Rafael Nadal will continue his Rio de Janeiro campaign against Nicolas Almagro on Thursday. Second-round action is also wrapping up in Delray Beach, where Juan Martin Del Potro hopes to pocket a second win in his comeback.
Rio Open: (1) Rafael Nadal vs. Nicolas Almagro
Nadal and Almagro will be facing each other for the 15th time in their careers when they battle for a quarterfinal spot at the Rio Open on Thursday. Unlike in last week’s situation, which saw Almagro upset fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the Buenos Aires semifinals after previously being 0-15 lifetime in the head-to-head series, he does own one–and only one–win over this heavily-favored countryman. Almagro toppled Nadal 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in the 2014 Barcelona quarters, but the underdog is just 1-13 overall in 14 tries against the 14-time major champion. Nadal has since defeated Almagro on three straight occasions in easy straight sets (all three in 2015, including twice on clay).
Both players are coming off third-set tiebreaker losses to Dominic Thiem in Buenos Aires. The 22-year-old Austrian saved one match point to stun Nadal 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4) in the semis before coming back from a break down in the decider to outlast Almagro 7-6(2), 3-6, 7-6(4). Of course, the two setbacks did not feel similar at all. For Nadal, it came on the heels of a first-round Australian Open loss to Fernando Verdasco; for Almagro, it marked his first ATP final since 2012. The world No. 53 got back in the win column by holding off Daniel Munoz De La Nava 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 on Tuesday in Rio, while Nadal rolled over Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 6-4. Nadal at least played decent against Carreno Busta and should be able to take advantage of an opponent who may be running on fumes.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 8 games or fewer
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Delray Beach Open: (Q) John-Patrick Smith vs. (WC) Juan Martin Del Potro
Del Potro will contest the second match of his comeback when he takes the court in Delray Beach on Thursday. His first appearance since last March could not have gone better, as the 27-year-old Argentine thumped Denis Kudla 6-1, 6-4 in exactly one hour. As expected, Del Potro looked extremely tentative on the backhand side–although he did hit a whole host of two-handers to go along with a fair share of one-handed slices. But he dominated with his serve and forehand while firing five aces, winning 24 of 26 first-serve points, and holding all nine of his service games without facing a single break point.
Up next for the 2009 U.S. Open champion is a first-ever meeting with Smith, for whom this has already been one of the best weeks of his professional career. The 135th-ranked Australian had to qualify just to get into the main draw (he beat both Andrey Rublev and Alejandro Falla in three sets) before upsetting Ivo Karlovic on Monday–also in three. It marked the fourth ATP-level, main-draw win of the 27-year-old’s career. A confident Smith will present a far tougher test than a Kudla who was nothing short of a disaster, but Del Potro was impressively solid in his 2016 debut and should be able to keep the comeback going.
Pick: Del Potro in 3
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who ya got?
Taking del Po in two and Rafa in two losing more than eight games but like I’m thinking barely more like nine or ten but a win losing eight games or less wouldn’t be surprising either with Almagro playing so much lately.
Delpo’s backhand is still in question. He basically beat Kudla with serve and forehand; with backhand slices. Agree that Smith will be more of a challenge – but Delpo will make it. I hope in 2 sets but might be 3.
Rafa – I agree with Benny about Rafa v Almagro.
I do agree with Ricky that Delpo’s second match will be more of a challenge. I think Delpo will get the win in 3 sets.
I wish Rafa good luck against Almagro. I am not making any predictions for this match, but of course I do hope that Rafa gets the win.
Neither am I. That way it comes as a nice when he does. I rather suspect NM is not in Rafa’s good books although he is too much of a sportsman to voice it 🙂
Halfa-Delpo in two.
Rafa is predictably unpredictable.
hawkeye,
Yes, that’s why I am taking a break from predicting Rafa’s matches this week. I always wish him good luck and hope that he wins.
I also feel that I owe you an apology for giving you a hard time when Rafa lost to Thiem last week. I do agree with you about the problem being mental. I brought up the age thing, which is an ancillary issue as Rafa turns 30 this year, but is not the primary cause of his current woes.
I just want to let you know that I think that I let emotions get the better of me at that time. 🙂
RT Rafa: “I ignore the odds and take every serve as a fresh start.” Vamos Rafa!
No worries NNY. Not necessary but thank you.
