A blockbuster third-round matchup between Rafael Nadal and Jerzy Janowicz is on the docket for Thursday in Montreal. The winner will face either Benoit Paire or Marinko Matosevic in the quarterfinals.
Rafael Nadal returned on Wednesday for his first match since a stunner of a first-round Wimbledon loss to Steve Darcis. The fourth-ranked Spaniard took the court at the Rogers Cup against Jesse Levine and prevailed 6-2, 6-0 in an efficient one hour and 12 minutes. The win improved Nadal’s season record to a ridiculous 44-3, which–of course–features another French Open title.
“I didn’t play a perfect match,” admitted Montreal’s No. 4 seed. “I played well. The conditions out there today were very difficult. I will say I did the right things to be in the next round.”
Up next for Nadal is a first-ever showdown with Jerzy Janowicz. The 6’8” Pole booked his spot in the last 16 with three-set victories over Julien Benneteau and Frank Dancevic. Janowicz started 2013 slowly after his breakout at the Paris Masters, but he made a run to the Wimbledon semifinals and his record for the year has improved to a solid 23-14.
This is a dangerous matchup for Nadal because Janowicz–of similar ilk to Robin Soderling–is the kind of player who can bludgeon him off a fast surface with huge serves and forehands. That being said, the world No. 18 has been far from his best so far this week and Nadal conserved energy by blowing past Levine following a first-round bye. A confident former world No. 1 should be able to force too many baseline rallies in this one–even on a court that favors his opponent.
Pick: Nadal in 2
[polldaddy poll=7306909]
who ya got?
Rafa in 2.
Vamos Rafa!
JJ’s not looked nearly as good as he did at Wimbles.
Rafa in 2
I am cautious with my predictions here. In the poll I voted for Rafa in two. But I won’t be surprised if it goes three. I didn’t see much of Jerzy’s last match. I thought that other guy would win. But I heard that he is struggling with shoulder problems. I hope that keeps him from bombing big serves all over the place. Playing someone like this always makes me nervous. Rafa is still rusty with his game. I thought he got a nice workout in his first match, but Levine didn’t have the weapons to challenge Rafa.
This match will be at 9:30 am for me! Breakfast with Rafa!
“Breakfast with Rafa”, I like that! I will be having dinner with him!
Rafa says the conditions were very blustery so he couldn’t play atthe level he would have liked.
Hmm, is our Rafa engaging in a bit of mind-games? He bagelled a guy for goodness’ sakes! I think what this says is Rafa is feeling good about himself, confident and raring to go.
Watch out, field!
Cant get used to seeing you as Clayqueen. Why did you have to change?
Lol you two can EAT while watching your favourite..
#Shocking
.Andy fans are usually busy being sick while he plays
#TooTrue
deucy,
Too funny!
Aperitif time for me!
The the knee must be in better shape – it was not bandaged yesterday.
If JJ’s serve is working I think it will go to 3 sets.
6-7, 7-6, 6-4
I am surprised that Ferrer lost to Bogomolov so easily – 62 64.
Ferrer has gone off the boil since Roland Garros 🙁
I guess he is more comfortable being the hunter than the hunted.
ed251137,
David Ferrer has been struggling with an ankle injury. He injured it before Wimbledon and complained about the injury throughout the tournament. After that, he withdrew from the Swedish Open (where he was the defending champion). Before Montreal, he hadn’t competed since Wimbledon.
Didn’t realise he is carrying an injury. That’s so rare for him.
9.30pm at my place. so “Desserts with Rafa” for me
I am on a diet, Rafa will have my full attention.
Keep your mind focused and show your fighting spirit, Rafa !
ROFL
RITB: posted in the wrong place. Question was obviously addressed to Nadline
I know…..
who here lives in Estonia?
Ricky,
don’t your tracking&traffic tools show this?
yeah, and Estonia always has like the 5th most hits on this site every day!!! Hence why I want to know.
I was wondering why Ricky needed to know!
Maybe he wants to relocate to Estonia?
