Good friend and familiar foe Richard Gasquet is next up for Rafael Nadal in the Spaniard’s quest for a 14th French Open title. Gael Monfils is also on Thursday’s second-round schedule, going up against Mikael Ymer.
(3) Rafael Nadal vs. Richard Gasquet
One of the most lopsided head-to-head matchups in tennis history will add another chapter when Nadal and Gasquet meet in the French Open second round on Thursday. They have faced each other 16 times on the main tour and Nadal has won on all 16 occasions, even though nine of them have come on hard courts–a surface that should give Gasquet at least some chance of success. Roland Garros is probably the last place where the Frenchman could be expected to pull off an upset. After all, Nadal is 101-2 lifetime at this event with 13 titles. Two of those victories have come against Gasquet: 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in 2005 and 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 the last time they faced each other in 2018.
More of the same should be in store, as Gasquet is slowing down to a greater extend than his fellow 34-year-old. He is outside the top 50 and has not won more than two matches at any tournament in 2021. Gasquet beat Hugo Gaston 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday, but that was a favorable first-round draw. Nadal, who beat Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(3), warmed up for this fortnight with titles in Barcelona and Rome. The world No. 3 seems to be rounding into his best form and that means Gasquet is sure to be the recipient of another beatdown.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 5-7 games
Mikael Ymer vs. (14) Gael Monfils
Heading into the French Open, there was no reason to think that Monfils would be the last Frenchman left standing. After all, he had won only a single match since February of 2020 and has been struggling both physically and mentally. But that could be the case following Thursday’s proceedings. Finally buoyed by a crowd behind him, Monfils turned in his best performance in the last 15 months and beat an in-form Albert Ramos-Vinolas 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday.
Up next for the world No. 15 is a first-ever meeting with Ymer, who outlasted Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4, 0-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the opening round. The 105th-ranked Swede had previously not won a main-draw match on clay in 2021, so this is already a good result for him. Ymer’s matchup with Monfils, though, is not favorable. The veteran can counter-punch just as well as the 22-year-old and he wields exponentially more firepower. As long as Monfils comes out with a similar mentality to what was on display in round one, this should be mostly straightforward.
Pick: Monfils in 4
Vamos Rafa!
WWW?
Vamos Rafa!…and Ymer always a tough out….could be a thriller….Monfils in 5.
Rafa, let’s do this!!
Keep your mind focused, remain confident and be strong, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E2-TugcXwAUzUuX?format=jpg
Go get ’em, Championx13 (and counting)!
And, oh yeah, happy birthday, dear Rafa!
WTF!!😠😠
Worrying dips from Rafa in the second
Yep! Sloppy!
I really don’t know what Rafa was doing for parts of that set…
He won third 62..what was wrong
First night match…understand pls.
Are these night matches under the roof ?
N there are 10 sessions at night .so will there be 1 night match till qf
No, not under roof unless it rains.
Maybe the night matches are for the Euro TV audiences? Maybe just because they can. /shrug
If rafa cant put gasquet away what chance against Sinner and co
Happy Birthday Rafa! 🎂🐼🎈🎊
Now let’s get this done in three sets!
Such poor play by rafa not to break then…
No cake!!?🎂🎂🎂🎂
Great first set from Rafa but some very surprising dips and errors in the second and third.
Rafa didn’t seem to like his birthday present so he was sulking in remaining two sets, lol!!
Chin chin Rafa!!! Happy birthday!!
Was he playing bad in third ? He won 62