Olympics R3 previews and predictions: Nadal vs. Simon, Murray vs. Fognini

August 10, 2016 Ricky Match previews 260

Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray will continue their Olympic campaigns when quarterfinal spots are on the line on Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro. Nadal’s third-rounder is against Gilles Simon, while Andy Murray is facing Fabio Fognini.

(3) Rafael Nadal vs. (15) Gilles Simon

Nadal and Simon will be squaring off for the ninth time in their careers when they clash in round three of the Rio Olympics on Wednesday. The head-to-head series stands at a commanding 7-1 in favor of Nadal, who has won five in a row at Simon’s expense since losing to the Frenchman 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) on the indoor hard courts of Madrid in 2008. In their last five matches, Nadal has taken 12 of 13 sets. Simon was competitive in a 7-6(1), 6-7(4), 6-2 setback on the red clay of Rome in 2014, but he got crushed 6-2, 6-4 last season in Indian Wells.
Rafa 1
Based on current form, simply making it this far is a decent result for Simon. The world No. 31 is just 21-16 for the year and he had been a mere 2-5 in in his previous seven matches heading into Rio. So far at this event Simon has taken out Borna Coric and Yuichi Sugita in straight sets. Nadal was somewhat of an unknown commodity going into the games, because he had not played since the French Open due to a wrist injury. But like Simon, the Spaniard’s week is off to a flawless start. He has made quick work of Federico Delbonis (6-2, 6-1) and Andreas Seppi (6-3, 6-3) in singles to go along with a trio of doubles victories that already has him–and partner Marc Lopez–in the semifinals. Simon presents an almost identical matchup to what Seppi brought to the table on Tuesday, and Nadal should enjoy a similarly routine day at the office.

Pick: Nadal in 2

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Fabio Fognini vs. (2) Andy Murray

Nobody has ever successfully backed up a singles gold medal by triumphing at the next Olympics, and Serena Williams’ chance went up in smoke on Tuesday. Murray’s bid, however, is alive and well. The 2012 London Games winner is through to the last 16 following straight-set defeats of Viktor Troicki and Juan Monaco. Having recently triumphed at Queen’s Club and for a second time at Wimbledon, Murray is a perfect 14-0 in his last 14 matches.

Up next for the second-ranked Scot on Wednesday is a fifth career contest against Fognini, and the head-to-head series is all tied up at two victories apiece. The Italian has managed to defeat Murray once on a hard court, although that result came nine years ago (6-2, 6-2 at the Rogers Cup). They most recently collided two seasons ago indoors in Valencia, where Murray cruised 6-2, 6-4. Fognini earned another shot at the three-time major champion by beating Victor Estrella Burgos and Benoit Paire–the latter in a third-set tiebreaker on Monday evening. The world No. 40 may not have a ton left in the tank and even if he does, all signs point to a convincing win for Murray.

Pick: Murray in 2

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106 Comments on Olympics R3 previews and predictions: Nadal vs. Simon, Murray vs. Fognini

    • I wished for Rafa to get a “suitable” rest before his match with Simon..,guess one day of rest (thanks dear rain!) should serve the purpose.. ? (Hmm, hope I am ALLOWED to use this emotication?..,ROFL)

      BTW, augusta, please be careful which emotication you use in the future! Apparently some are forbiden on the forums like this! Hahahahaha….

      Reply

        • It’s too bad that do robe else feels the need to join in and laugh about rude emoticons. There shouldn’t be any need to tell someone that certain emoticons are rude. The rolling eye emoticon speaks for itself.

          Reply

          • Autocorrect garbled my last comment a bit. I meant to say that it’s too bad that someone else has to join in and make fun of using rude emoticons.

            But it’s to be expected, unfortunately.

          • Says native who always “joins in” to support bashing people she dislikes on this site! The resident echo person! Lol

            So now you attempt to tell me as well what I can say on this forum and when I can comment? You will never learn, whill you?Please, we all are free to discuss and “join in” whenever we want! Live with it!

            And this pathetic habit to involve Rafa In discussions about Novak should definitely stop…that is so rude! But nothing new from the disguised Nole’s fan who pretends to like Rafa…

            ?????
            OMG, jow many disciplinary measures do I get now??! ROFL

          • Never quite understand this: why would anyone work extremely hard, spend 99 percent of their time here posting about a player he/she ‘pretends’ to be a fan of? I mean, if someone does like Djokovic, why would he/she have any shame or whatever in saying that? Djokovic is not as likable as Fedal but ain’t a criminal or something lol!!He has his ownn big fanbase now. Totally escapes logic, these references to being fans of Djokovic and ‘pretending’ to be fans of Rafa as the pretense happens 95-99 percent of the times? LOL! I,too, have been accused of the same but it is so funny actually… I spend 99 pct of my time here talking about nadal , his game and tactics etc and even when I have a very busy schedule. Why on earth would anyone pretend here to this extent? It is not even possible in my view.

