Rafael Nadal and Jack Sock, who could collide in the fourth round, will contest their openers at Roland Garros on Monday. Nadal is going up against Benoit Paire, while Sock is facing familiar foe Jiri Vesely.
Benoit Paire vs. (4) Rafael Nadal
Nadal will begin another bid for his 10th French Open title when he takes the court against Paire on Monday. The fourth-ranked Spaniard was not quite perfect on clay prior to Roland Garros, but his preparation could hardly have gone any better. Nadal captured titles in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, and Madrid before getting some extra rest in the form of a Rome quarterfinal loss to Dominic Thiem. The 14-time major champion is 72-2 lifetime on the red clay of Paris and he may already be 77-2 with 10 titles if not for a sudden withdrawal from last year’s event due to a wrist injury.
This marks the third meeting between Nadal and Paire, and the first since 2013 when the former world No. 1 got the job done 7-6(2), 6-2 in Barcelona and 6-3, 6-4 immediately thereafter in Madrid. Paire is the one with home-court advantage this time around, but other than that there is nothing to like about his chances. The 45th-ranked Frenchman has played just about every week this year and is 17-15 for his efforts, including a 6-5 record on clay with a semifinal showing in Marrakech. Paire has never done much at Roland Garros (7-7 lifetime) and there is no reason to think anything will change now that he has been dealt the absolute toughest of draws. Nadal has to be chomping at the bit for a chance to make amends for last season’s bad luck, so a dominant win should be in order.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 8-10 games
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(14) Jack Sock vs. Jiri Vesely
Sock and Vesely will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers and for the third time this season when they meet again on Monday. The head-to-head series stands at 3-1 in favor of Sock, who has won all three of their previous ATP-level encounters–including 6-3, 7-6(0) a few months ago in Miami and 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1) just a couple of weeks back in Rome. Vesely’s lone victory came via a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) decision on the clay courts of a Czech Republic-based Challenger in 2013.
Even though Sock lists clay right up there with a hard court or even above a hard court as his favorite surface, he has cooled off just a bit following a torrid start to the 2017 campaign. The 15th-ranked American fell to Steve Johnson in the Houston semis, to Nicolas Mahut right away in Madrid, and he had to face Nadal in the Rome third round (lost 6-3, 6-4). Vesely has exited in the second round from four consecutive ATP-level events since reaching the Marrakech semifinals in April. The 56th-ranked Czech is no slouch on any surface, but he would definitely prefer to contest this particular matchup on grass. Count on Sock improving to 3-0 against Vesely in 2017.
Pick: Sock in 4
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One down! ✌ Vamos Rafa! ?
Yay!!!..alhamdullillah!Straight sets win for rafa!
Nny!…U missed the excitement for today!!
MA,
Yes I missed it. The tennis channel is showing a woman’s match.
I wonder if they will show it on a replay.
Anyway, Rafa won!
?
NNY,
Odd, I have to watch on Tennis Channel and they showed most of Rafa’s match with occasional end-of-set forays to Djokovic. Anyway, I’m sure they will repeat it later.
Does anyone here use the Tennis Channel Plus app? I’ve thought about getting it but early reports were that it was hard to use.
I thought Paire played very good second set whereas Rafa’s level dropped, but Rafa woke up just in time to not let the second set go…In the third, Paire was obviously down and seemed to be bothered with something so easy finish for Rafa! The first set was all Rafa!
Vamos Champ!
Nny!…http://www.tennisworldusa.org/news/news/Rafael_Nadal/43853/joan-forcades-about-nadal-injuries-are-like-losses-they-make-you-improve/
MA,
Thanks for that link!
The score line for Rafa’s match reflected my prediction. Close second set, but easy overall! I felt that Paire would not be able to pose much of a challenge to Rafa!
All we have is the tennis channel here. No ESPN!
Hey Nny!…You’re welcome Milady!!…Anyway…i hope you’re be able to see Rafa’s match Nny!…It’s vintage Rafa out there most of the time…trademark of amazing gets and passing winner’s of his that we missed so much!..urgh!!..Hope he will keep entertain us with this amazing display till the final Nny!…Woohoo!Vamos Rafa!!
Oh that’s bad that you don’t have ESPN, Nny!
I have 6 channels of Tennis each GS from ESPN.
Rafa was fanstasic!
Novak was solid.
rc,
ESPN is not showing it. Where are you gett g it?
Nny,
I have Direct TV and on channel 701 – 706 all Roland Garros. Must be a sports package — usually ESPN was involved. Perhaps for Wimby and US Open. sheesh…
I don’t have TC plus — not until my new laptop comes, anyway. And then it depends on the price. I’m on a budget!
rc,
I have Comcast. I have a bunch of ESPN channels but they are not showing it. I got the app yesterday and all they showed for tennis is Wimbledon.
I have been debating about TC plus. I have to check on their site to see if my budget can afford it.
Not so great second set. Lost serve twice with too many errors.
The women’s match at PC is still on now, poor Zverev and Verdasco have a long wait. I’m glad Rafa gets his match out of the way so soon.