Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will contest their 2014 Monte-Carlo openers on Wednesday. Nadal is going up against Teymuraz Gabashvili and Federer is facing Radek Stepanek.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. (Q) Teymuraz Gabashvili
Nadal’s bid to regain the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title and win the tournament for the ninth time in his career will begin on Wednesday afternoon. The top-ranked Spaniard is 48-2 in Monte-Carlo, with losses coming in the 2003 third round to Guillermo Coria and in last year’s final to Novak Djokovic. Nadal is 21-3 this season, with titles in Doha and Rio de Janeiro. He is coming off a routine 6-3, 6-3 setback against Djokovic in the Miami championship match.
Up first for Nadal is Gabashvili, against whom the No. 1 seed is 3-0 lifetime. Gabashvili booked his spot in the last 32 with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Gilles Simon on Tuesday. The relatively resurgent Russian is up to No. 58 in the world and he already owns eight ATP-level match wins in 2014. By comparison, he had three such victories in 2012 and 2013 combined. Nadal may take a round or two before he reaches peak form on clay, but on any surface–especially this one–he should have little trouble with Gabashvili.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 5-7 games
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Radek Stepanek vs. (4) Roger Federer
Stepanek and Federer will be squaring off for the 16th time in their careers on Wednesday. Federer is dominating the head-to-head series 13-2, including 9-0 in their last nine. Both of Stepanek’s victories came on clay, but those results were back in 2002 (3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in Gstaad) and 2008 (7-6(4), 7-6(7) in Rome). They have faced each other twice in the past year, with Federer prevailing 6-3, 6-3 last spring in Madrid and 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3 earlier this season in Dubai.
Stepanek’s week got off to a fast start on Monday, when he destroyed Ivo Karlovic 6-1, 6-2. The 35-year-old Czech is still going relatively strong, ranked 41st in the world with a decent 7-6 record in 2014. Federer, of course, will be a much different beast than Karlovic. The fourth-ranked Swiss is 24-4 for the season, which includes a title in Dubai and a runner-up showing in Indian Wells. Clay obviously isn’t Federer’s best surface, but it should serve him well against Stepanek, whose aggressive tactics to keep points short will not work as well.
Pick: Federer in 2 losing 5-7 games
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Waaaaawaaaaaa wins love and 2 over Cilic. Cilic such a challenge on clay.
Well done snowdevil or whoever you are.
Even the commies said clay is not Cilic’s favourite surface. People need to understand that the rest of the tour is not like the Big 4 who can play on all surfaces. Do not put Wawa on a pedestal on the basis of his thumping of Cilic.
Cilic isn’t a poor player on clay. He reached the final at Munich a few years back, won title at Umag on clay and also runner up to Dolgo there one year. I don’t know what problem he’s having today playing so poorly, even though Stan does play well to beat him.
Cilic has zero career match wins over a top 10 player.
E-v-e-r.
Well I just hope you not comparing good clay player with good looks, Don’t you? Or do you.
OK. Good.
On clay that is (minor correction).
Cilic had beaten Rafa at Beijing in 2009, Murray at USO2009 and recently at IW2014. I think both Rafa and Murray were top four players back then, and both are still inside top ten now!
Beijing was dusty admittedly, USO used to be clay a few years back and I won’t be surprised if Larry someday switches IW to clay but those wins mentioned were all hard courts lucky.
As I said, no career wins against a Top 10 player on clay.
I didn’t know the story of Tsonga accusing Steiner of favouritism. Doesn’t surprise me – he can be petulant at times. When he played in the WTF for the first time he complained at having to fetch his own towel because the ball boys didn’t bring it quickly enough. He reckoned he’d walked an extra .5km during the course of each match! That was the year he’d gotten too big for his boots after beating Rafa in the SF at the AO.
I agree with luckystar about Rafa’s serve. Not impressed. Gabash could break him twice! Just imagine if it was Ferrer or Novak?
