Rafael Nadal will try to keep his hot streak going when he faces Jared Donaldson during second-round action on Wednesday in Shanghai. Speaking of hot streaks, David Goffin had captured titles in back-to-back weeks as he prepares to go up against Gilles Simon.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. Jared Donaldson
The U.S. Open through November is sometimes Nadal’s worst stretch of the year. Not so much this time around. Nadal is in the midst of a 12-match winning streak with titles at the U.S. Open and China Open. En route to the Beijing winner’s trophy, the top-seeded Spaniard saved two match points against Lucas Pouille right off the bat before making easier work of Karen Khachanov, John Isner, Grigor Dimitrov, and Nick Kyrgios.
Up first for Nadal at the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Wednesday is Donaldson, whom he has never faced. The 20-year-old American has played the best tennis of his life from start to finish in 2017, with 22 of his 33 career ATP-level match victories coming this season. Donaldson’s Asian swing consists of a quarterfinal performance in Chengdu (lost to eventual champion Denis Istomin in a third-set tiebreaker), a three-set loss to Tomas Berdych in Beijing, and a 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Pablo Cuevas on Monday in Shanghai. This should be competitive with Nadal likely fatigued to an extent, but it takes something super special to beat the world No. 1 these days.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 8-10 games
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(8) David Goffin vs. Gilles Simon
Goffin has won nine consecutive matches and two straight titles heading into Shanghai. The 10th-ranked Belgian is 12-1 overall since the U.S. Open and his only loss during this incredible stretch was a 9-7 in a third-set tiebreaker decision (versus Benoit Paire in Metz). Although the competition was not overly impressive in either Shenzhen or Tokyo, Goffin also scored a huge Davis Cup victory over Nick Kyrgios to help the Belgians reach the final against France.
Simon, who is unlikely to make France’s Davis Cup final roster, will be Goffin’s Wednesday opponent. The head-to-head series stands at 1-1, with Simon prevailing 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-2 on the grass courts of Queen’s Club in 2015 before Goffin got the job done 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 last year in Miami. At 32 years old, Simon is just 15-22 this season and has plunged to 47th in the world. He benefited from a favorable first-round draw this week and took care of Chinese wild card Yibing Wu 6-3, 6-4 on Monday. This, however, is likely a nightmare matchup for the veteran at this point in time. Goffin is a younger, faster, and more offensive version of Simon. Fatigue may be a factor, but Goffin cannot afford to slow down–not at a Masters 100 tournament, at least–with World Tour Finals qualification very much in play.
Pick: Goffin in 2
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WWW?
Ricky, i got the same picks as you.
Nadal in 2 losing 8-10 games
Goffin in 2 over Simon.
Simon struggled to win in rd 1 against a 17 year old Chinese teen.
I think it is a no brainer.
Goffin in three and Nadal in two losing 5-7 games
Jared Donaldson is a nice guy hmm… Just thinking.
It’s not a crime to think?
LOL … my guess is, you are THINGKING (praying would be most aptly) that Jared will beat Rafa right Stanley? Not a crime at all matter of fact, I enjoy the so called show…Stanley Eating Crows A Lot Lately…haha
Very funny! Enjoy it while you can, RF is back baby, i can always count on him instead of all this chokers.
Federer’s game is no where as good as it was before the clay season (wasn’t as good at Wimbledon)
yep
Roger v/s Rafa in the finals with Roger winning the tournament … However, this article has an entirely different take http://www.138mph.com/tennis-is-roger-federer-up-to-the-task-of-putting-the-rafa-genie-back-into-the-bottle/
Goffin in 2 sets.
Rafa in two sets, losing 8-10 games.
Be focused, be confident, be strong, be courageous, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DL14tnPWkAAjKIB.jpg
Rafa in 2 losing more than 12 games
… wait a minute…
Goffin looks like he’s about to lose the match. He’s playing B2B2B tournaments, not going far here in Shanghai.
A strategic loss by Goffin, n’est pas?
Doesn’t he need points to make sure he’ll play in London?
Good point. I overlooked how close it is between the group scrambling to qualify. At the moment he’s well placed but so he will need to do well at the tournaments he plays between now and then to be sure of his place.
Are you kidding me Rafa, ACE on 2nd serve?
Rafa you are suffocating the young lad. Ease up a bit your grip and let him enjoy playing in Shanghai.
Rafa 6-2 first set.
Rafa takes the 1st set 62.
Jared started well but couldn’t keep it up. He’s got a good serve.
Vamos Rafa!
Another 2nd serve ace by Rafa? I am impressed.
….and got an early break at love? Rafa please don’t bagel Jared in 2nd set.
YEEESSSSS!!….Alhamdulillah!!Sensational perfomance from Rafa once again!!..
Nny!!…R U HAPPY???LET’S SCREAAAAMMMMM!!….WOOOHOOOO!!…Hehehe..sorry guys!can’t help it!!
MA,
That was simply sublime from Rafa! He is on fire!
WOOHOO!!!!
Rafa, you go!
I am now rethinking my belief that he should stop playing and rest! I think when a player is really on top of his game, then he needs to play! Rafa has so much confidence now! He is seeing the ball do well and everything in his game is clicking.
If Rafa is committed to play Basel then maybe he skips Paris.
But Rafa is healthy and playing some of the best pure tennis I have seen from him, especially in this part of the tennis year!
Rafa. You are the Man!!!
😀👏💪
Blink and it was all over 🙂
It can be tricky playing an opponent for the first time particularly when they have a good game like Donaldson has.
Where is the resident pundit 😉
Don’t over celebrate, a storm is coming and he has a name but i will let U guess.
What’s the name of the storm?
Hint 1: one of his names starts with an R and the other with an F.
Hint 2: he has defeated Rafito thrice this year, 1 Grand Slam, 2 masters, 2 finals in less than 3 months.
Hint 3: he is the G.O.A.T, the king of the tennis, out of respect for Rafito & others, i would say RF is one of the best cos Rafa, Novak & others are amazing.
Hint 4: we all know he will win this tournament.
Hint 5: he is humble just like me.
Hint 6: know one has won more GS than he has.
Hint 7,8,9 & 10: i am tired, my fingers are hurting lol!
We all know who he is, his name and his skills, please don’t deny it or you will be… Lol!
Take care everyone.
Oh my God!!…I can’t believe what i saw from rafa this afternoon!!…Mark Petchey said “That was arguably even better than the sort of tennis he put on the court in Beijing to be honest”…
So,to celebrate that i have to scream once again!…1..2..3..WOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!….Oppss!..sorry Stanley if u got deaf by my scream!..I will scream more gentle & more ladylike next time!!..hehehehehawhawhaw!!
Mira i need ear surgery and you are going to pay 4 it or…
Please don’t do that again ok?
Roger Federer won 1..2..3..WOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!….Oppss!..sorry Mira, U are still paying.
Honestly Rafa is good, Congrats to him but a storm is still coming and we all know who he is right?
Don’t pretend you don’t know what’s coming, i can see your face, you are sweating and shaking, stop looking around there are no cameras in your room or is there one?
Hey Stanley!!…sorry for damaging your ears okay?I hope my scream don’t damage your brain as well Stanley!…Err..thank u for the congrats….Rafa is AMAZING right Stanley??Woot!woot!
When you said woot!woot! Were you dancing?
You damaged my ear and U are dancing that’s not cool, all you can say 2 me is sorry, will sorry heal my ear?
Will woot!woot! Pay the doctor’s?
Are you paying or not?
Cos i want to call 911, malay. is not too far and you can’t hide 4ever.
Woot!woot! To you back.