A blockbuster all-Spanish quarterfinal between Rafael Nadal and Gael Monfils will be contested on Friday in Monte-Carlo. Grigor Dimitrov and Gael Monfils are also in action.
(3) Rafael Nadal vs. (5) David Ferrer
In a matchup worthy of at least a semifinal, Nadal and Ferrer will be facing each other for the 29th time in their careers when they clash again in the quarters of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. Nadal is dominating the head-to-head series between the two Spaniards 22-6, including 18-2 on clay. The former world No. 1 once went on a streak of 17 consecutive clay-court wins against his compatriot before Ferrer finally prevailed 7-6(1), 6-4 last year at the same stage of this same event. Their most recent encounter came last spring at Roland Garros, where Nadal scored a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-1 quarterfinal victory on his way to another title.
Not unlike the situation in 2014, Nadal is has looked vulnerable going into the clay-court swing. At the same time, he appears to be restoring order on the slow stuff after disappointing results in Indian Wells and Miami. The third seed hammered Lucas Pouille 6-2, 6-1 then survived an in-form John Isner 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3 on Thursday. Ferrer has defeated Victor Estrella Burgos (6-2, 2-0, retired) and Gilles Simon (6-2, 6-7(3), 6-1). The 33-year-old is an incredible 24-3 for his 2015 campaign with titles in Doha, Rio de Janeiro, and Acapulco. Ferrer is not going to go away quietly, but this is not the same Nadal that was on display on hard courts. His win over Isner–although possibly not as tough as this quarterfinal will be–should not be underestimated.Pick: Nadal in 3[polldaddy poll=8805809]
(9) Grigor Dimitrov vs. (14) Gael Monfils
A quarterfinal rematch of last year’s title showdown between fellow Swiss Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka seemed to be in the cards. That was until Monfils and Dimitrov got in the way during third-round action on Thursday. Monfils upset Federer 6-4, 7-6(5) and Dimitrov ended Wawrinka’s title defense with a 6-1, 6-2 blowout. Thus the Frenchman and Bulgarian will square off for the fourth time in their careers.
Monfils leads the head-to-head series 2-1 and is 6-0 in completed sets against Dimitrov–all of those six coming at the U.S. Open. The world No. 18 prevailed 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4 in 2011 and 7-5, 7-6(6), 7-5 last summer. Their other encounter came on the clay courts of Bucharest in 2014, when Dimitrov advanced via an opening-set retirement from Monfils. Clearly armed with a clean bill of health at the moment, Monfils preceded his win over Federer by taking out Andrey Kuznetsov and Alexandr Dolgopolov. Dimitrov, who has also gotten the best of Fernando Verdasco and Fabio Fognini, did not have to do much against a slumping Wawrinka. With a surface edge and basically home-court advantage, a confident Monfils should be able to get the job done.
21 Comments on Monte-Carlo QF previews and picks: Nadal vs. Ferrer, Dimitrov vs. Monfils
hawkeye,
Why do you say that tomorrow’s match means a lot more to Novak than Rafa? I don’t get that. You don’t think it means a lot to Rafa?
This was one time when I wish that my prediction wasn’t right. I would have loved to see Rafa close it out in the second set, but that doesn’t seem to be the way of it these days. I am okay with Rafa meeting up with Novak. It’s clay, Rafa has had two really good wins against tough opponents. Now we will see how much more work has to be done. But I am happy to see Rafa hanging in there and fighting back in that third set.
It goes without saying that Rafa cannot afford to give up double breaks in a set to Novak!
Because Nole is expected to win given their respective YTDs.
If Nole loses, then it raises huge doubts. If Rafa loses, doesn’t mean much for RG. Rafa is 2-4 vs Nole in lead up ATP events to RG since 2011 but 3-0 where it counts at RG.
As Rafa said this week, he is not the favourite for nothing right now.
Thanks for the response. That sounds reasonable to me. Also, I absolutely agree what losing to Novak in MC or any other lead up ATP event, does not mean anything regarding RG. That’s the mistake that the so-called experts made two years ago when Rafa lost to Novak at MC. People started calling him the favorite to beat Rafa at RG. We all know how that turned out. As you said, there is a losing h2h versus Novak in these warmup events leading up to RG. The big number is that Rafa is undefeated at RG. Novak has not been able to get it done.
I think Rafa might enjoy not being the favorite now. It takes the pressure off him and he can just work on getting into his best form.
That’ s the way…good game from Rafa..having Ferry on the other side of the net wasn’t going to be easy…Rafa is fighting his own demons and he is doing it right…can’ expect 100% yet but boy some of Rafa’ shots were simply amazing…I think our Rafa is coming back…
Great win after all…
Vamos Rafa!
I have to tell myself that this is a process. When I feel like tearing my hair out watching Rafa give up a double break lead in the second set against Ferrer, I have to remember that this is an ongoing journey. Rafa seems to get the second set blues. But as long as he is able to keep fighting and come back strong in the third set, then it’s all good.