Perhaps he has a crush on Sabine 😉
my bad. I was confusing Lisicki with Kanepi ;-(
http://m.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/08/same-they-ever-were/48659/
plz read this article 😀
BTW I too loved the outfit of rafa 10/10 <3
Sorry, what does10/10<3 mean?
hahaha
hahah i think she means 10/10 marks for the outfit and <3 is a heart !
i missed the toss guys, did rafa deliberately choose to serve himself or did JJ chose to return? good opening game from rafa.. oh my 4 huge serves from 0-30 by JJ
very weird that Rafa served first. Neither one should have chose that.
rafa is in with a tactic..breaking the JJ forehand.. he is also serving intelligently.,a lot of body jammers and most of both 1st and 2nd serves have been directed at the JJ forehand… rafa has done his homework
and yes rare to see rafa serving first..
JJ is serve is annoying me lol..too many free points !
2nd serve kickers to JJ’s forehand have been quite effective so far… rafa has not at been able to have meaningful strikes on JJ’s 1st servs…has lost 8/8 points returning them so far…gotta improve that rafa..
wow, GREAT serve from rafa once again under pressure…
Hi all!,
At last ESPN is showing this match. They were showing Sloane Stephens. So Rafa got out of a little trouble there.
On serve! I am nervous!
Rafa finally won a 1st serve return point.
these huge kickers from tall huys always trouble rafa…and JJ has got great feel on those drop shots and he follows them up with nicely by moving in…
arrgghhh these drop shots are PISSING ME OFF :@
Paire DFs on BP in his match
NNY,rafa has not at all been comfortable so far… pheww glad that serve was in 😛
plz hold on to this serve rafa !!
from 40-0 to duece and some bad luck for rafa…PLZZ HOLD
only intelligent serving has allowed rafa to hold all his srevice games, dont think he has had any such rhythm in rallies ..
JJ is so weird..the returners must be so confused when returning his serves…they dont even know what level of pace to expect on JJ’s 2nd serves ! he has served upto 190 kph 2nd serves so far
There is something about Tenngrand that doesn’t agree with my IP so will not be able to post here.
alias
‘nadline’
Lucky JJ is only 43% on 1st servo! He’s only lost one point so far on 1st serve.
wooof rafa had to jump off the ground to return that kick serve from JJ…2 set pnts and a 2nd serve
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS GUY..184 kph 2nd serve on set pnt
Two break points and set points gone for Rafa!
VAMOSSSS UNREAL ANGLE ON THAT RETURN
OMG: that cross court shot from Rafa was sublime
pity Rafa messed up on that set point. TB coming up I guess/
Well Rafa missed that chance. I am really not happy right now. You can’t lose those chances.
Whoever said JJ wasn’t playing well in his other two matches, well he’s playing well here.
S**t
set gone 🙁 this time JJ was ready for the body serve…rafa should have thrown a changer .. anyway, no rhythm for rafa AT ALL..i am hating this match
just hoping for 2-3 2nd serves in a row !!
disappointing from rafa ..DISAPPOINTING
YESSS… excellent adjustment on the return of serves, rafa electing to slice back the serves..good choice ! now win it 7-6 boy
Thatsaboy!!!!!!!!!!! The Rafa of old getting out of jail.
Wow! Rafa breaks back! TB!
does this guy ever miss a drop shot??!!!!
I cant think of anyone else who uses the drop shot to such good effect
Rafa needs to get a grip!!!!
JJ is out thinking Rafa in this TB. He’s killing him with the drop shot, too. Not good.
I said this was going to be tough for a Rafa who was not match ready. Now we see why. This guy has no fear and is bringing it.
YESSS !!PHHEWWW I was sooo nervous and agitated !! rafa was so unlucky on that 6-5 set point …but there is NOBODY better than rafa to just ignore these bad lucks and move on… other than winning the set, another very positive thing was how rafa was reading JJ’s serves so much better ! he was having much better ROS strikes
By rights Rafa should have lost that TB!
Why do JJ’s net cords keep falling on the right side of the net but not Rafa’s?
JJ’s has a poor forehand return..rafa has been taking full advantage..esp on the duece court
Looks like it’s going to be a three set match.
that was nice gift from rafa ..terrible service game, worst of the match … he is getting more meaningful return of serves now but he needs luck to get the break back
very often when rafa survives going down a double break , he comes closes to breaking back ..I hope it happens right here
comes close*
That was beyond nerve wracking! So Rafa finally pulled it out. But then he comes out and gets broken in the second set.