            This post is for all posters are who are into this habit of ‘accusing’ fans of players to be actually pretending 24/7? :s
            Speaking from experience, it doesn’t feel nice at all and is counterproductive to any good discussions here.

          • AT 8:36 AM,
            Speaking of pretending, I never quite understand this: constantly accusing RITB, who hasn’t written on GS for months, of pretending now to be someone else on GS.
            This post is for all posters who are into this habit of accusing her.

          • NNY AT 1:11 AM,

            Let me remind you that you are not moderator of this forum and have no right to tell others what they can laugh at.

          • @vr 8:36 am,
            The comment about nny being Nole’s fan has it’s reasons for some time now..it was meant to be ironic…whenever there is a comment about Novak using POD she steps in to bash people and brings in Rafa.,,the same about other posts related to Novak. Someone does not have to like Novak and it sure does not mean he/she should be punished for it! It’s outrageoud to come here and find two posters torturing augusta just because she questioned Novak being injured! If you visit Serbian sites you would find many of his fans thinking Novak is just tired and not really injured! Does that make them less credible fans?

            We are free to think and say what we want! Nobody needs to protect Novak from augusta or any other poster who doubts his current excuses! All she said was that she had not heard about his “recurring wrist injury”! What is wrong with that? It’s the legitimate right of every poster here to say what they think and I hope it stays that way…

          • Natashao (AT 9:05 AM) says:
            “It’s outrageoud to come here and find two posters torturing augusta just because she questioned Novak being injured!”
            ===
            .
            Actually, NNY made up story (!) that I questioned Novak being injured. I’am only surprised (!) that he has a RECURRING left wrist injury, beacuse I’ve never/read that Djoko has had any LEFT wrist injuries before. I haven’t seen any comments of his true fans about it on GS before.
            .
            She has a habit of misconstruing comments of other posters. She twists others’ comments to make her own version and is bashing posters based on her own version. Her shadow joins in and intentionally emphasizes her ‘agenda’. ? Nothing new.

          • Exactly nats, just as I am free to point out the humorously blatant hipocrisy of questioning a player’s honesty regarding pulling out of a tournament with an injury after losing in an important tournament all the while criticizing those who question Rafa when he has done the same.

            Especially one who doesn’t have a single opinion on tennis, just opinions on other posters LOL.

            #BotAndKettle

          • #NothingNew
            #RealRafansTrolling

            Watch out Loyals! Real Rafans will attack you if you say anything remotely negative about Djoko!!!
            And if you haven’t said anything negative, they will attack you anyway claiming you said it!!!
            #LoyalsCannotWin
            #RoyalsRule

          • @Natashao,

            Thanks for the response.

            Don’t you think your post as a whole is contradicting what your are emphasizing the most? The biggest issue you have with Native is that she mentions Rafa a lot and then you say we should respect that people can say what they want etc. I have never seen native ‘bash’ Rafa even 1 pct… to me personally, I fail to understand how mentioning Rafa is so offensive esp when it is not about degrading him? He is one of the biggest stars we have and it is natural to relate things to Rafa ESPECIALLY because the person you are talking to are Rafa fans. It is many times easier to make someone understand your point by referring to something common (which in this case is being Rafa fans). If you are really are in favor of letting people say what they want, I wonder why you never had any issue when I have been labelled as a Rafa detractor and a Novak fan. I actually found it funny but it has been written so many times that it gets absurd.

            I am not here to speak on anyone’s behalf or get approvals for what I am saying. I genuinely feel surprised how can someone (including me) be called fans of other players , only pretending to be Rafans for some unearthly reasons, and posting 99 pct of the times about Rafa :s sorry but doesn’t make ANY sense. Last time I checked, native’a 95 percent posts AT LEAST have been about Rafa.

            Tennis is a sport of rivalries so very common to make comparisons between top players. And, you honestly think that finding some people somewhere posting about Djokovic’s injury fakeness makes it all okay for everyone to do it? That’s a strange criteria because I am sure you will be able to find somewhere, someone posting on spanish websites that Nadal is a doper!!!

            Lastly, try to understand that some people have a different , umm may be a different ethical sense in that they don’t show approval when they see people they ‘respect’ being bashed… I am not even a 1% fan of Federer but I admire and respect him and when some Fed hater Rafan say absurd stuff about him, I normally don’t approve and say show respect to the guy and what he has done for the team.Thay DOES NOT make me any less of a rafa fan!!!

