Familiar and unfriendly foes Rafael Nadal and Lukas Rosol will face each other again on Wednesday in Paris. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is also in second-round action against Roberto Bautista Agut.
(Q) Lukas Rosol vs. (7) Rafael Nadal
Nadal and Rosol will be squaring off for the second time in as many weeks when they clash in round two of the BNP Paribas Masters. They just met in the Basel first round, with Nadal storming back from a set and a break down to prevail 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4). The former world No. 1 leads the head-to-head series 3-1, having lost to Rosol only at Wimbledon in 2012. Nadal has since won three in a row–including last summer at the All-England Club.
From just about out of nowhere, Nadal has picked up plenty of momentum heading in the last regular-season tournament of 2015. But it won’t be Nadal’s final event, because he qualified with room to spare for the World Tour Finals. The sixth-ranked Spaniard finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic in Beijing, reached the Shanghai semifinals, and made a run to the Basel title match (lost to Roger Federer in three sets). Nadal’s 11-2 record in tournament action during the fall swing is the second best showing of his career, having previously compiled a 10-0 post-U.S. Open mark in 2005 (did not play the year-end championship).
It has already been a stellar week for Rosol, who had to qualify just to get into the main draw. The 66th-ranked Czech then held off Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 on Tuesday. Although Rosol is playing decent tennis, Nadal has raised his level even in the short time since they last played each other. A more confident Nadal on a surface slower than that in Basel is a disaster waiting to happen for Rosol.
Pick: Nadal in 2
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(9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Roberto Bautista Agut
Tsonga and Bautista Agut will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Wednesday. Their only previous encounter came earlier this season at the Rogers Cup, where Tsonga survived a 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-5 thriller. Bautista Agut has done well to get another shot at the Frenchman. The 24th-ranked Spaniard has played a ton of recent tennis, having finished runner-up in back-to-back weeks in Moscow (to Marin Cilic) and Valencia (to Joao Sousa). But he got right back in gear to overcome Pierre-Hugues Herbert 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Tuesday.
A former champion (2008) and runner-up (2011) of this event, Tsonga earned an opening-round bye as the ninth seed. The world No. 10 has been inconsistent this year but he has posted some outstanding results of late–a title in Metz and a runner-up performance in Shanghai. It would not be surprising to see him put on another show on indoor hard courts in front of his home fans. A worn-out Bautista Agut is likely to get powered off the court in this one.
Pick: Tsonga in 2
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nats, Rosol had to behave because Rafa clipped his wings.
I shall watch the replay just for the pleasure of watching Rafa spank Rosol again. It was not 100% perfect but near enough dammit.
it’s been a while since I felt this relaxed during Rafa’s match…Rafa was dominating from the start…it was a pleasure to watch Rafa in this mode!
Vamos Champ!
Well done Rafa!
Vamoss!
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/yellow-hd/fist-pump-smiley-emoticon.gif
And how about the 16 winners to 7 UEs!!!!!!!
Their h2h is now 4:1 to Rafa.
Their handshake:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CS-1A9wWoAQXivc.jpg
😀
Rafa had a sly little grin after the cool handshake from Le Rosol.
Hillarious!
Hawkeye. Did you see the wink he gave when signing the camera?
Mais oui! 😉
ed251137 (at 5:24 pm),
For you:
https://twitter.com/Rafameila/status/661949007292293120
Lol…….he could not wait to leave the court…..but he’s so rude that Rosol!!
Rafa didnt exactly run up to hug him either 🙂
#mutual animosity
so funny… 🙂
Till I see it again I can’t be sure but am I right in thinking Rosol toned down the distracting routine for the 2nd set? If so it is proof positive it is a deliberate manoeuvre to unsettle the server and not just an OCD problem he has. By not reacting Rafa made him realise it was not working today.
exactly my thoughts…
I wasn’t able to see the match because of physical therapy, but I did follow the live score on my iPhone. The score makes it look like a beatdown.
Yay! Rafa beat him again!
NNY: Sit back and watch it when you can. It was a sight for sore eyes.
ed,
Thanks! Health concerns sometimes intervene in life. But I will definitely watch the replay. I was rushing out the door and forgot to hit the record button. That would have made it easier, but they will replay it!
