A blockbuster third-round contest in Monte-Carlo will pit Rafael Nadal against Alexander Zverev on Thursday. A place in the quarterfinals will also be at stake when Stan Wawrinka continues his campaign against Pablo Cuevas.
(14) Alexander Zverev vs. (4) Rafael Nadal
Nadal and Zverev will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they clash in the third round of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Thursday. Their two previous encounters have not disappointed. Nadal survived 6-7(8), 6-0, 7-5 at the 2016 Indian Wells Masters, where Zverev infamously bricked an easy volley on his own match point. The 19-year-old German, who in fact turns 20 on Thursday, came close again at this season’s Australian Open before going down 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 as Nadal eventually made his way to the final. Roger Federer ended the Spaniard’s run Down Under and toppled him again in Indian Wells (fourth round) and Miami (title match). Nadal has otherwise been stellar in 2017, with a 20-2 record against opponents not named Federer following his 6-0, 5-7, 7-3 victory over Kyle Edmund on Wednesday.
Although it is still early, arguably no one has been better this week than Zverev. The world No. 20 is through to last 16 without the loss of a set and he did not even come close to dropping set in routs of Andreas Seppi and Feliciano Lopez. Zverev is 13-6 for a season that has been highlighted by a title in Montpellier and a quarterfinal performance in Miami. This will not be easy for Nadal, but he should showcase more consistency in his second clay-court match of the year and maintain the kind of level that was on display in his opening set against Edmund.
Pick: Nadal in 2
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(3) Stan Wawrinka vs. (16) Pablo Cuevas
Like Nadal, Wawrinka also endured a scare in his Wednesday opener but battled to a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 win over Jiri Vesely–who upset Novak Djokovic at this tournament last spring. The third-ranked Swiss captured the Monte-Carlo title in 2015 to go along with one other semifinal finish (2009) and three quarterfinal showings.
Wawrinka is one victory away from another appearance in the last eight, but his form has been unspectacular of late (15-5 record this season with no titles) and Cuevas is one of the best dirt-ballers in the business. Although the 27th-ranked Uruguayan is just 10-6 this year, he captured a clay-court title in Sao Paulo–for his sixth career winner’s trophy and sixth on the red stuff. Cuevas has advanced this week by taking out Viktor Troicki and Joao Sousa in easy straight sets. Unfortunately for the 16th seed, he is just 3-10 lifetime against top-10 opponents and is 0-3 in his last three such efforts.
Pick: Wawrinka in 3
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I told ya all that Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka wont make it that far to meet rafa.
well Djokovic is still around, but I dont think he will reach the latter stages.
Easy pickings here. Just like the good old days
Didn’t I say that Rafa ain’t Seppi?
Vamos Rafa!
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RT:
#Nadal: “Last times against #Zverev I played defensive. He’s a dangerous player but today I only made few errors and I was aggressive on FH”
Zverev in a hurry to celebrate his birthday. Rafa played very well and Zverev not so. Still, it’s good to see Rafa a bit more aggressive today, stepping inside the court and moving to the net and so efficient there. I know he doesn’t want to make the same mistake of yesterday’s.
I’m so happy Rafa played so well and not allowing Zverev much chances to play his game.
For those that say Rafa can’t be as fast as he used to be (in a meaningful way):
https://twitter.com/TennisTV/status/855070551076990976
pfft.
Those who say Rafa’s problem is between the years, all I can is they are deluded.
Agreed. As I said. Not about the years at all.
But don’t call them deluded Mary. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
Sorry, it should read between the ears. Between the years doesn’t make sense so no points to you hawkeye for drawing any bogus conclusions from an obvious typo. And we know who said between the ears. Hawkeye you should be hard on yourself as you are constantly disrespecting Rafa’s mental strength.
#FreudianSlipsAreEverywhere
One part of me wants to have Rafa meet Nole in the semi so that we can judge their relative levels.
Don’t think Rafa is ready to beat Djoko yet. If Djoko is good enough to beat Goffin, then I think Djoko is playing good enough to give a nervy Rafa problems.
I think Rafa decided to forget the hype around Zverev and just play his game. Zverev was out of his depth. The commies keep going on about the MP Zverev had against Rafa at IW last year as if all their subsequent matches would start at match point to Zverev.
Exactly, so stupid. They were still talking about Simon’s lone win over Rafa at Madrid indoor HC in 2008!! Not forgetting that Tsonga’s AO2008 SF win over Rafa! Of course once they see Foggy, they’ll yap and yap nonstop about his three wins over Rafa!
I Think people need to look at these matches in isolation, rather than rabbiting on about the past ones, Rosol, Soderling, its not like he hasnt beaten them since, yet the commies cant seem to resist bringing them up ad nauseum ….
They only do it to Rafa. All unlikely loses suffered by Federer, Djokovic and Murray are quickly airbrushed and never ever mentioned again, whilst players who beat Rafa are announced on court with their wins, sets and MPs against Rafa..