            These players put their heart and soul into their careers and there some people who are not their fans but respect them. I don’t like Fed/Novak winning but I never enjoy haters saying strange ,BS about them. TO ME, it is wrong ethically..just to me! And i am sure Native and some others are like that.

            Sorry but let’s not be silly…it is obvious Augusta loves to put down his rivals (Fed and Djo) and that is no secret…if you think it is fine then let it be but some people sometimes don’t approve that and they express ! Nothing more.

            P.s, it is NOT nice to be called a pretender when you have actually supported a player for as long as you have been watching him play!
            .

          • Hawkeye , you are right, but let’s bury this for now…not worth wasting time on….the instigation has already started.

            Please bring Rafa on the court so that tennis can be discussed.

          • RITB, try asking #BotAndKettle who originally coined the phrase Real Rafans on this site and see if you get an honest answer.

            Too funny.

          • Vamosrafa (AT 12:58 PM) said:
            “Augusta loves to put down his rivals (Fed and Djo) and that is no secret…if you think it is fine then let it be but some people sometimes don’t approve that and they express ! Nothing more.”
            ===
            .
            1) I believe that I have the right to support or not to support whomever – if I so wish.
            .
            2) I believe that I have the right do defend myself agains the posters who twist & distort my comments and attack me (2 posters, if I don’t include you).

  3. Simon can track down a lot of tennis balls,,,,first set will be close…maybe even a tb, then 6-2 0r 3 in the 2nd. Murray in straight.

    Reply

    • I agree about Simon tracking down a lot of balls. He’s known for that. A human backboard.

      Rafa got some rest due to the rain, so that should help if he is feeling any fatigue. I still think that Rafa should get this done in 2 sets, maybe one set being close if Simon is on his game.

      Reply

  4. 3 matches is too much :/ i want him to focus on singles. Would be awesome if he could win all 3 matches though. I think he will bit the Nestor Pospisil one is tough.

    He’ll likely take care of Simon without trouble.

    Reply

  5. Tenis Olímpico ITF: “The mixed doubles Nadal/Muguruza vs Hradecka/Stepanek could be postponed to Thursday depending on Rafa’s fatigue (who plays 2 other matches).”

    https://twitter.com/tenisolimpico/status/763188756367179776

    This was outrageous! How the hell can you postpone a match because a player is fatigued? Only Fedal! Fitness is a part of the sport. If you are too tired withdraw and don’t hold other players up. Who’s fault is it if he bit off more than he can chew? I hope he plays 9 sets today. It might teach him a lesson.

    Reply

    • Filter, they’ve earned this ‘right’ to be given good treatment…they were not gifted with it since childhood. And, protecting Rafa is in the tournament’s interest so they are just fulfilling their motives. Having Rafa in all 3 formats is gold for them.

      Reply

  8. By good you mean unfair to the other players. I agree with the business side of it but it still stinks. If I were the opponent and they postponed match because a player was fatigued I would be livid and I would raise hell to the media.

    Reply

    • Yeah lower ranked players would feel bad and rightly so…. but, it is not the elite players fault because the tournaments are just doing what’s best for business, as you also acknowledged.

      Reply

    • Filter,
      How many other players are scheduled to play THREE matches in one day? I bet none! If there was another case of this I am sure he would be granted the same…

      Reply

    • Bullshit.

      What lower ranked player had to play three matches in a day.

      Moronic thinking from filter as usual. Nothing new.

      Reply

      • So you think if some mid-level player like Sock or Pospisil had this dilemma they would get this favourable treatment?

        BULLSHIT!!!!!!!

        Reply

        • I do! It’s the matter of schedule not treatment! I never saw players being scheduled three matches in one day! They always take care of it and provide enough time for rest! This was exceptional case and i do think it would be the same treatment for any player.,,

          Reply

        • Filter is the one who made unsubstantiated claim about favouritism without proof and is simply a bitter opinion on the matter.

          Reply

  9. Furthermore the Olympics are supposed to be epitomised by good sportsmanship and fair play. That is disgraceful to put out a tweet like that.

    Reply

    • Yet the head of the Olympics allows Russia with systemic government sanctioned doping into the tournament.

      Good luck with that. Words only.

      Reply

    • No tournament has ever, to my knowledge, scheduled matches so that *any* player must play 3 matches in one day. In fact if a player is scheduled to play singles, then doubles, there’s always a note “after suitable rest” attached to the scheduled time. It’s the original schedule, not the corrective tweet, that was outrageous.

      Of course the usual solution would be for a player to pull out of the rather frivolous mixed doubles if he were still live at the business end of a slam. But this is the Olympics. Nadal won’t do that if he can still stand.