I can’t wait to see it! So good to know he put Rosol in his place!
Ed,
I guess that I had a senior moment, because once I turned on the TV I realized that I did record the match and it was still recording. So I was able to watch Rafa’s match!
I think Rafa came out and played really well. I love how he is taking the ball early now. Also on ROS, when it’s the second serve, I noticed that Rafa is standing on the baseline but then he kind of stutter steps and moves up just inside the baseline. He hit a nice cc backhand ROS doing just that!
Rafa was sharp throughout the match! Rosol wasn’t able to do match. It was nice to see Rafa get an easy win and get off the court quickly!
I really enjoyed it! 🙂
Actuallly what you did is as a CRAFT moment. Can’t Remember A ****ing Thing. It’s not age related 😉
Rafa’s serve stats were very impressive in this match!
Native, I hope all goes well with respect your heath. But it can only improve if Rafa continues to play like that!
Mona,
Thanks so much for your kind words!
Yes, the best medicine is Rafa playing so well and thumping the likes of Rosol and winning! That helps a lot! 🙂
I put a large wager on feli Lopez I’m so worried because I took him last night for -155 and now he is -110 that means lot of people going against lopez
Nooooo ERV lost!! I almost got that pick right. Had a feeling he’d be in that match.
is tsonga a pretty safe pick? RBA has to exhausted
Yes, very
Rafa’s next match is on Court Central on Thursday after 8:30 pm (local time):
http://www.protennislive.com/posting/2015/352/op.pdf
Rafa stepping in, moving much closer to the baseline on Rosol’s second serve, hitting deep shots and moving Rosol around the court…lovely, just lovely…
+1
Why is Lopez having such a hard time? U said he will win comfortably
Because Lopez has no backhand that’s why.
Video by NadalPower:
Rafa’s post-match interview on French TV /Paris Masters 2015, R2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc-3nDrkNBk
From NadalPower: “I will add English subtitles as soon as possible.”
He looked so happy and couldn’t stop grinning throughout the interview. I so admire the way he fields questions with such a light touch.
Equally he didn’t shy away from saying how he felt about the Rosol on court shenanigans. It needs to be said.
The ATP Staff, Nov.4, 2015: ¤¤ Rafa Rolls at BNP Paribas Masters ¤¤
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/rafa-rolls-at-bnp-paribas-masters
An excerpt:
¤¤ “I didn’t prepare differently,” said Nadal of facing Rosol in back-to-back weeks. “It was just another match, a tough match against a difficult player. He’s always tough, but I was playing much better than I did last week in the first round. I played a solid match, not many mistakes. I served well and went for the points with my forehand.”¤¤
From Rafa’s post-match press conference:
Carole Bouchard (Journalist):
¤¤ “When I am with ‘coolm’, I can move myself”, Nadal explaining movements are better cause no more nerves. Says needs to work on serve still. ¤¤
The interviewer confirmed that everyone in Paris loves Rafa.
Then it must be true!!!!!
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hawkeye, why are you so troublesome?!……lol!!
hawkeye, have you got too much time on your hands?
nadline, I understand that you love a good banter, but it can get a bit tiresome especially as you are just arguing for the sake of it. If I said the sun rises in the east and sets in the west you will still find something to argue about that.
But your conclusions based upon one interviewer and another based on some VB fan’s translation are facile.
Monalisa, because I am a mirror. 🙂
I see they give Roger another set of stooges as opponents….Seppi?! I mean Im surprised Fogninni was not it Rafa’s side of the draw. Its so crazy….this luck of the draw bs!!!
They gave Rafa AeRosol and Rafa used him to swat a fly.
Monalisa (at 6:56 pm),
Fognini is in Rafa’s quarter of the draw, but he lost in R1.
Are you kidding me?!!!!! Unbelievable……luck of the draw indeed!!!
?
seppi had 3 break points, he’s lost all of them
Seppi, was just lost….completely!!!
Lets see how Isner deals with Federer……..
I think Fed will beat Isner but it won’t be a blowout job.
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Is that a prediction?