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
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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