Yeah, I bet they won’t mention a Donskoy, or a Stakhovsky, or a Thiem beating Fed on grass at Stuggart.
lol! But if I never again hear about Soderling it’ll be too soon. Anyway, so proud of Rafa. True champion. He doesn’t play the past or the future. He plays the guy in front of him.
Sorry for Andy today. The TC commmie said his serve speed was way down so the elbow is clearly still bothering him. You don’t need a fast serve to win on clay (hello young Rafa!) but it helps.
Of course nadline.
Rafa’s always been the biggest threat to the federazzi’s narrative of the peRFect Maestro GOAT and has historically been the greatest chink in his armour (Nole only until recently albeit much less so).
But that’s really a compliment then, when you think about it.
It’s a compliment to both of them!
(This is just what we do Kevin.)
#RitualsAreEverywhere
Yes, I think it’s definitely a compliment to Rafa.
Besides, beating Andy this year is a pretty thin gluten free vegetarian meal ticket, if you ask me.
Not like the all-you-can-stuff-into-your-piehole banquest feast bestowed upon Rosol, Soderling et. al.
Who remembers that Murray once lost to Donald Young?
nadline10 (AT 3:41 PM; 4:52 PM)
I wonder who pays to professional (!) English-speaking TV commies and the court announcers for that.
I think Stan actually handles the paperwork.
Roger needs to keep it at arm’s length.
hawkeye APRIL 20, 2017 AT 5:29 PM
“I think Stan actually handles the paperwork.
Roger needs to keep it at arm’s length.”
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Lol
Nole in trouble
Nah.
PCB doesn’t REALLY believe, does he?
Boris just agreed…
Boris BeckerVerified account @TheBorisBecker 45 seconds ago
Watching @DjokerNole now and he is looking better ! #ATPMonteCarlo
Yes, I wondered if anyone was watching Novak’s match.
PCB won the second set.
That’s because it’s not easy to beat Rafa,no matter what surface,,more so on clay..so,if someone be able to beat Rafa,that is a very tremendous achievement by them..not only they’re going to be proud of themselves for successful tamed one of the greatest in the history of tennis[and believe me,THAT WAS HUGE achievement]…we,Rafa fans should look at it as a great compliment to Rafa as well..it’s only sealed Rafa’s status as the most feared,the most hard to defeat..no matter who’s his opponents are..Isn’t it refreshing to hear The Great Roger Federer,Novak,Andy and ALL players uttered this magical words about our beloved Rafa?
MA,
I agree and well said! After all, there aren’t many who have been able to get a win against Rafa, especially on clay!
So we should take it as a compliment when it is considered such an achievement! That’s the best way to deal with it. The fact is it’s news when anyone beats Rafa!
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Hey Nny,My Queen!!…Hehe,thank u for your words!…Err,yeah..if we see something and not rushed to look at the negative side of it,then we be able to see the positive things about it…
MA,
Yes! Turn it around and look at it positively! You said it so very well!
It should make us proud that beating Rafa has such a high value on it!
I am feeling better after Rafa’s win over Zverev!
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Nny!!hahaha…oh!it turned out that u need a Rafa dose everyday it seems!!and i thought my beautiful msges that can make u better all this time!!silly me!!hehehe…
Oh btw Nny…i’ve read hundreds of article over the years that contain every players words parroting almost the same phrase everytime they played rafa..win or lose..”U know Rafa,he’s one of the greatest,he will fight for every point,he will chase every ball..it’s very hard to play him,so u have to bring your A game..because if u bring less,he will eat u alive”…and what amazed me Nny is that,this words not only uttered by players on tour but other legends as well…Jmac,Boris,Rod laver,Sampras,..urgh!EVERYONE Nny!..I remembered Sampras words at AO 14 when Rafa met with Roger in semis..I think Pam Shriver ask him what his opinion about the match…and he said..”Roger needs to do something special today because Rafa is a BEAST out there”!..and we all know the outcome of that match…RAFA WAS AWESOME that day!!God!I missed that Rafa very much!!
I posted this more than a year ago:
augusta08 JANUARY 21, 2016 AT 7:05 AM: “Beating Rafa is everybody’s meal ticket.”
LOL
Agree Ramara, Rafa as they failed to mention actually beat that very same player the following year, and Federer lost to that very same player the following year, do they go on about that ont though , no do they heck ? ….
Nole will break here for 3-1 and the match.
MA Right on girl, BTW answered your post on FB, and address my dear 😉 ….
Hey Al!…U send a msg to my FB?In that case,my FB is really weird Al..i look at it all day long and see nothin’!…I’ll answer u now Al!
Well what do you know. Nole broke.
(Related: have I ever mentioned just how much I know about tennis?)
#Humb1e
PCB broke:
http://www.flashscore.com/match/YeFp3ATB/#point-by-point;3
Hope PCB keeps up the momentum!
Diego bout to get smacked around tomorrow…
So it’s going to be Schwartzman up next for Rafa! Bring it on!