Rafael Nadal continues his quest for a 13th French Open against American Mackenzie McDonald as the second round begins on Wednesday. Stan Wawrinka battles an in-form Dominik Koepfer.
Mackenzie McDonald vs. (2) Rafael Nadal
This will be one of the more lopsided matches on Wednesday from a rankings perspective. World No. 2 Rafael Nadal is a 12-time champion in Paris, where he has amassed a completely absurd 94-2 record. Mackenzie McDonald has a singles ranking of 236th, and he went into the French Open with a 1-5 record on the season.
Nadal was quick and efficient in his first-round match against Egor Gerasimov, while McDonald went four with the Canadian qualifier Steven Diez, ranked 181st in the world. McDonald will be grateful to add another tick to his win column, but there is no facet of the American’s game that will give Nadal pause.
Expect another tidy match from the world No. 2, who looked perfectly comfortable on Monday. Anything other than an easy straight-set win for the King of Clay would be a shock.
Cheryl pick: Nadal in 3 losing 8-10 games
Ricky pick: Nadal in 3 losing 8-10 games
(16) Stan Wawrinka vs. Dominik Koepfer
This may end up being the pick of the second round matches on Wednesday. Stan Wawrinka has had an unimpressive return to tennis after the hiatus. He didn’t play the U.S. Open and then he suffered an odd loss in the first round of the Rome Masters to world No. 249 Lorenzo Musetti.
His opener this week was an easy first-round win over Andy Murray, who is still struggling to find his form after hip surgery last year. And now he runs into the impressively in-form Dominik Koepfer, who enjoys a career-high ranking of No. 61 in the world.
Koepfer delighted fans of the underdog with his inspiring run through qualies and into the quarters of Rome. That is where he met Novak Djokvoic and took a set. A fortuitous early loss in Hamburg means that 26-year-old has had enough time to recover from Rome.
The German has the game to make this a real treat of a match. He’s in great form and Wawrinka’s level is questionable despite the straight-set win over Murray.
Cheryl pick: Wawrinka in 4
Ricky pick: Wawrinka in 4
Agree with Cheryl’s picks. 🙂
Keep your mind focused, remain confident and be strong, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjI7mxlWsAAc6-3?format=jpg&name=large
https://www.rolandgarros.com/en-us/article/2016-feel-as-djokovic-bursts-out-the-blocks
These articles are scary (:- for non djoko fans
The only solace is djoko went into a funk post his 2016 french for 2 years 🙂
Rafa in a beat down; Wka in 4
Great predictions, Scoot! Wawa looking tough! And Rafa looking like…Rafa.
Yeah, Stan look superb!! Except for the hiccup in the third!!! Otherwise, that backhand looks sweet!!!
Vamos Rafa!!!
I was very surprised that both Rafa’s first and second serves were on average considerably higher than Dom’s! Not what I was expecting to see..but heartening..
Nishikori out…Isner out too..good news?
Good to see the back of isman!
Zverev struggling now..ok just broke in the fifth but very unconvincing..
Rudd played a 5 setter…good for thiem
The match of the tourney could well be thiem stan i think just like last year’s Stan tsitsipas
For sure I’ll be supporting Stan! I think he’ll make Theim look quite ordinary with the way Stan is playing thus far! Well, I hope, lol
You underestimate Dom Mona!😀
I seem to remember you like Stan!😀
oh yes Amy, I do! I like Stan!
But sometimes he ca be a bit moody! So if he shows up he’ll make a match of it against Theim.
Thiem Stan could be fab provided Stan gets there! He is the only player who could take out Dom before the semis imo.
What’s latest on Rafas comments on the balls n the weather etc after first 2 matches
I said before that maybe Sinner beats Zverev?! Wouldn’t be a huge shock..
Wow Herbert breaks back!
I’m very afraid of rafa playing sinner. These young lads can play fearlessly to prove a point. Isn’t he very good ? Has rafa played him ever ?
I don’t think rafa has played him. Hopefully Sinner has to play a five setter against Zverev or Herbert to tire him out…
You need to ask lucky about Sinner. But I doubt very much that she is going to see him as a threat to Rafa at RG..!
I only know that Sinner won the Next Gen finals last year beating Alex De Minar in the final. He may play well on clay but I doubt he’ll give Rafa any problem unless Rafa plays horribly.
I think the threat to Rafa still comes from those experienced players like Stan and Thiem in his half of the draw. Luckily Schwarzman, Stan and Thiem have to beat one another to get to the SF, so only one of them could make it there.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/tennis/ball-maker-hoping-nadal-wins-in-paris-to-prove-himself-wrong/2020/09/30/1a2cc50e-0323-11eb-b92e-029676f9ebec_story.html
^Good read. So apparently the ball is not too different? It is perhaps the weather conditions creating that perception. But, Rafa tried these balls in Mallorca as well and felt they were ‘heavy’. Jack Sock plays with as much spin but he thinks it’s not much different.
The weather was warmer today so Rafa was getting better bounce. His return can benefit from slower conditions (just like Thiem’s) but he just needs to adapt his return positioning when needed. He is clearly staying closer to the baseline and hitting a bit harder.
In his particular match-up with Djokovic (if they were to meet), Rafa’s backhand slice might also benefit as a defensive shot but Novak sometimes struggles to create a lot of pace on those slices.
Interesting times certainly. I do still see Rafa as the favorite though but waiting for him to play a tough opponent.