      Reply

  10. @vr, 12.58 pm,
    Nny only goes after those she dislikes on this site! She never responds when hawks ridicules Fed and his fans but she is fast to attack me for commenting on Novak using POD and thus making her own convlusions!

    Augusta is right when saying that native constructs her own stories.,,she even went after ed the other day gor no obvious reason and ed is one of the nicest posters here.,,
    i now native is rafan, it was meant to be a joke in response to her post on me how I should not laugh or join in?? Who is she to tell me what i should or shouldn’t do?
    IMO, bringing in Rafa’ s name when POD is discussed which she interprets as our dig on Nole being a doper (again her self-made story) makes no sense to me..,

    Enough of this topic though…but one thing be sure if someone on this site drives away posters like Mary and Augusta and Nadline who make significant contributions in their own way I will react because It is not fair to them…I so miss rafaisthebest as she was full of life, vivid and funny poster but also honest and fair and they managed to get her stop posting…so sad for this site.,,

    Reply

    • Natashao,

      You addressed your comment to vr, but since you felt the need to go after me personally again, then I get to speak for myself.

      Your version of me has nothing whatsoever to do with hue I act and what I say on this site. You and your little clique are the ones who make it so unbearable for those of us who come here to discuss tennis. For those of us who not only live Rafa, but who can appreciate other players as well. Just because you can’t do it, doesn’t mean that I am not allowed to enjoy tennis from all players!

      You twisted and distorted what happened with Ed. I disagreed with her! Since when did that become a crime,except in your rigid little world where everyone has to think like you and say only what you want? I told Ed why I said what I said and also how much I appreciate how she responds. Yet you try to use a simple difference of opinion to propagate your propaganda!

      The intolerance displayed here by Augusta, nadline and yourself makes it difficult for anyone else who wants to have an enlightened discussion about tennis!

      Your comments reveal your own bias against me. The idea that anyone could drive away the likes of Augusta, nadline or you is positively laughable! No one could pry your little clique away from here with a crowbar!

      You can trash me all you like and spout garbage about me, but you are not going to stop me from posting here and participating in this forum. The last time I checked, you and your clique do not run this site.

      Reply

      • Nativenewyorker (AT 2:10 PM) says:
        “The intolerance displayed here by Augusta.”
        ===
        .
        What?! 😯
        YOU are constructing stories about me, not vice versa!

        Reply

    • Lol…you are on a totally different page and you have your biases which are prettu strong so not going to offer counter-arguments. What I do know is that Native is not a perperator/instigator but the innocent posters you are mentioning are pretty skilled at it and I have been a target many times too.

      Nadline making more valuable contributions than Native?!! Are you serious? Let’s not lie that much. Native’s contributions to TENNIS snd Rafa are arguably the highest here! She comments on Rafa’s matches, does some real analysis by breaking his game down and if I miss a match I actually look at her analysis and to be honest it is very reliable. If I come and read Nadline’s one-liners or Augusta’s be brave and be confident, it won’t be of any help lol. So I am shocked to hear how contributions to a tennis website are defined.

      And how you have turned a blind eye to the venom Mary brought to the site when RITB was also there, is also shocking.

      I am also not keen on elongating these uselesa discussions and I intentionally left one of Augusta’s comments unanswered above. And oh, please let’s not be that innocent… Nadline at least never shies away from what she is saying implying… I wonder what the obsession with PODs is then…very clear what was being implied..and no, nobody made any stories up about POD being like doping.

      Good to hear that you are also willing to close this discussion as so am I…

      CAN’T WAIT FOR RAFA TO RESUME HIS MAGIC 🙂 Vamos Rafa!

      Reply

      • nailed it again VR.

        The only thing that could drive augusta from this site is if it went the way of tennistalk (ie., defunct). She has nothing else in her life.

        Reply

        • AT 2:27 PM says:
          “The only thing that could drive augusta from this site is if it went the way of tennistalk (ie., defunct). She has nothing else in her life.”
          ===
          .
          NNY’s shadow, who has been the local Dr.Armchair (and has diagnosed Rafa with several diseases), has become an expert at other posters’ lives (!) too! 😯

          Reply

          • No need to be an expert to come to that conclusion LOL.

            And YOU have been the local D.Armchair trying to convince us that there was nothing wrong with Rafa’s wrist last spring and that Rafa was “only joking” regarding his mental challenges despite Rafa’s many statements otherwise and that he’s been seen recently (by your own account) with a sports psychology.

            Your bot and Kettle inconsistent hypocritical (lack of) thinking is everywhere.

