Rio de Janeiro R1 previews and picks: Nadal vs. Bellucci, Cuevas vs. Almagro

Rafael Nadal will kick off his Rio de Janeiro campaign when he takes the court on Tuesday against Thomaz Bellucci. Meanwhile, Sao Paulo champion Pablo Cuevas is making a quick turnaround to face Nicolas Almagro.

(1) Rafael Nadal vs. Thomaz Bellucci

Something will have to give when Nadal contests his first-round match at the Rio Open against Bellucci on Tuesday. The third-ranked Spaniard is 0-3 against his last three left-handed opponents, but he is 3-0 lifetime at Bellucci’s expense. They have faced each other twice at the French Open (2008 and 2010) and once at Wimbledon (2012). Never has Bellucci taken a set from his heavily-favored opponent and the Brazilian has forced a tiebreaker on just once occasion.

Nadal’s three recent losses to lefties, of course, all came on hard courts (to Martin Klizan, Feliciano Lopez, and Michael Berrer). Now he is on his clay-court stomping grounds at a tournament he won last season. Nadal is looking to bounce back from an Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Tomas Berdych, while Bellucci was bounced out from an event in his home country last week (by Klizan in the Sao Paulo first round). The 63rd-ranked Brazilian reached the Rio quarterfinals in 2014 before succumbing to David Ferrer. This could be competitive for a while as Nadal gets back into a groove, but for the most part it should straightforward.

Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 8-10 games

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Nicolas Almagro vs. (6) Pablo Cuevas

Cuevas will be back in action just two days after capturing the Sao Paulo title. The 23-ranked Uruguayan lifted a winner’s trophy for the third time in his career on Sunday after outlasting Italian qualifier Luca Vanni 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4). Cuevas’ week also included wins over Almagro, Jiri Vesely, Facundo Bagnis, and Santiago Giraldo.

This will already be the third meeting in 2015 between the two 29-year-olds. Cuevas leads the head-to-head series over Almagro 3-0, with victories in Sao Paulo (7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2), Sydney (7-6(5), 6-4) and six seasons ago on the clay courts of Hamburg (6-2, 6-4). Coming back from a 2014 foot injury, Almagro registers at 91st in the rankings. The former world No. 9, however, showed encouraging signs by advancing two rounds last week. He should be able to take advantage of a fatigued opponent and seize some revenge on Cuevas.

Pick: Almagro in 2

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34 Comments on Rio de Janeiro R1 previews and picks: Nadal vs. Bellucci, Cuevas vs. Almagro

Ricky Dimon February 16, 2015 at 8:56 PM

who ya got?

- augusta08 February 16, 2015 at 8:57 PM
  
  Pablo Cuevas lives in Uruguay.
  
  - Ricky Dimon February 16, 2015 at 8:59 PM
    
    lol
    
- Ricky Dimon February 16, 2015 at 9:00 PM
  
  but he was born in Argentina
  
hawkeye63 February 16, 2015 at 9:00 PM

I agree with Ricky’s prediction of Rafa in two close sets (which is a far cry from “sleep walking to the final”).

#DoYou???

- Ricky Dimon February 16, 2015 at 9:02 PM
  
  i believe the comment was “sleepwalking” to the final
  
  #DoSpaceYou?
  
Scotty39 February 16, 2015 at 11:17 PM

weird that Almagro and Cuevas are playing third time in 2015. Almagro in 3.

Ricky Dimon February 17, 2015 at 12:47 AM

So great to have Rafa back on clay…he should in in an easy 2 sets.

- hawkeye63 February 17, 2015 at 3:26 PM
  
  “Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 8-10 games”
  
  Easy two sets? Easy?
  
  #DoYou???
  
nativenewyorker7 February 17, 2015 at 4:44 AM

I agree with Hawkeye. I think Rafa will win in two close sets.

Almagro beating Cuevas in three sets.

Finally a tournament close to my own time zone. Rio is only three hours ahead of me.