Everybody’s entitled to their opinions either way. That’s what this forum is for! 🙂
I agree that age is not the main factor. He may not necessarily be 100% as fast but age brings wisdom and experience that can more than make up for that. At some point age will be the major issue for every player which nobody can deny but I think that Rafa’s not so old just yet. 🙂
classy stuff NNY and hawkeye 😉
🙂
I think I’ll back Rafael till the semis… He will find a way to let his opponent get the better of him.
Delpo in 2. Will back himself to try a few more twohander backhands
Nicoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo and Vamos Delpo of course.
I “won’t” be picking this match.
#NudgeNudge
#WinkWink
^^ Likewise
Keep your mind sharp and focused, stay confident and fight bravely, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CbgYwivUAAES3qv.png
Cc’d Benny. 🙂
To each his own daydream.
… or OCD prayer.
#Ironic
No arguments against self-diagnosis.
Agreed. You are also daydreaming.
#WakeUp
Set 1 stats:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CbhyUg0WwAEM9ve.png
This is a very nice change in pattern. Although facing three break points when serving for the first set Rafa managed to save them all and wins the set! This really is something ?❤
yup!! this is sweet
how’s the quality?
I did not watch set 1 but the stats look quite decent. Set 2 has been so-so… that last game from Nico was horrific.
jinxed it! Rafa had a bad forehand miss and then Nico was brilliant on the BP
what a gift by Almagro!! Serve it out now, Rafa.
SICK and TIRED of these unforced errors from Rafa.
a complete error-fest this has become now
wow..magic from rafa…
What a shambles…….
commentators saying rafa was good for one set and a half and the second half of set 2, as we saw, was horrific.
Good thing Nico for bad too… Rafa gets a win!
Match stats:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cbh_h7tW8AEZNJR.png
🙂 🙂
Rafa is through to QFs! Vamooss!! ?
Solid C for his performance but great result in the end! Rafa spears us from the “third set nightmare” and I am so grateful for it!
IMO Rafa jumps from brilliance to pathetic. There is plenty of room for improvement: primarily cutting on the UEs and cease having those silly mental letdowns…
WTA tennis in action again…
Don’t think his movement on clay is the same or very close to the level it once used to be. Trying not to over-analyze at this stage because I feel it can/will improve as he gains more confidence. The sliding is not quite at Rafael Nadal level… he is capable of skating on clay…I hope we get to see that very soon…
@vamosrafa 11:47 PM,
Rafa’s speed decreased with all the injury breaks and aging…while we may expect to see improvement in that regard I also think he can’t be and will not reach his old level…that’s why I wanted to see some necessary alterations in Rafa’s game: going to the net more often, cutting on the rallies, improving serve patterns, mixing with drop shots, etc. he needs to be less predictable than now…frankly I haven’t seen much of this improved game (that Rafa showed in Abu Dhabi for instance)on clay so far…if you add to it his lack of confidence it becomes clear that Rafa makes an easy target for better players, even on clay…
Rafa saving those break points in the first set was encouraging and may have indicated Rafa playing more “with calm” but he totally ruined this impression in the second…
It’s gonna be another tough one with Dolgo..
Natashao, yes, he will not be able to regain all that speed. But, I am not exactly concerned about him not being quick enough. I am actually talking about his inability (so far) to slide into his shots the way he has done all his career. Again, not sliding into shots with the same speed ,but in the same way at least!
He is the only player who can slide equally well on both sides! That’s what makes him something else on clay. I just haven’t seen the same smoothness in his movement on far and he is not quite sliding into his shots.
It is so much tougher to attack his forehand side on clay because he can slide into his forehands, get behind the ball and with his extra reach generate good depth. His running shots have not been so good.
Even with a little reduced speed, I think he can move better. I am concerned but I know this will get better as he regains confidence. When you tight on the court, you can’t move freely all the time. Nerves just make you a little stiff.
I have also read Rafa saying in the past that his movement has a good correlation with how well he is feeling on the court.
Once he gets the feeling that he can get to every ball and do damage, he will improve that aspect as well.
For now, the biggest concern is those pesky unforced errors. The floodgates just open all of a sudden and then there’s no stopping! Forehand misses, backhand misses, double faults…
I saw he totally messed the ball toss in one of the double faults he served. He got tight in the second set!
The only medicine within the given circumstances is to win matches. Even if you win them ugly , just keep winning.
I can see he is working really hard to make his forehand potent again. But there is not much confidence he has to show his improvements in an official match.
Waiting for him to put up ONE complete performance ,from start to finish.
Well said! True on all accounts…
Yeah, I am too waiting with anticipation to see ONE complete performance from the King…