Rafael Nadal is making a second consecutive appearance at the Rio Open and this is the third straight year in which he had played in the Golden Swing. Still, it’s not every day that you see the 14-time Grand Slam champion play at an event worth fewer than 1000 points.
Nadal’s bid to defend his 500 points from last season’s Rio title got off to a good enough start on Tuesday night when he beat Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-1. The top seed started slow but broke his opponent six times and lost a mere five service points in the second set.
Nadal-Bellucci highlights:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBsnznMP-0g]
Three men advanced to the second round without having to finish the job on their own. Blaz Rola got a retirement from Leonardo Mayer, Juan Monaco was cruising 6-3, 3-0 when Santiago Giraldo retired, and Federico Delbonis saw Diego Schwartzman call it quits early in their third set.
One of the players who fought all the way to the finish on Tuesday was not one of the likeliest suspects to turn in such a performance. No. 4 seed Fabio Fognini trailed Jiri Vesely by a set and 6-3 in the second-set tiebreaker but saved three match points in succession and ultimately prevailed 1-6, 7-6(7), 6-1.
Fognini’s day summed up in 10 seconds:
Up next for Fabio Fognini is Pablo Andujar, while Nadal is set to face Pablo Carreno Busta.
[polldaddy poll=8663880]
—it’s not every day that you see the 14-time Grand Slam champion play at an event worth fewer than 1000 points.—
Not every day, but according to the ATP rules, Rafa has to play a minimum of four ATP-500 events during the season!
The ATP homepage:
A. Top 30 players (based on 2014 year-end Emirates ATP Rankings) must play a minimum of four 500 level tournaments during the calendar year, including at least one event following the US Open (Monte Carlo Masters 1000 event will count towards the minimum of four and all penalties apply): ….
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/Rankings-FAQ.aspx
Most people ( especially fans in the know are well aware of this).
That fed is playing a 250 on clay in Istanbul just before the French is another thing but is likely due to an exorbitant appearance fee.
“That fed is playing a 250 on clay in Istanbul just before the French is another thing but is likely due to an exorbitant appearance fee.”
And the Istanbul TD’s iron-clad guarantee that Rafa would not be in the draw………..
Rafa was slow to start with which is understandable and Bellucci was giving it his all because he had nothing to lose. Rafa losing his serve the first time was really due to being careless and probably dropping his guard taking things for granted and the 2nd time Bellucci did break Rafa’s serve with great play. In the 2nd set, Rafa had got his rhythm and was bossing the points even though Bellucci never gave up and fought to the last point Rafa was too strong for him.
If that was Syd “giving his all” then he should tender his immediate resignation from the game. He was beyond lousy.
Rafa sleepwalked to victory. Although he improved as the match went on, most of his shots lacked depth and pace.
You expected Bellucci to be a tough opponent and so he was, especially as the general opinion was that he stood a good chance of beating Rafa whist he is still finding his form so he was psyched up for an upset and gave his all to the bitter end.
“Tough”???? It was 4 and 1.
Neither Syd nor Rafa “gave their all” unless you mean sleepwalking.
That was a painful match to endure. A few great points but overall very…. WTA like.
Just not my cuppa.
If it was anyone other than Rafa, I would have turned it off after the first few games.
Happy he won though. Part of the rust removal process he always seems to go through. Hoping for quick improvement rather than the troubling and chronic insecure performances he gave leading up to the French last year.
Nadal Presser Quotes:
“The important thing is play a tough match like this in the first round and win,”
“And always beating someone in their home country, where he has a lot of support, is tough. I always have a good feeling playing on clay and I’m into the second round. That’s what matters.”
“The first set was very even, and Thomaz is very dangerous on this surface,”
“The second set I started right off with an advantage and I felt more relaxed.”
“Second round is a great result for me”
Did he really say that?
#DoYou?
https://tenngrand.com/2015/02/18/rio-de-janeiro-r2-previews-and-picks-nadal-vs-carreno-busta-fognini-vs-andujar/
Rafa knows what he is talking about, he was on court playingnot sitting in an armchair imagining he was watching Caro.
I agree with everything he said. None of it is inconsistent with what I said.
But, yeah, Caro shopping for groceries or cooking paella would DEFINITELY have been better entertainment.
Please read more carefully.
^^^Watching Caro playing in her white bikini.
#pseudoExtremist
hawkeye63 says:
February 18, 2015 at 4:22 pm
“I agree with everything he said. None of it is inconsistent with what I said.”
…………………………………………………..
The king of back pedaling.
Not at all. You just can’t read nor provide anything to back up your undefendable claims.
You are disappointed because Rafa didn’t live down to your expectations.
You miss seeing Fed’s chest hair.
Ferrer will eat Haider-Maurer alive if they meet. Robredo has turned up.
corr.
Robredo has not turned up.
unbelievably bad by Thomas
Nadal says Bellucci was motivated:
Translated transcript of Rafa’s on court interview:
Translation of Rafa’s on court interview:
Q. In the 1st set the match was a little bit complicated for you, more difficult. In the 2nd, your game improved. What determined the difference from one to the other?
Rafa: “Well, in the 1st set I think the match was close, Thomaz is a very dangerous player in all surfaces, especially on clay. In the 1st set, is true that I had 3-2, 40-15 and a very easy ball with the forehand and I failed. From then on, everything got complicated… a very close match. Luckily, every time he broke me, I was able to break him right back, and at the end I won the set 6-4. In the 2nd set, I began with the lead and things got easier.”
Q: Can you say the 2nd set has been your best set in this beginning of season?
Rafa: “Well, I think the important is that I had a complicated match here in the 1st round and I believe it was a positive match for me against a player who makes you feel uncomfortable and was playing at home, with a big motivation. For me, the clay is a surface that has always given me good memories. I’m in the 2nd round, let’s see what happens next. I’m with great illusion (‘con mucha ilusión’) to play here in Brazil another time, the energy in Brazil has always been impressive. I was lucky to attend the carnival and I hope that it all gives me the energy necessary to have a great result here.”
nice. thanks!