I can’t wait to see Rafa!

I saw Robredo tonight against some guy I never heard of. Robredo won in two sets. Even though it was 10:00 at night, the two players were still sweating buckets.

augusta08 February 17, 2015 at 11:11 AM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-CrkdvIIAIiI5i.png

augusta08 February 17, 2015 at 5:12 PM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-D-O4MIEAAb4kX.png

nadline10 February 17, 2015 at 7:04 PM

https://twibbon.s3.amazonaws.com/2011/6/temp_91e3c879-3fb6-4e29-8b32-0aee4963e8ad.gif

- ed251137 February 17, 2015 at 7:57 PM
  
  Rafa: Allez,allez, allez
  
nadline10 February 17, 2015 at 8:44 PM

There is no preview for Ferrer vs DGT.

- Ricky Dimon February 17, 2015 at 9:06 PM
  
  Here it is:
  
  “ferrer in 2 easy sets”
  
  - hawkeye63 February 17, 2015 at 9:33 PM
    
    Well I just hope that you not comparing sleepwalking easy with 8-10 games lost easy.
    
    Don’t you? Or do you. No you did. You just said there was Rafa sleepwalking to the final and Rafa would lose 8-10 games in just two sets and then you mentioned two easy sets.
    
    Okay… good.
    
    So first of all I don’t think we are in same position. Alright, you say that and, ah, pfft well I don’t know what else to say. I mean is there something wrong with Rafa winning not so easy first tournament on clay? No. Good okay.
    
  - nadline10 February 17, 2015 at 10:15 PM
    
    Lol
    
hawkeye63 February 17, 2015 at 8:54 PM

https://twitter.com/livetennis/status/567783103340539904

#PleaseUnmoderateASAP

hawkeye63 February 17, 2015 at 9:34 PM

https://twitter.com/hotdog6969/status/567797049656348673

#EmptySeats

nativenewyorker7 February 17, 2015 at 10:10 PM

I am watching it now on the tennis channel. If you think this is bad, you should have seen the stadium last night for Robredo and the guy who I don’t know.

Why do I have this feeling that the stands will fill up dramatically once Rafa takes the court? 🙂

- Ricky Dimon February 17, 2015 at 10:15 PM
  
  Ymer is gonna be good
  
  - nativenewyorker7 February 17, 2015 at 10:34 PM
    
    Ricky,
    Yes! That’s it! I knew his name started with a “Y”, but that was all I could remember. He gave Robredo a decent match. Do you know his ranking?
    
    - Ricky Dimon February 17, 2015 at 11:01 PM
      
      Read the australian open unheralded stars blog if you want to learn about Ymer
      
    - Ricky Dimon February 17, 2015 at 11:02 PM
      
      I would guess is he is just outside the top 100
      
hawkeye63 February 17, 2015 at 10:28 PM

I’m wondering if Ricky thinks the first set was easy for little beast.

hawkeye63 February 17, 2015 at 11:01 PM

Rafa should drop the pink.

hawkeye63 February 17, 2015 at 11:28 PM

Well at least Ricky is right about Rafa sleep walking so far.

#Yawn
#MoonBalling
#HittingShort

hawkeye63 February 17, 2015 at 11:40 PM

No one saves six break points in a row against Rafa.

#DoubleFault
#Syd

hawkeye63 February 17, 2015 at 11:43 PM

No one saves six break points in a row against Rafa.

#DoubleFault
#Syd

- Ricky Dimon February 17, 2015 at 11:44 PM
  
  Nice lob followed by horrid forehand
  
hawkeye63 February 17, 2015 at 11:52 PM

Well I just hope Nole is not watching this match.

Players have sleep walked three straight breaks.

#WTA

hawkeye63 February 17, 2015 at 11:56 PM

Would you believe four?

hawkeye63 February 18, 2015 at 12:02 AM

Wow five breaks in a row.

Someone go find Caro and show these boys how to serve.