With 0-1 records and 0-2 in total sets, both Rafael Nadal and Felix Auger-Aliassime need a win in the worst way when they collide at the Nitto ATP Finals on Tuesday afternoon. Nadal lost his Turin opener to Taylor Fritz 7-6(3), 6-1 on Sunday night, a result that was preceded by Auger-Aliassime’s 7-6(4), 6-4 setback against Casper Ruud.
For Nadal, his lackluster performance was not much of a surprise. Because of an abdominal injury and also the birth of his first child, the 36-year-old played only one match in between the U.S. Open and his arrival in Turin (lost it to Tommy Paul at the Paris Masters). Moreover, he has never been successful at the year-end championship even when in decent form. Nadal is still trying to win it for the first time and he has not reached the final since 2013.
Auger-Aliassime’s loss was more surprising. The sixth-ranked Canadian won back-to-back-to-back tournaments (Florence, Antwerp, Basel) in the span of three weeks and then made a run to the Paris semifinals (fell to eventual champion Holger Rune). Jitters in his debut match at the Nitto ATP Finals may have been a factor, so improvement should be expected from him on Tuesday.
Although the 22-year-old is 0-2 lifetime in this head-to-head series, he has to be encouraged by his most recent effort against Nadal. At the French Open this spring, Auger-Aliassime pushed the Spaniard to five sets before losing a high-quality thriller 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
After both players underwhelmed in their Turin openers, Auger-Aliassime has a better chance of getting back on track in time to save his tournament. He is playing with more confidence in general and the relatively fast surface should help him. If the rest of his game isn’t working, Auger-Aliassime wields a serve that can win him a ton of free points (14 aces, 84 percent of first-serve points won against Ruud). Nadal–with the way he is serving right now–does not have that luxury.
Starting fast will be crucial in this contest, so a straight-setter seems likely either way. In all likelihood it will be Auger-Aliassime who seizes the upper hand early and keeps it.
Pick: Auger-Aliassime in 2
WWW?
Last time I checked, Ruud’s ranking was 4 and Auger-Aliassime was 6.
“Auger-Aliassime’s loss was more surprising.”
The money bets are never obvious to the masses.
Uphill slog for Rafa
Auger-Aliassime in 2
Fritz in 3
You had Ruud playing Nadal before Fritz in your tournament predictions. This schedule changes things a bit.
Make that Auger-Aliassime in 3.
AA has too much mojo right now…in straight.
Rafa played a dreadful game to get broken from 40-0 up. Now he looks very ragged. He was playing much better before but squandered 4 break points while Felix took the one which was donated to him by Rafa.
Rafa’s serve just isn’t good enough. All the other players get loads of free points on serve and he has to rally constantly on his.
I can’t watch any more. Rafa is making so many very basic errors. I haven’t made any secret of the fact that I was very dubious about him playing Paris and the wtf as I thought there was a very good chance this would happen.
The obvious worry is that this string of losses will harm his confidence and affect how he played early next year. In this respect, I don’t agree with the idea that he has nothing to lose.
Nny, I tried to get on non tennis forum but it wouldn’t load. Will try later.
amy,
I can’t watch the matches and maybe it’s for the best. It sounds like Rafa is not in good form at all. I wonder about his serve. It has not been right since the abdominal tear. He was playing so well at Wimbledon until the tear got worse.
This is not going to help his confidence. I tried to get on the non-tennis forum yesterday. Will try again today.
Nny, I just tried to get on non tennis forum again. It won’t load!
Am overjoyed narcissist sociopath Lake is out and there is a real chance moron sociopath Boebert is headed for a runoff with Frisch ‘s camp curing a lot of votes.
As for Rafa, he hit consecutive dfs from 40-0 up to get broken along with numerous ues. Once he hit the dfs I could feel what was going to happen. Then he lost confidence and his level dropped a lot and I stopped watching.
Really wish they could find a serve coach!
Since wimby his return has not been up to par either with him sometimes moving forward with little success then moving back and leaving the court open.
I am worried that playing will do him more harm then good as it will affect his confidence and the media narrative that he is losing will develop and that won’t help.
People are saying it’s indoor he never plays well.but this is looking really serious..A 22 slam champ just can’t fall apart this way in 4 months…something is drastically wrong with the confidence .imagine losing sets 61 to fritz …
I think my number of 22 for rafa n equalling Steffi will come to pass…I can’t see how he can win another slam now being 36.5 n will be 37 next RG..
With Novak cleared to play AO ,looks like he is all gung-ho…he is playing well..moving well..defending well..serving well and then I look at Rafa and he is a total hot mess..
I mean has rafa ever lost 4 matches back to back ever ?
I still can’t believe how the season went from spectacular to dreadful in a blink with one ab injury
I mean has rafa ever lost 4 matches back to back ever ?
I still can’t believe how the season went from spectacular to dreadful in a blink with one ab injury …
And the Novak fans are having a field day making fun of him