Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem are set for a rematch of their Buenos Aires showdown as they prepare to meet again on Thursday in Monte-Carlo. Third-round action will also feature Stan Wawrinka and Gilles Simon.
(5) Rafael Nadal vs. (12) Dominic Thiem
Nadal and Thiem will be squaring off for the third time in their careers and for the third time on clay when they clash in round three of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Thursday. Thiem was out of his league in a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 loss at the 2014 French Open, but a more experienced and much-improved Austrian saved one match point before pulling off a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4) upset earlier this season in Buenos Aires. That is one of 26 victories for Thiem this season, good for second most on the ATP World Tour behind Novak Djokovic. The 22-year-old, who is up to 14th in the rankings, has advanced this week with three-set wins over Jan-Lennard Struff and Taro Daniel.
This, of course, is where a favorable draw ends for Thiem. Even though Nadal has not been at his best in recent times, the fifth-ranked Spaniard is still an eight-time champion in Monte-Carlo (and a nine-time winner at Roland Garros among other clay-court accolades that are too numerous to name). Looking for his first triumph at this event since 2012, Nadal kicked off his campaign in style by cruising past Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday. Thiem has been less than 100 percent this week because of a foot problem but was able to recover from a set deficit against both Struff and Daniel. Nadal, though, will be nowhere near as generous if the No. 12 seed gets off to another slow start. Unless a completely different Thiem is on display in this one, Nadal should be able to avenge his Buenos Aires defeat.
Pick: Nadal in 2
[polldaddy poll=9384300]
(15) Gilles Simon vs. (4) Stan Wawrinka
Wawrinka and Simon will be facing each other for the sixth time in their careers on Thursday. The head-to-head series stands at 3-2 in favor of Wawrinka, who has won both of their previous clay-court encounters. He prevailed 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-2 at the 2012 French Open before getting the job done in much more routine 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 fashion at the same tournament last year. Simon is 2-1 against Wawrinka on hard courts after most recently coming out on top 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 at the 2014 Shanghai Masters.
Wawrinka, the 2014 Monte-Carlo champion, slumped through Indian Wells and Miami but is now back on what has to be considered his favorite surface. The fourth-ranked Swiss showed signs of a slight back problem against Philipp Kohlschreiber on Wednesday but otherwise looked good in a 7-6(2), 7-5 victory. Simon has enjoyed an extremely routine start to his week, having taken out Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-4 and Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-3. The 18th-ranked Frenchman is still a mediocre 11-7 for the season. As long as Wawrinka is 100 percent, he is likely to give Simon another clay-court lesson.
Pick: Wawrinka in 3
[polldaddy poll=9384312]
who ya got?
no doubt i will deeply regret picking rafa but i think he will come out firing against thiem. could take him 3 sets though given his tendency to meander during matches.
also going with stan in 3
Rafa is the favorite to win MC now. Thiem is done – or he should be. And Rafa might not be at his best but he’s on his way there. Rafa in 2.
Simon in 3.
? Sascha lost to Granollers…
what are the odds?
Simon 2.60
Stan 1.44
For outright winner why do many betting sites have Federer favorite? Are they crazy? Fed 4.00, Rafa 4.33 (lol, pretty close – I have no idea) Murray 5.00, Stan 7.00, Monfils 13.00, Thiem @ 17.00
It doesn’t matter where oddsmakers put their money. They have no effect on the outcome of matches, unless they fix matches.
There’s a first time for everyone
Fed has a great chance to win mc. As good or better as anyone left in the draw.
We’ll see how he does versus this guy:
https://vine.co/v/iT2AQ1xFiag
I agree with hawkeye regarding Fed’s chances here now that Novak is out.
Hope Rafa does it in 2! But if it goes to three it’s still good for Rafa building his fitness as long as he wins! I did not see Rafa playing his first match but I hope he improves further!
Vamos Champ!
Rafa in three and Stanimal in straights
Problem is this is a completely different nadal that’s won so many Monte Carlo titles in the past.
That said, look for Stan in two over Simon.
as for the tenngrand poll, more votes for Simon in 3 than Stan in 3 ?
I did get to see the second set of Rafa’s match on the replay. I think he did enough to get the win. He will need to play better against Thiem. I do think that Rafa will get the win in 2 or 3 sets.
I am going with Stan in 3 over Simon.
Keep your mind focused, stay confident, be strong and enjoy the game, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cf_O1owWIAA_dg3.jpg
ha! bedene said yesterday that rafa’s forehand used to be great but now is weak…..(paraphrase..but meaning the same..)
Nadal gets broken already fk me
back on serve
Not for long.
Little depth on Rafa’s shots. As predicted.
#NothingNew
I just started watching. They are on serve.
barely
This game is going on forever.
Rafa can’t hold and Thiem can’t get the break
. Thiem looks like he means business.
Finally! Rafa holds.
Rafa held at 5-4 and the 15+ minute game looked like this:
0:15, 15:15, 15:30, 15:40BP, 30:40BP, 40:40, 40:ABP, 40:40, 40:ABP, 40:40, A:40, 40:40, 40:ABP, 40:40, A:40, 40:40, 40:ABP, 40:40, A:40
This has to be wearing Thiem down. Rafa is a tough man ?
That last game just sent my blood pressure sky high.
Nadal please finish this set now!
I dont think I can endure a TB!!!!!!!!!!
At 40-30 on Thiem’s serve, Rafa had good control of the point and then inexplicably (or “explicably” IMO) hits a very short ball and loses the point.
This is the difference between today’s Rafa and the one that won so many MC titles.
Soooooo short from Rafa. Very little aggression.