      • vamosrafa,

        Thanks! I came on here to see the latest posts and it was very disconcerting, to say the least!

        But I appreciate your support! I don’t have to say anything because you said it for me. I am grateful. It’s nice to know that some here are aware of what I try to contribute when it comes to actual tennis discussion. You get me and know where I am coming from.

        It’s always a pleasure to told with you and others here who genuinely love this sport and enjoy analyzing the matches and the players. It’s just unfortunate that there are a few who come here with a different agenda.

        That is my last comment on all of this brouhaha. I look forward to seeing Rafa today and hope he continues to do well. 🙂

        Reply

      • Vamosrafa (AT 2:14 PM) says:
        “one-liners or Augusta’s be brave and be confident,”
        ===
        .
        Who are you to tell me HOW I can cheer for Rafa ?!

        Reply

      • Vamosrafa ( AT 2:14 PM) says:
        “I intentionally left one of Augusta’s comments unanswered above.”
        ===
        –
        I don’t know what you are writing about, but it’s a relief if you didn’t defend posters who have been constructing imaginary stories about me. Thank you very much!

        Reply

    • nats, And I miss deucey who made “significant contributions in her (sic) own way I will react because It is not fair to them…I so miss” deucey “as she was full of life, vivid and funny poster but also honest and fair and” the three posters you mention “managed to get her stop posting…so sad for this site.

      Reply

    • Natashao at 1:49 pm: 5 stars!!!
      I miss ritb too.
      Sadly, vr whom I respect has been led astray by his fondness for the trolls,but of late, he has at least distanced himself from Rafa bashing. He is writing wonderful posts highlighting the greatness of Rafa.

      Reply

        • As for deucey, what is hawkeye griping about? She was here as amy, wasn’t she? She must be gnashing her teeth at some of vr’s posts! After all that she had done to brainwash him!!! Tut tut!!!

          Reply

          • hahahahaha what the heck is this about me getting BRAINWASHED?! what do you think I am ?!! hahhaaha

            I have always been the same and nobody here has influenced what I write and everyone knows that.

            And I just found out an amusing off of going after a poster and then cooling it off by saying it was only a joke!!!

            Funny day it has been

            The important thing is that Rafa won his match 😉

      • vamosrafa,

        Oh my goodness! You are now being accused of being led astray by the trolls! Wow! That is quite the insult to someone with your intelligence!

        Coming form the resident troll herself, now that is really something! Yes, this from the very person who prattles on and on about a Murray fan posing as a Rafa fan, Novak fans posing as Rafa fans.

        Oh it’s all just so complicated with all of these bizarre conspiracy theories floating around on this site! You already posted as to the absurdity of people hiding their real preference for a player! Why would anyone do that?

        Where does the strange paranoia come from? One can only wonder! Overactive imagination? Nothing better to do with their life?

        It would be funny if it wasn’t kind of sad! 🙂

        Reply

  11. If you are a Rafan and bash Rafa, you are objective
    If you are a Rafan and bash Djok, you are vile and vicious
    #RealRafanLogic

    Reply

    • Since you define the prime characteristics of ‘Real Rafans’ as bashing Rafa, could you give us some examples please? The way you are putting it, there should be thousands of them lol… please give some Rafa bashing here and expose the Rafa bashers please….let us see !

      *scratching my head* as to when I have ever bashed Rafa…may be I once said his ROS is not the best in the game or may be in some match his forehand was pretty bad?!! LOLLL

      Reply

  12. Would be epic to have some examples here!! Bring on some ‘Rafa Bashing’ examples here or never use the term again? Deal? Lol lol

    Reply

  13. I also might have said Rafa’s backhand slice is far from being great…does that constitute as bashing? If yes? Then I will do similar bashing often because that’s why I come here: to analyze matches and players’ games, esp related to Rafa.

    Reply

  14. Rafa bashed himself according to the Troll Triad when he admitted to a “mental problema” as being the cause of his poor results in 2015.

    Ironically, BotandKettle was the one who posted that Rafa was seen with a sports psychologist just last week (even though she tried to claim that Rafa was “only kidding” about mental problems).

    #BashersAreEverywhere

    Reply

    • vr,

      I am watching the match and will provide updates.

      I didn’t even realize that the match was on do so early. They are playing catch up today.

      Rafa up 5-1.

      Reply

  16. How is it possible that Rafa already made 18 UEs and it’s only the first set 5:4 for Rafa with Simon breaking back when Rafa was leading 4:2 ☹️

    Reply

  17. There seems to be an issue with the way they classify an error as unforced…. rafa had a very high number that day and I thought no wayyy this is way too many. What is the error count for Simon

    Reply

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