An all-Spanish rematch between Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco is on tap for Tuesday in Indian Wells. Gilles Simon and Alexander Zverev are also aiming for a place in the fourth round.
(4) Rafael Nadal vs. Fernando Verdasco
Nadal and Verdasco will be squaring off for the 18th time in their careers when they clash in round three of the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday. Although Nadal is dominating the head-to-head series 14-3, that hardly paints an accurate picture of the current situation. Verdasco was once 0-13 against his fellow Spaniard but he has since reeled off three wins in his last four tries. They most recently faced each other in the first round of this season’s Australian Open, with Verdasco pulling off a 7-6(6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 upset.
Nadal’s woes have only been extended since that disappointment Down Under. The world No. 5 failed to lift the trophy at either of his Golden Swing stops, losing to Dominic Thiem in the Buenos Aires semifinals and to Pablo Cuevas at the same stage in Rio de Janeiro. Nadal endured a scare on Sunday night in the desert but managed to win a windy one against Gilles Muller 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. Verdasco opened with a 7-6(4), 6-3 defeat of Peter Polansky before getting a first-set retirement from Martin Klizan. The 32-year-old is a modest 4-3 this season and a mediocre 15-12 lifetime in Indian Wells. Nadal played decently enough against Muller and should be able to exact a measure of revenge on his doubles partner.
Pick:Â Nadal in 3
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Alexander Zverev vs. (16) Gilles Simon
There is something about Simon and losing the first five games of his matches against Vasek Pospisil. In Davis Cup action between France and Canada earlier this month in Guadeloupe, Simon trailed Pospisil 5-0 only to storm back for a 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 victory. The world No. 19 could not recover to take the first set from 5-0 down on Sunday, but he still coasted to a 1-6, 6-0, 6-1 win. It was a much-needed win for Simon, who had been 2-4 in his last six matches dating back to his five-set loss at the hands of Novak Djokovic in Melbourne.
Up next for the 16th seed is a second career meeting with Zverev. They just went head-to-head last month in Rotterdam, where the 19-year-old German prevailed 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(4). Like his opponent, Zverev would benefit greatly from a deep run in the desert. The world No. 58 has already done well to shake off recent Davis Cup disappointment (he lost singles rubbers to Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic) by beating Ivan Dodig and Grigor Dimitrov in three sets. Zverev came back from a set and a break down against Dodig and from a break down in the decider against Dimitrov. Simon should have a better chance against the youngster outdoors and in a setting in which wind is sure to be a factor. It will not help Zverev that he is coming off two tough matches and now has to face one of the most consistent and best defensive players on tour.
Pick:Â Simon in 3
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who ya got?
Rafa in 3.
Gilles and Sascha. Potentially a good match. Should be a 3 setter but I’m guessing Sascha has logged too many hours on the court over 4.5 to Gilles 1.5. On the other hand, he is 18 and might be recovered. Voted Gilles in 2.
I am going with Rafa in 3 sets.
Simon over Zverev in 2 sets.
Keep your mind focused, stay confident and fight bravely, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cdmz-YHWoAA6u5w.jpg
Zverev and Rafa.
Rafa will not get the strategy wrong this time. He wasn’t thinking well in Melbourne.
Wow. Gilles Simon was sick/ill? Did I hear that? Anyone know?
Anyway – It’s another big win for Zverev Minor. 62 62 over Simon. Congrats Sascha!
Rafa or Verdasco for him next round.
I assume something was wrong with Simon given that score.
When is Rafa playing?
Vamos!
#4-14
wow!!!! bagel??!!!
justtt tuned in…rafa hitting killer returns after getting broken in the previous game.
VAMOSSSSS!!! 1-1 !! has broken serve 4 times already!
3 double faults in one game….
totally gifted the game there. I hope he does not let verdasco back in this :/
Barring the double faults in that game, he is looking so much more comfortable out there! Don’t feel like he is going to miss every time he prepares for a shot.
