Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will begin their final tournament prior to the French Open on Wednesday, with both men going up against Frenchmen. Nadal is taking on Gilles Simon and Federer is facing Jeremy Chardy.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. Gilles Simon
Nadal and Simon will squaring off for the seventh time in their careers when they do battle in round two of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Wednesday. The head-to-head series stands at 5-1 in Nadal’s favor, but they have faced each other only once on clay. That was their most recent encounter, won by the Spaniard 6-3, 6-4 at the 2012 Monte-Carlo Masters. Simon’s lone victory came during his memorable second half of 2008 run, which included a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) semifinal upset of Nadal on the indoor hard courts of Madrid.
Simon played his way into this matchup by trouncing Italy’s own Filippo Volandri 6-2, 6-3 on Tuesday. The Frenchman is still a disappointing 7-10 this season and will in all likelihood just barely manage to maintain a seed for Roland Garros, currently at 30th in the world. Nadal is coming off a title in Madrid, where he got past Kei Nishikori via a third-set retirement on Sunday. The world No. 1 is not as dominant on the red stuff right now as he has been in the past, but last week should give him some confidence as he looks to three-peat in Rome.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 5-7 games
[polldaddy poll=8043269]
Jeremy Chardy vs. (4) Roger Federer
Federer and Chardy will be going head-to-head for just the second time in their careers but also for the second time this season. Their only previous meeting came in January in the Brisbane semifinals, with Federer prevailing 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3. Chardy advanced on Sunday in Rome with a 6-4, 6-4 ousting of Robin Haase. The 47th-ranked Frenchman is a decent 15-11 for the year, which includes only two first-round losses in 12 tournaments.
This is, of course, Federer’s first appearance since his wife gave birth to twin boys last week. The Monte-Carlo finalist and 2013 Rome runner-up is 28-5 on the season with additional runner-up showings in Brisbane and Indian Wells to go along with a title in Dubai. The Swiss’ focus may not be entirely there right from the start, but his 2014 form is far superior to that of last year and he should not have too much trouble getting the best of Chardy.
Pick: Federer in 2 losing more than 8 games
[polldaddy poll=8043266]
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/466419225088000001/photo/1
@augusta, you are stretching these pics and making them larger, aren’t you? Not complaining at all, just saying…….I’m onto you!!
Vamos Rafa!!
I did not stretch the picture, (W) did.
Of course I am going with Rafa in two sets. Simon has not looked good this year and seems to be on a kind of downslide right now. I think that I voted for Rafa losing 8-10 games, just to be cautious. But it could be less. I think Rafa should come into Rome with good feelings from Madrid, despite the way that final ended.
As for Fed, I think he’s going to win in two sets over Chardy. I went back and forth a little between two sets and three sets. I finally voted for Fed in two, losing more than 8 games.
I saw that Rafa will play a night match, which means I get to see it live without having to try to stay up until all hours. It’s 10:30 am my time! I can’t wait to see Rafa in action in Rome. 🙂
A night match may be good for you NNY. Not sure Rafa will be so pleased.
Gillou happens to be No.3 on my list of favourites so I dont relish watching him being spanked yet again by Rafa 😉
Nadline: Just so you know………….
#NoConflictOfInterests
So exactly how many hounds do you run with @ed251137? The other day you owned up to Berdy, are you adding Gillou? That would double the potential punishment, you are aware??!!
” No.3 on my list of favourites” is an oxymoron. 😀
ed251137 says May 14, 2014 at 6:39 am
Teeheehee! smart woman……………
I guess you don’t think a night match is good for Rafa. I can’t help it, because I so rarely get to see him live. But I don’t want bad scheduling for Rafa, if you feel that this is not good for him. I just kind of freaked out when I saw the time and realized I could see him.
I have enjoyed watching Simon over the years, but he’s not special to me. He’s not playing well at all now, so I can’t see this being a tough match for Rafa.
Nadline@6:42am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du6wiLRgm8o
Vamos Rafa!
Sorry, I forgot to indicate that my comment @ 6:58 am was directed to ed.
ed, both you and ritb are going to get mauled by the hounds if you keep running with the deer.
@nadline28, some deer are too cute to ignore (exhibit A: Pico), I’ll take my chances with the hounds!
😀
You could try sitting on the fence, but that’s not comfortable either, I’m told.
Better a mauling by hounds than subject my whatsit to a mauling by a fence, ¡muchas gracias.
Picks:
Rafa
Fed
Nadline. the expression is ‘to run with the HARE and hunt with the hounds.
which has its origin in the sport of beagling – something I used to do when a lot, lot younger. lol.
I must confess I had never heard of the expression until I saw it from @nadline on TT. I just found it so funny, still do. Conjured up all sorts of possibilities, especially me being a runner and all! And of course I can never get it right, always confuse which animal is doing the running and which the hunting……………
😀
ed, thanks. So you should know better.
Maybe sleeping with the enemy might be a better option.
quelle riposte
?
19h30 Rome Rafa’s match. Won’t miss that for all the tea in China…………
ritb, unless Pico is playing in a Challenger somewhere.
