Rafael Nadal headlines a blockbuster day at the Rome Masters, as he goes up against talented Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Meanwhile, Stefanos Tsitsipas battles home favorite Matteo Berrettini for a place in the quarterfinals.
(2) Rafael Nadal vs. (13) Denis Shapovalov
Rafael Nadal appears to be doing what he’s done nearly every year of his storied professional career; he’s working himself into the best clay version of himself just in time for the French Open. The Spaniard, who captured his first title of the year in Barcelona, faced a red-hot Jannik Sinner in his first match in Rome on Wednesday. He played what was likely his best match of the season to advance 7-5, 6-4.
Denis Shapovalov does have a win over Nadal, but it was at home on the hard courts of the Canadian Open. The only time they played on clay (Rome 2018), Shapovalov absorbed an old-fashioned drubbing. Based on how his clay season is going, he might eat another tomorrow. The Canadian won a pair of matches this week to earn his third-round spot, but victories over Kamil Majchrzak and Stefano Travaglia won’t do much to prepare him for Nadal on clay.
With Nadal displaying some of his best tennis against Sinner on Wednesday, anything other than a straight-set win over Shapovalov would be a surprise.
Cheryl pick: Nadal in 2
Ricky pick: Nadal in 2
(5) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. (9) Matteo Berrettini
Perhaps the most interesting match of the day on a loaded docket is the showdown between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini. Tsitsipas has shown some of the best clay-court tennis of his career so far in 2021, and he has his first Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo to show for his efforts.
Berrettini is playing nearly as well as Tsitsipas. He just made the final in Madrid last week (lost to Alexander Zverev) and he won the title in Belgrade the week before. Berrettini will have the added benefit of playing in front of an Italian crowd tomorrow, as fans are permitted in at 25 percent capacity.
This one should be a cracker. The crowd will be firmly in Berrettini’s corner, but the Italian has played a lot of tennis in the past few weeks. Fatigue may be a concern if the match drags out into three sets. Tsitsipas won’t have the fans in his corner, but he comes in more rested because he lost early in Madrid.
Cheryl pick: Tsitsipas in 3
Ricky pick: Tsitsipas in 2
His inability to hit through with the same level of conviction for the full match.
Oh ffs rafa.. clay season ought to be the stress free time to watch you play
This is the time rafa loses his grip on tbs lately .. when he is up
Game:absent mental fortitude: very much there
Wins the classic djoko style saving mps
Finally, we get a smile from Rafa! He wins! Well deserved! Great fighting spirit!
Vamos Champ! Keep fighting and keep improving! We love you!
On mp there was another barely over the net shot by rafa ala the tsitsipas match
But a back to back loss to Zverev seems to be looming😥 hope nishikori does soemthing
This was a roller coaster ride. Rafa manages to win a tb!
Doing it the hard way.
I couldn’t watch the tb. Too nervous. But it was not close.
I truly hope that Rafa can get his serving woes sorted out. That is what seems to be causing him the biggest problems.
So nothing wrong with Rafa, just training on:
– playing for over 3 hours
– wasting matchpoints
– saving matchpoints
– winning tiebreaks
Well, it’s good prep for RG. I guess. I really don’t expect Rafa to win Rome this year but I did want him to get some good matches in! He’s still short on matches this year. But he doesn’t recover the way he used to. I thought Rafa would cruise against Shapo. Not so much.
I’m hoping Nishikori gives Zverev a good match today!
It is true that Rafa can’t seem to get in a groove. He can’t follow up on victories which should give him confidence. He’s been inconsistent, always battling from behind. I thought the win in Barcelona over a red hot Tsitsipas, would give him a boost. But he struggled in Madrid and is struggling now.
The one saving grace is his ability to stay on the match mentally and fight. The inability to hold his serve is playing havoc with his game.
In case anyone is interested, Nishi just won the first set over Zverev.
Up a break in the second right now, too.
Thank you NY!! I am keeping abreast with the scores on Google as I am on the road running errands. Rafa gave me a heart attack today, at the hospital now 😂😂😂😂!!