I think this is a win-win situation for Rafa. If he manages to beat Novak, then that will be the icing on the cake. If Novak prevails, then Rafa will know what still has to be done and can be happy with bettering his result at MC this year and gaining points. He can move on knowing that he played some of his best tennis in this tournament.
I am okay with Rafa meeting up with Novak. It’s time for Rafa to face him.
A Rafa win tomorrow will seal his comeback; a win for Nole wouldn’t mean too much because it’s expected considering Rafa is not at his best atm but a loss for Nole would be wounding for him.
I don’t expect Rafa to win tomorrow..however after 2 grueling 3 setters..hope he recovers physically and gives Novak a good fight to regain his confidence
A blockbuster all-Spanish quarterfinal between Rafael Nadal and Gael Monfils will be contested on Friday in Monte-Carlo. Grigor Dimitrov and Gael Monfils are also in action.
hawkeye,
Why do you say that tomorrow’s match means a lot more to Novak than Rafa? I don’t get that. You don’t think it means a lot to Rafa?
This was one time when I wish that my prediction wasn’t right. I would have loved to see Rafa close it out in the second set, but that doesn’t seem to be the way of it these days. I am okay with Rafa meeting up with Novak. It’s clay, Rafa has had two really good wins against tough opponents. Now we will see how much more work has to be done. But I am happy to see Rafa hanging in there and fighting back in that third set.
It goes without saying that Rafa cannot afford to give up double breaks in a set to Novak!
Because Nole is expected to win given their respective YTDs.
If Nole loses, then it raises huge doubts. If Rafa loses, doesn’t mean much for RG. Rafa is 2-4 vs Nole in lead up ATP events to RG since 2011 but 3-0 where it counts at RG.
As Rafa said this week, he is not the favourite for nothing right now.
All pressure is on Nole.
hawkeye,
Thanks for the response. That sounds reasonable to me. Also, I absolutely agree what losing to Novak in MC or any other lead up ATP event, does not mean anything regarding RG. That’s the mistake that the so-called experts made two years ago when Rafa lost to Novak at MC. People started calling him the favorite to beat Rafa at RG. We all know how that turned out. As you said, there is a losing h2h versus Novak in these warmup events leading up to RG. The big number is that Rafa is undefeated at RG. Novak has not been able to get it done.
I think Rafa might enjoy not being the favorite now. It takes the pressure off him and he can just work on getting into his best form.
That’ s the way…good game from Rafa..having Ferry on the other side of the net wasn’t going to be easy…Rafa is fighting his own demons and he is doing it right…can’ expect 100% yet but boy some of Rafa’ shots were simply amazing…I think our Rafa is coming back…
Great win after all…
Vamos Rafa!
Rafa Said:
“But I gonna fix it. I don’t know if in one week, in six months, or in one year, but I gonna do it.”
When he said this recently, it was all I needed to hear.
One day at a time……….Vamos Rafa!
Djokovic is the heavy favourite tomorrow. Go give him hell, Rafa!
Will Rick stick to his Rafa over Nole pick?
#DoYou?
hawkeye,
What is your pick?
Rafa to win his 10th RG.
This year? Yes, this year!
Next year we can talk about elevenses.
I have to tell myself that this is a process. When I feel like tearing my hair out watching Rafa give up a double break lead in the second set against Ferrer, I have to remember that this is an ongoing journey. Rafa seems to get the second set blues. But as long as he is able to keep fighting and come back strong in the third set, then it’s all good.
I think this is a win-win situation for Rafa. If he manages to beat Novak, then that will be the icing on the cake. If Novak prevails, then Rafa will know what still has to be done and can be happy with bettering his result at MC this year and gaining points. He can move on knowing that he played some of his best tennis in this tournament.
I am okay with Rafa meeting up with Novak. It’s time for Rafa to face him.
Must say I love watching Rafa play when he is the inderdog, much less nervous viewing for me……………
A Rafa win tomorrow will seal his comeback; a win for Nole wouldn’t mean too much because it’s expected considering Rafa is not at his best atm but a loss for Nole would be wounding for him.
The way Rafa lost the 2nd set was disconcerting, but the way he won the 3rd set was very, very satisfying. That signaled mental strength.
who you got tomorrow?
[polldaddy poll=8807934]
Speaking of Rafa, Fed hasn’t won an event on clay since 2009.
#Segue
Rafael Nadal vs David Ferrer, MONTE CARLO 2015, Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWClwhI4-bg
Video by ATP. Monte-Carlo 2015 Friday Interview Nadal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyO7pib-t9o
Nadal in 3, congrats to me
I don’t expect Rafa to win tomorrow..however after 2 grueling 3 setters..hope he recovers physically and gives Novak a good fight to regain his confidence