Rio de Janeiro
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. (4) Fabio Fognini: Fognini is 0-4 lifetime against Nadal and 1-9 in total sets. The Italian simply has no belief versus the top players; he is 0-14 combined at the hands of Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer, and 3-32 in total sets. Nadal in 2.
Andreas Haider-Maurer vs. (2) David Ferrer: Haider-Maurer has benefited from a favorable draw and an out-of-sorts Tommy Robredo. The luck ends vs. Ferrer, who completely destroyed the Austrian in two previous meetings. Ferrer in 2.
Delray Beach
Donald Young vs. Bernard Tomic: Young and Tomic just faced each other for the first time last week in Memphis, where Young won a quarterfinal match 7-6(8), 4-6, 7-5. Tomic’s quirky shots will be slightly more difficult to deal with outdoors in windy conditions, plus the Aussie is coming off an easy victory whereas Young had a three-set battle with Alexandr Dolgopolov. Tomic in 3.
(5) Adrian Mannarino vs. (4) Ivo Karlovic: Mannarino has fared relatively well against the big man’s serve in the past, but Karlovic has a history of success in Delray Beach and he has been absolutely outstanding this week. Karlovic in 3.
Marseille
(7) Gael Monfils vs. (4) Roberto Bautista Agut: Like Young and Tomic, these two also squared off last week. Monfils won 7-5, 7-6(5) to improve to 2-0 versus Bautista Agut, including 4-0 in total sets. Three of those sets, though, were competitive. Monfils in 3.
(5) Gilles Simon vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky: Stakhovsky, who upset Stan Wawrinka on Friday, is a force indoors. But Simon, who has a stellar return and loves using opponents’ pace, is a bad matchup for the Ukrainian anywhere. The Frenchman is 2-0 in the ATP-level H2H, 4-0 in sets, and 24-9 in games. Simon in 2.
I just don’t know what’s going on with Rafa. His game has gone away. It’s true that Fognini is playing better, but still hasn’t got the game to trouble Rafa. This is Rafa beating himself.
You don’t see him get that mad very often. They showed him arguing with the chair umpire. I am sure it was about the second time violation where they took away his first serve.
This is tough to watch.
tough to watch indeed :/
Oh, finally a good point . DTL forehand!
On VB they have the translation of something Rafa said when he was arguing with the chair umpire. Here it is courtesy of forum member piliii and posted again by forum member Ana.
Quote:
“Te digo algo y te lo voy a decir en serio, voy a pedir que no me arbitres nunca más.” Rafael Nadal a Carlos Bernardes (umpire).
“I’m telling you, and I mean it, I’m going to ask you do not umpire me anymore”
oh man…he must be really upset… bernardes often gives him time violations I guess…
to be fair Rafa does often take bloody ages between points!
true…but sometimes, circumstances should be taken into account too. Not every time, but sometimes! they have a human being, not a robot , sitting there because a human being has his own judgement.
Yes, he has a history with this guy. They are good with translations on VB. The tennis channel showed the changeover after the commercial break. Rafa was going on and on at him the whole time. You just don’t see Rafa lose it like that. I am sure that he’s tired and the quick turnaround from last night’s match isn’t helping either.
I’ve definitely got a slight man-crush on Fognini. His swashbuckling good looks get me every time.
some exquisite net play by rafa in that game…he is trying really hard…poor guy
rafa is trying his best to shorten the points. He is struggling big time from the baseline in terms of consistency so approaching the net whenever possible.
He needs some help from the Fog ,just like that DF there for 0-15.
Right now there is no explosiveness in rafa’s legs. He just does not have power in his legs . He has no rhytm out there.
Both players look dead tired
yeah…the Fog can generate a lot of easy power from the baseline. Rafa does not have that luxury so he really has to exert too much. And rafa went to bed too damn late last night
Looks like this will be a tie break
Rafa looking a littleee more energized since the last game. Vamos!
30-30..come on rafa come on!
This has turned out to be quite the battle. I have to believe that the late match and the quick turnaround has taken something out of Rafa.
Just hang in there ,rafa. Hold your serve
Damnnn 0-30! that was too good by the Fog…
VAMOS big forehand ! 15-30
Another wicked forehand winner! inside-in this time….30-30
Fog draws an error, match pnt 🙁
Rafa finished later but Fabio was out there for an hour longer than Rafa was. I don’t think it’s a massive difference. Though clearly far from ideal.
its more about the sleep pattern than it is about playing hours on the court in such a scenario, IMO.
second match pnt
^^^^@vamosfrafa
You’ve hit the nail on the head. I agree, this is the most likely explanation for Rafa’s uncharacteristic behaviour and performance.
#SleepDeprivation
Come on! Vintage rafa combo.
UNBELIEVAVBLE! what a way to win it. I feel for Rafa, but what a moment for Fabio Fognini. To make that on the biggest point in your career. Well played sir. Good effort Rafa, well persevered. I’m sure we’ll see him back to his best on the dirt soon. And hopefully we’ll see Fabio hit new heights on the back of this.
yeah, that was a big finish by Fabio. Agreed. But he won’t be hitting new heights .
So the misery ends for rafa. Very tough to watch. But perhaps it would have been even tougher to watch against ferrer?
On to the next tournament now. Take a day off rafa to recover and get back on the practice court.
The one that got away. Hope the groin is not too bad. But to set it in perspective, Rafa was so bad that even Fognini got the better of him after losing the first set and playing a long three setter himself