Stan is a very good player on clay. That’s what happened today. Cilic is not in Stan’s class. Though snowdevil probably thinks Cilic is the biggest threat on clay.
No, he doesn’t know what biggest means.
^^^^^You’ve just made me spill my G&T I was laughing so much
Glad I made you smile, ed!
It looks beating Rafa has taken all the stuffing out Dolly.
WaWa is no slouch on clay – in fact it’s his best surface. If he’s recovered from the embarrassing DC performance and is on a hot streak he most likely will make it to the QFs or even the SFs.
Dolly though immensely talented suffers from some disease, Gilbert’s syndrome or something which affects his focus/stamina?
I woke up and checked out the end of Rafa’s match on my recording. I will have to go back and watch the whole match. I am pleased that Rafa won the match in straight sets. I saw that the score was competitive in the first set, but that Rafa got the breadstick in the second set. I know that Rafa does take time to get into his best rhythm. Hopefully this match did that. I will have to watch the match in its entirety before I give my thoughts.
I read the comments here to catch up. With the exception of one, it was good to see everyone’s thoughts. I did see Wawa blow Cilic off the court. I also saw that Dimi won.
Watching the Monfils/Carrena Busta match now. I like the way Carrena Busta plays, he’s not afraid to come forward to the net and he’s playing aggressive tennis. I think he knows Monfils is very quick around the court and so he is not willing to stay at the baseline to rally endlessly with Monfils. I think he’s the next Spaniard to look out for, from the next generation.
I thought he was terrific lucky, for all the reasons you said.
OMG his coach though!.
Ah NNY you are finally up! I have decided in future to respond to your sly attacks on me. Earlier I used to let it go as you are a Rafa fan. But as that is no consideration with you, why should it be with me? You side with snowdevil and abhirf when they attack me. So, now I am ready to cross swords with you although admittedly it would be a big strain for me trying to respond to illogical posts of you and your faves snowdevil and abhirf!
Yes, I am watching the Monfils/Carrena Busta match. Some good tennis from this guy. I am not that familiar with this Spanish player.
Rafa’s up 2nd tomorrow. Strange scheduling. Novak’s last on Court Central yet he had a day off. Rafa who was 3rd today has to turn around quickly for tomorrow………
However, Rafa’s slot is prime time in Monaco: lunchtime. Sigh.
Novak is last on court tomorrow because his next opponent is still out there fighting now. You have to give consideration to his opponent to be fair.
^^yep, makes sense.
NNY, you will have to be patient though. I am off to work so if you eagerly await my responses to any sly barbs you choose to aim at me, you will have to wait till evening for my riposte.
holdserve,
I will only say this once. Cut out the harassment and personal attacks. This is a discussion about tennis.
Carrena-Busta needs to work on his strength. Those calves look Simon-like……………
Why is Monfils ALWAYS un-tying and tying his shoe-laces, always?
Have to share this with you ritb! Monf keeps wacking his thigh with his racquet and the commentator said “if he keeps on doing that, he’ll be black and blue in the morning.
#NoPunIntended
^^No lie, La Monf would be the first to point out he’s Black already! But he’ll be sore alright………
Honestly, and people go on and on about Rafa’s idiosyncracies…….
re: the shoes laces. I think it’s to gain a few seconds of respite after rallies. That or it is a case of OCD.
Luckystar@April 16, 2014 at 2:04 pm
Your hero Alexandr Dolgopolov lost to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
Dolgo is not my hero! I don’t like him because he beats Rafa at IW!!
@Lucky, I am watching this kid, Carrono-Busta. He is slugging it out from the baseline, constructing points beautifully like any other good clay-courter out there, Rafa included.
Dolly out. GGL plays T-Bird tomorrow.
I like it when Rafa plays early then I can relax and watch the other matches.
@nadline, dilated pupils hamper the distant vision not the near vision. So yeah watching on Ipad or laptop would be easier than say watching on TV.
I’m naturally long sighted anyway so maybe that helped.