king of clay!
Rafa”s level has gone down and Goffin is hitting winners everywhere
Still up 2 sets to 1. dont think he will lose this set. Should it happen Rafa will raise his game in the 5th.
Rafa has got nervy!
And I thought he was gonna destroy goffin…
Thank the lord! Break Rafa!☺
Thanks for being here Freddy!
no worries I am not even a rafa fan, but a fed fan. Saw you were suffering and decided to help! :)hahah
Wow kudos Freddy! You are a good guy!
I am a fan of fedal!
Carlos Moya has been looking very on edge. He looks how I feel.
God what a relief!!