Third-round action at the French Open gets underway on Friday, with the loaded top half of the draw back on the court. Rafael Nadal is going up against Botic van de Zandschulp, while a red-hot Grigor Dimitrov faces Diego Schwartzman.
(26) Botic van de Zandschulp vs. (5) Rafael Nadal
Nadal’s clay-court preparation for the French Open was disappointing, but that does not seem to matter now that he finds himself on his Roland Garros stomping grounds. The 13-time champion looked like his normal self in a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 tournament-opening rout of Jordan Thompson and in a 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Corentin Moutet on Wednesday night. Nadal is now 107-3 lifetime at the French Open.
That is bad news for van de Zandschulp, the 21-time Grand Slam winner’s third-round opponent on Friday. This marks the first-ever meeting between the two players, which is not too surprising since van de Zandschulp really broke onto the scene just last season. The 26-year-old Dutchman is up to No. 29 in the world thanks in part to a 2021 U.S. Open quarterfinal run and so far this fortnight he has ousted Pavel Kotov and Fabio Fognini with little trouble. Van de Zandschulp has more firepower than Thompson and Moutet with which to hurt Nadal, but on this surface even he is unlikely to offer much resistance.
Pick: Nadal in 3
(18) Grigor Dimitrov vs. (15) Diego Schwartzman
Schwartzman and Dimitrov will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers on Friday. Dimitrov is leading the head-to-head series 3-1 after winning three in a row, most recently via a 6-0, 6-3 blowout at the Madrid Masters a few weeks ago. Their only previous Grand Slam encounter came at Wimbledon in 2017, when the Bulgarian cruised 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-2.
Dimitrov has made even quicker work of his opponents so far this fortnight, erasing Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 and Borna Coric 6-0, 6-4, 6-3 in the first two rounds. Schwartzman needed four sets against Andrey Kuznetsov and five to get past Jaume Munar, so his form has not really improved from second-round losses in Madrid (to Dimitrov) and Rome (to Marcos Giron). The 16th-ranked Argentine flirted with disaster against Munar and a more experienced, confident opponent will likely send him packing.
Pick: Dimitrov in 4
WWW?
Rafa is on 3rd tomorrow on Lenglen.
Alcaraz against Korda is the night match.
I forgot to say yesterday that I thought Rafa’s movement was very good. The foot did not seem to be buttering him. I hope it will hold up as Rafa gets to the tougher matches in week two.
I think the conditions at night caused Rafa to be off. It was very cold there. Jim Courier said it was less than 60 degrees and people in the stands were using blankets.
It is important for Rafa to get through these matches in straight sets. He has a tough road ahead of him. At times I saw flashes of vintage Rafa. It’s there but not consistently. He does not have to play his best yet. The most concerning thing is his serve. But it was nice to see him moving so freely,
Rafa doesn’t like playing at night when it’s cold! Do you remember 2020 against Sinner? He was in a bad mood and didn’t play well! Then 4 days later he destroyed novax!
I agree about the foot. That’s the most important thing.
When do these wretched night matches end? If they meet in the quarters could rafole be a night match? I really hope not…
I really hope that it’s not a night match with Rafa and Novak. I am not that concerned right now because I don’t expect Rafa to be at his best. Fortunately he does not have to work that hard to get it done. I hope he can get into really good form even without the preparation he normally has.
It’s just about getting through these early rounds.
Bothering him!
Supposedly rafa has cancelled his practice today…not sure what it is about n why . Just worried if it’s not the foot acting up again
As per below tweet seems cancelled practice that was scheduled but practiced elsewhere .God knows what’s the truth..some rafa fans just create so much stress on Twitter its unimaginable..10 minutes late to a practice n they fear he is injured
https://mobile.twitter.com/RaphaelDabadie/status/1529852267754569729
Amy ..are u worried abt tomm..never played botic before n on top of that lenglen (:-
I always worry a bit when he is on Lenglen against a good player sanju.
I just read genny and there is nothing about a cancelled practice. R you sure? If so, then yes I am worried.
Who told you?
Ok I just saw your other tweet. That sounds alright!😀
Really honestly sanju u should know better than to worry us!😀😀
I do think Rafa’s draw is very tough….