Anyone still think he will win in two sets? This guy never goes away.
wow, majestic from rafa ! too perfect points 0-30 !
so this is what happens when you try to be stupid on 2nd serves.your going to save set point by serving a 184 kph 2nd serve on one occassion but your going to gift crucial points by double faulting too ! 6-6 point in the breaker, and now these two costly double faults…. JJ has to control this wild risk taking if he is to improve to the level of the top guys
No, let him play reckless tennis and Rafa will win! I noticed that about him. He will go for I on the second serve and sometimes it costs him.
YAY! Rafa breaks back! This match is really getting to me. I may lose that nice breakfast!
Come on Rafa! Do it in two!
hahah NNY, i hope you get your breakfast soon and I get my dinner ! .. Rafa is returning serves much better now… ahh good stuff from JJ ..
For such a big man Jerzy moves extraordinarily well.
WOW..what a volley from rafa, robbie koenig called it right, it was Mcenroe like!
agreed ed, JJ is 6’8 and isner is 6’9 but the difference in movement is HUGE
JJ is becoming frustrated. Waiting for the pressure cooker to explode!
JJ reminds me so much of Marat Safin. Very temperamental and unpredictable. He’s going to either do something great in this sport or flame out.
Okay, Rafa now serve this out and get the win!
I was thinking exactly the same thing during that match.
That win meant a lot to Rafa!!!!!!!!!!! And to us his fans.
congrats rafa fans ! this was a really good win 🙂 rafa is still rusty but he surely improved a lot as the match went on.. JJ ended up with 67% pnts won on first serve, now how well did rafa turn this stat around in his favor after JJ winning his first 8/8 serves in set 1..
18 winners 18 U.E is also decent.. 65% pnts won on 2nd serve was the most important stat for rafa..he really exploited JJ’s poor forehand return …
Areas of development for rafa : 1.sharpen the forehand ! making too many errors off it while trying to be aggressive..he is adjusting though..we know conditions very quick here…
2. consistency of the overall game ! only practice is the solution….
p.s, good ,intelligent use of the back hand slice so far in the tournament
you can have your breakfast now NNY 😀
yes you two are right, he does resemble safin in many regards ..lets see how he TRANSFORMS
vamosrafa,
I had my breakfast! I just didn’t want it to come back up! LOL! Sorry to be so graphic, but my stomach was in knots during the first set!
I like your analysis of this match. I don’t know if they showed it where you guys are, but Pam Shrive had an on court interview with Rafa after the match. He was planning on playing some clay court tournaments but he had to get treatment for the knee. She asked about the tape and he said that it wasn’t helping him, so he decided to just stop using it. He equivocated about the knee. He said that it was okay in these first two matches and hopefully he will be okay for Cincy and the USO. So it sounds like he is playing Cincy, at least for now. He didn’t say the knee was fine. I can tell he doesn’t want to talk about it.
Pam reminded him that today is Fed’s birthday. She asked if he wanted to wish him Happy Birthday. He said – is today? Okay, I will text him later! Too funny!
Stats are pretty good. I think this match will give a huge boost to Rafa. He also got some great match play. He is going to play doubles next today. They showed a bit of Paire and Matosevic but switched to a woman’s match.
Now we need to watch Murray and Gulbis!
Okay, deucy it’s your turn to be nervous!
no i could not see that interview so thanks for sharing 🙂 really enjoyed your post…hahaha rafa’s responses are so natural and funny..so he’ll text roger haha..
rafa said yesterday that his knee is ‘not bothering him much’ so I dont think it will be an issue till the USO..at least i hope so !
and yess duece will have nervous moments …andy is playing with poor intensity so i think gulbis has a decent shot
NNY, i really like the fact that rafa is playing doubles..this way he can have nice ROS practice 🙂 funnily, he is up against aisam qureshi (my countryman ) lol
Hey Guys!!! Long time, i dont see eveyone herer! Where is Nadline…………..lol!!!
Congratulations to rafa fans.. Now after andy n del’s early exit I will support rafa to beat djoker n win this title now 🙂
good to see you monalysa 😀 nadline is posting under the name ‘clayqueen’
istomin is playing awesome right now and djo is rusty too…istomin is showing that ball striking he showed in USO 2010 against rafa in rnd 2
Rafa-Marinko preview – https://tenngrand.com/2013/08/09/rogers-cup-qf-previews-and-picks-nadal-vs-matosevic-raonic-vs-gulbis/