^^Couldn’t resist, could you? Picking on poor Pico’s form :/
His true friendship to Rafa makes up for his poor on-court form, imo. For that, he will always be my hare…..oops, deer, oh whatever…
Weather forecast (no rain in the evening)
http://www.accuweather.com/en/it/rome/213490/hourly-weather-forecast/213490?hour=17
I am expecting a very strong performance from Rafa today
vamosrafa,
Me too! 😀
Simon today is light years away from the Simon who had his one and only win over Rafa
(by coincidence in Madrid) when it was an indoor hard court tourney. There is no risk he will repeat that performance today but it should be a good match.
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uiJ5NKK4ns
And by another coincidence my 2nd favourite beat my 3rd favourite in the final.
#123
Now you are confusing me. Keep it simple and just stick with your ‘first’ favourite. 🙂
Let’s hope the real Rafa turns up not the one who was impersonating him on Sunday. Still don’t understand why he was playing so poorly in the final against as opponent he knew wasn’t fit.
^^No, no, no please………..do not mention Rafa impersonations! I still have nightmares re-living one match (we were still on TT) where a definite alien took over Rafa’s body and was doing a bad job of hiding the fact that it had never seen a tennis court, never mind ever playing on one!
I think Uncle T did a good job of exorcising that creature…….our boy’s back, I believe!
Vamos Rafa!
ritb, see pictures of hunting with hounds. The hounds are the dogs that the hunters use to chase and track down the animal, usually a fox.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=hunting+with+dogs&client=opera&hs=UDC&tbm=isch&imgil=Suy39A1BpTtUYM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcRcTVcoh72FdO_-FlyFDsTrqkoAUNixqfmOb4n-YgIoukJ2Ul1YBQ%253B460%253B288%253BL7PjKsqrDXsKSM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%25252Fearth%25252Fwildlife%25252F4939484%25252FRuling-further-weakens-hunting-ban.html&source=iu&usg=__TFjjnHtdBIuOBBHkrI5GAKoy2OI%3D&sa=X&ei=VTJzU4SGHeeJ0AXq94GYAg&ved=0CFgQ9QEwBg#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=-_IqjLPj3YC-HM%253A%3BMd3T0E6HJ-GKaM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fstatic.guim.co.uk%252Fsys-images%252FGuardian%252FPix%252Fpictures%252F2012%252F12%252F26%252F1356545024919%252FAvon-Vale-hunt-on-Boxing–010.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.theguardian.com%252Fuk%252F2012%252Fdec%252F26%252Fhunting-ban-unlikely-vote-tories%3B460%3B276
^^Eew, glad I saw this before me lunch……………
Yes, I think Muzza will be vigilant today……..
My pick is Andy over Marcel.
RT @Jamie_murray: “IMO – Andy #feel #creativity #handskills and Rafa #physicality #brutestrength are the 2 toughest wind opponents on @ATPWorldTour”
Mmmm, I think you should add #handskills to Rafa as well, Jamie.
Jamie, describing Rafa’s best tennis abilities in terms of brute strength and physicality is very old now, has been proven wrongheaded a long time ago. Even the most biased commentators already know better.
Eh @chloro, where Rafa’s concerned, a lot of people feel more comfortable stuck in a time-warp……….
I think we may finally see a Muzza/Rafa match at this tournament. Meltzer and Cilic are battling in a 3rd set, hopefully the winner emerges too tired to mount a serious challenge to Muzza, whom I expect to move past Granollers.
So long as the real Rafa turns up, no worries, as far as I’m concerned. I wonder whether Rafa was taking a rest during the Madrid final and sent his double in to bat in his place..
Don’t worry @nadline28, The Bull is in the Eternal City!
Muzza through in straights, should meet Meltzer next, who is a break up in th 3rd against Cilic
…Meltzer it is, who beats Cilic
I’m sorry but Cilic is still in my bad books…………. 🙁
I’m a bit thrown by this new smiley, smiley Andy. Did he make a promise to Bally he would reform?
I don’t like it.
Fed has finalist points to defend here so he needs to be careful……………
I hadn’t thought of that. It explains why he has interrupted his paternity leave.
Less than 700 points separating him (#4) from Ferru (#5). I don’t think he wants to get to RG outside of the Top 4 and risk meeting Rafa or Novak in the quarters………
…I mean, God forbid, Rafa could suffer a shock early exit at RG and guess who could benefit from that if well placed in the draw?
#TMF
That’s what I’ve been thinking about over the last weeks of Rafa’s struggles. Roger is bound to have some level of realistic hope to get a second career slam. I can imagine his heart sank when he realised Rafa was headed to the finals at AO and no one strong enough to beat him there, such as Novak, was going to be his opponent. He must have been very upset at the prospect of Rafa getting his 14th at the same time as a double career slam. At that time it didn’t look likely that Roger would ever complete his. Now there is a realistic opening.
Hold your horses, mind. I am NOT saying I am predicting Rafa losing an out of 5 match at RG this year.
ed, you’re right he’s come to defend his points.
And he also has to negotiate RG not to suffer the same fate for Wimbledon, no?
How did Meldza beat Marin ON CLAY???
Isn’t it Melzer who took out Djokovic at RG in 2010? He is good on clay………
#Facetious
Fed serving up a Baker’s bagel to the youngster Chardy.
Thought Chardy was older than 27. Still though, he would have made a great weak era player.
What a boring match…………Fed having his way with Chardy. Am switching over to Jo-Willy/Anderson…
Chardy up a break in the 2nd. ritb, don’t switch back!!!
#Jinx
Chardy now leading 4:1 2nd set. One break of serve.
Only because ritb switched off!