There is still no clarity on whether he practiced as he has cancelled a scheduled practice ..no one knows if he practiced elsewhere
I wish people would stop doing this. It happens on VB a lot. Starting these stupid rumors about cancelled practices! I think some people just look for things to worry about with Rafa. It’sgetyi g on my nerves.
Ppl I’m sure it’s no biggie. How much more practice does Rafa need after all he has clay running through his veins, lol!!! 🤣😂
There r plenty of good tennis matches tomorrow though, I can’t wait! Let’s c how Korda approaches his match tomorrow with Carlos. And talking about Carlos, I am seeing plenty of drop shots these days,lol, they’re everywhere!!! Tsistipas did not even bother himself with some of them today, lol!!
Good luck tomorrow, Rafa!! Vamos!!
Sorry, this is my above post, forget to include my name! 🤪
Look a bunch of choke artists in this tourney!!! Korla was up 6:2 in the 4 math set TB against Steph and lost it 😂🤣🤣 wow!!!! Tsistipas keeps living dangerously in this tournament!!
Kolar had set points in the second set and arguably should have won it which would have meant Tsitsi would have faced 4 match points in which case I reckon he would have lost.Kolar doesn’t even have a tb record for this year and won the 3rd set tb! This is the first time he qualified for a slam after 16 attempts.
Good as Kolar was Tsitsi was very unconvincing and became extremely irritating. Waving his arms each time he win a point. The crowd were going wild for Kolar at one point.
On this reckoning, Med would beat Tsitsi! In fact a large range of players would…
I was cheering for Kolar!
When I look at this draw I am really beginning to suspect that this is not luck of the draw!!! What r the odds that Novak, FAA and Carlos all end up on Rafa”s half and May have to play each of them?!! I mean cmon!!!!! This has nothing to do with luck!!! 🙄
Rafa can beat them all!
As for Tsitsipas, he’s not convincing in his wins; he’s like Zverev of the past (who used to go five setters at the early rounds of slams). Tsitsipas is not going to win any slam if he continues to play like this. He’s allowing his lower ranked opponents to dictate play, and many times they pinned him at his BH corner, attacking his BH until it breaks down. He needs to move inside the court more often and not staying three metres behind the baseline to hit his shots. IOW, he has to be more offensive in his play and dictates play.
Meddy has a big road block in his next match ie Kecmanovic; I’m not sure he can get pass that to meet Tsitsipas later on. No doubt Meddy had beaten his two opponents in straight sets, but his R1 opponent was injured; R2 opponent wasn’t playing at his usual level on clay.
I think Rudd and Rublev could benefit from the draw more so than Meddy and Tsitsipas.
Lucky,
I was glad to read your thoughts on Tsitsipas. I was going to ask you what you think of his he is playing here. I know you really liked his game and though he could really do something in the sport.
I share your concerns. He is not getting it done efficiently in the early rounds. So while he has gotten through so far, but when he goes up against tougher competition he may not make it.
I know that there has been very little talk about Meddy since he returned. Clay is not just best surface and he is coming back from an injury. I didn’t realize he will go up against Kecmanovic next. That one will be tough. I have been wondering if Meddy will be sake to step up here since Tsitsipas is self-destructing.
So many autocorrect mistakes
Clay is not his best surface.
Will Meddy be able to step up here.
Wow, Diego is taking Dimi to the woodshed!!! Diego seems to be playing lights out, he may be a dark horse here!!!
As for Tsistipas and Carlos, I don’t find them convincing thus far……….they r there for the taking!!
Now Rafa, today we want to c aggressive and attacking tennis on both wings!! Put the locker room on notice!!! Allez!!!!! 🤣😂😂😂
Great start I don’t think!
A lot of bad luck that game ie disallowed ace and unlucky net cord
Rafa gets broken in the first game of the match. Now Rafa needs to break back.
Rafa has two break points. Break back!
Rafa breaks back. Now hold!
Yes, I saw that but great that he broke back!!
Meanwhile Novak and Felix seem to be cruising!! Playing very well 😝
Rafa not as crisp as I’d like! Vamos, Rafa!!