Rafael Nadal is back in action on Thursday at Roland Garros as he goes up against fellow lefty Martin Klizan. Americans John Isner and Ryan Harrison are also bidding for a place in the last 32.
(3) Rafael Nadal vs. Martin Klizan
Nadal returns to the French Open court on Thursday, three days after experiencing a brief first-round scare against Daniel Brands. The seven-time champion dropped his opening set and was in danger of losing the second before he ultimately prevailed 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-3. Back from a seven-month layoff spanning the end of 2012 and the start of 2013, Nadal is now an almost hard-to-believe 37-2 for the season. Among his six titles are Masters events in Indian Wells, Madrid, and Rome. The fourth-ranked Spaniard is 53-1 lifetime at Roland Garros.
Up next for Nadal is a first-ever meeting with Klizan, another southpaw. The 35th-ranked Slovak enjoyed a breakout last year by beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga en route to the U.S. Open fourth round and lifting the winner’s trophy in St. Petersburg. However, Klizan is in the midst of a “sophomore slump” and he is a horrendous 7-13 this year. Klizan, who got a retirement from Michael Russell in the first round, missed snagging a French Open seed by one spot. The result is an all-too-early date with Nadal and an almost certain exit. Count on Nadal treating the Brands match as a wakeup call and bulldozing his way into the third round.
Pick: Nadal 6-3, 6-4, 6-1
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Ryan Harrison vs. (19) John Isner
Harrison and Isner will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers and for the third time this year. Isner leads the head-to-head series 3-1 after avenging a 6-4, 6-4 loss in Sydney by defeating Harrison 7-6(4), 6-4 last month on the clay courts of Houston. A knee injury that ultimately forced the big man out of the Australian Open contributed to Harrison’s victory Down Under. Isner has a win over his younger compatriot on every surface; hard (2010), grass (2012) and now clay.
The world No. 21 went on to capture the Houston title before going into a funk on the European slow stuff. However, Isner got back on track with an impressive 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 first-round scalp of accomplished clay-courter Carlos Berlocq. Harrison also ousted a clay-court specialist, steamrolling through Andrey Kuznetsov 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) on Tuesday. The 21-year-old American is still a dreadful 5-10 at the ATP level for his 2013 campaign. Harrison could steal a set if Isner serves poorly, but all signs point to the favorite getting the job done.
Pick: Isner in 4
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Have to agree with Isner prediction. Harrison just not fulfilling the promise that he showed a few years ago. How about Jack Sock?- he looked great in his first round win!