Rafa really needs to sort his serves out, not sure if his back is still an issue. I guess if it is at least he’s good to still be playing. I don’t ha Enoch hope for him winning this tourney, just want him to win RG!! But I will go home and watch the match on UTube, I can enjoy it a lot better!
Well I’m sure Zverev will come back and probably win, shame I can’t watch match now. Anyway, Vamos!!!
I’m interested. You may remember how Kei was a favorite of mine, NNY. He has been off my list because he was gone (injured?) then the Covid.
But at his peak, he can be very good on clay. Plus, he’s clever and likes to play the big guys. Not sure he’s at his peak or ever be close to those days again, though.
Tennis Channel is showing Muguruza v Svitolina. Going by the scoreline I can’t tell a lot about how much Zverev is paying attention. Kind of seems like Zverev wants the 2nd set. Kei has no serve, as everyone knows, so he has to make up for that and his height by using other skills.
Above comment is from Monalisa, sigh!
The anonymous comment is from you, Monalisa?
Yes lol! I forgot to put my name!
Mona,
Thanks for letting us know it was you!
😍
Nikishori did well to almost have 2 breaks in second set but now they’re back on serve
Well at least Zverev won’t be fresher tomorrow if he wins. I expect Rafa to beat him quite easily. Playing well in Rome after making the Madrid final is something that only Rafa and Djokovic managed to do a few times.
Rafa has played nearly 5 hrs over 2 days. I don’t think he will beat zverev that easily ..
Djokovic may have hands full too tomm against tsitsipas ..
Rafa is right now short of confidence against zverev..3 losses in a row
Respectfully I don’t think Rafa is beating anyone easily these days. The conditions in Rome will be much better for Rafa than in Madrid, but Rafa is just serving like crap. He gives up early breaks in sets and is battling from behind.
In his match with Sinner, serve stats showed he was getting in less than 50 % of first serves. When he did get it in, he won 70%. But for Rafa to only be getting in less than 50% of first serves is just not good.
I am expecting Rafa to make a match of it this time. But I just don’t see any victories cimjng easily for him right now.
Respectfully I don’t think Rafa is beating anyone easily these days. The conditions in Rome will be much better for Rafa than in Madrid, but Rafa is just serving like crap. He gives up early breaks in sets and is battling from behind.
In his match with Sinner, serve stats showed he was getting in less than 50 % of first serves. When he did get it in, he won 70%. But for Rafa to only be getting in less than 50% of first serves is just not good.
I am expecting Rafa to make a match of it this time. But I just don’t see any victories cimjng easily for him right now.
Apologies for the double post.
Rafa has late finish last night too .may have contributed to his poor play at the start of match
It was a giant success, the way Kei fought off Zverev to hold his serve. In the first game of set 3. Keep that up and win the set and match, Kei!
Rafa short of confidence against Zverev after just three losses… really? He surely knows why he lost against the Russian each time: Nadal was underprepared and the playing conditions were unfavourable.
And Rafa did lose to the guy who eventually won the tournament. Still, there’s no question that Rafa is well short of his clay court best. But give his opposition some credit. Sinner played a great match and barely lost. Shapo was balling for most of the match – I never dreamed he could play like that on clay.
Rafa’s serve, if it doesn’t Get Well Soon is going to be a huge problem for him. He’s well past the age where he can just use it to start the point then win it with his legs. He’s winning with his smarts, his variety and his experience. So far…
As mentioned earlier, Rafa’s young opponents would all hit as hard as possible, and serve big, ie playing very aggressive attacking tennis, to try to beat Rafa on clay. So far, only Rublev and Zverev managed to beat Rafa.
In Rome, the conditions is slower so perhaps these hard hitting opponents still couldn’t have their way against Rafa. Next for Rafa would be Zverev, but Zverev himself was struggling against Nishikori, needed 3 hours? 3 sets and coming from behind to beat Nishikori.
Rafa wasn’t playing well this clay season so far, was struggling too at Barcelona but managed to win the title there. His draw at Rome isn’t a friendly one, loaded with young big servers and hard hitters, all playing aggressive tennis against him; Zverev next and maybe Opelka next if Rafa beats Zverev, hard tasks ahead for Rafa!