Verdasco has not held serve so far. Hope this continues
The tennis channel switched away from rafa’s match after he bageled nando in the first set. I’ve been checking back and finally they are showing it. A tight second set.
Rafa 5-4. I hope he can close this out in 2 sets.
yes! hope so…he held serve there for 6-5…. I am hoping for 7-5 as Verdasco is playing so haphazard ….
Now Rafa either breaks Nando or it’s a TB.
tie break…nervous times
annoying forehand errors creeping in and Verdasco gaining confidence with every point
Rafa on the verge of losing this TB.
Two UE gifts from Nando.
Come on Rafa!
COME ONNNNN what a way to save that set point at 6-5 !!! 6-6 now!! you MUST win this now rafa, VAMOS
Wicked cc backhand gets Rafa to 6-6.
YESSSSS match point!!
Match point Rafa.
Come on!
Nando serves an ace.
7-7
8-8
Rafa close this out now!
Rod Laver in the house.
Set point Nando.
9-9
This is getting nerve wracking.
Here is another gift – DF to give Rafa match point.
YES!
Rafa wins!
Two down, many more to go! Vaamoos Rafa! ✌ ✌
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!!!
he finally handled the pressure!! he had a terrible loss against Nando , he was losing all tense matches of late but he did not let this one get away!
Rafa played a bad tie break to trail 3-6 but those three saves were just so sweet! Suddenly he hit two backhands DTL to extract errors from the verdasco forehand to save the first two set points and the third one was just a test of his nerves. Rafa hit three big forehands but verdasco kept defending and the Rafa ended the point with a thumping CC backhand winner! I was fist pumping hard haha
He saved 5 set points! For a change, Rafa conquered the demons. I know he let Verdasco back into the match but in a way this was good. He proved to himself he can overcome situations like these.
There is a lot to be desired in his performance, esp in the second set, but I am not going to go into that. I am very happy with these two results.
Zverev will be a tough challenge…
I will be nervous for his next match. Zverev will be a tough challenge.
Now, can Kohls pull off a miracle? lol
Stats:
Set 1:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdoLtgCWEAA7YN6.jpg
Match:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdoLv79W8AU_-ep.jpg
Thanks for the stats. Looking good!
I am nervous for Zverev. A young, talented kid who will come out with no pressure and nothing to lose against Rafa.
Without getting carried away, I did think that Rafa handled the pressure well in this match. Down three set points, Rafa stayed strong and fought back. Nice to see!
Winning is a good thing! I thought that Rafa also handled a tight third set against Muller very well. He seemed focused and mentally strong.
Rafa will need to keep it together against this young kid.
Keep it up Rafa!
Rafa’s quotes from his post-match interviews:
“I played a great first set, very good quality tennis, No mistakes. That’s important for me. Serving very well; returning very well.”
“…my feeling was at the end of the [second] set, before the tiebreak, that I was much closer to finish the match than to lose the set.”
“I lost matches similar to this one in Australia, in Buenos Aires, in Rio de Janeiro, so it’s important winning matches like this for me. Like the other day in the third [set] (against Gilles Muller) , today in the second [set].”
“I feel lucky to win the tiebreak, and at the same time I think at the end of the tiebreak I played well, with not many mistakes and going for the points,”
“So it’s an important victory for me. Two matches and wins here, tough ones. That’s something that stays in my mind and helps.”
On Zverev:
“I know it’s going to be a very tough match. I’m happy the way I played today in the first set, so if I can keep going the same way tomorrow, I hope to have my chances.”
(Official transcripts of press conferences are released on a 24-hour delay.)
Rafa’s FH was faster in R3 in comparison to that in R2:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cdn6x6hVIAAXIs8.jpg
(via Rafamelia)
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Rafa played much closer to the baseline than a year ago against Verdasco in Miami:
¤ at the 2015 Miami Masters:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdoDBFeWAAAJOhF.jpg
¤ at the 2016 IW Masters:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdoDBNRW8AQffOC.jpg
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