Both Rafael Nadal and Milos Raonic are coming off third-set tiebreaker wins as they head into a round of 16 showdown on Thursday in Shanghai. Tomas Berdych and Gilles Simon are also part of a jam-packed schedule.
(8) Rafael Nadal vs. (9) Milos Raonic
Nadal and Raonic will be facing each other for the sixth time in their careers and for the second time this season when they battle for a spot in the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Thursday. Each of their first four encounters were positively dominated by Nadal, but the tide started to turn last season in Miami. Raonic finally got a set off the Spaniard in a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 loss and he got all the way over the hump almost exactly one year later. At the 2015 Indian Wells Masters, the Canadian prevailed 4-6, 7-6(10), 7-5.
Speaking of three-set thrillers, this matchup just barely came to fruition. Shortly after Raonic saved a match point to beat Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-7(3), 7-6(5), Nadal also survived in a third-set tiebreaker with a 7-5, 6-7(4), 7-6(4) win over Ivo Karlovic. Raonic preceded his victory by defeating Thomaz Bellucci in a pair of tiebreakers, while Nadal is coming off a strong runner-up performance in Beijing. Whereas the 14-time major champion appears to be heating up, Raonic continues to struggle in the aftermath of a mid-season foot injury. It does not help the No. 9 seed’s chances that he dealt with a hip issue against Bautista Agut on Wednesday.
Pick: Nadal in 2
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(10) Gilles Simon vs. (5) Tomas Berdych
Berdych has not defeated anyone ranked better than No. 26 in the world since this spring’s Madrid Masters as he heads into third-round Shanghai action on Thursday. The fifth-ranked Czech has been in a relative slump by his standards, although he at least managed to capture a 250-point title in Shenzhen earlier this month. Berdych almost lost his opener this week but battled to a 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 victory over 33rd-ranked American Jack Sock.
Next up for the No. 5 seed is a 12th career meeting with Simon, who enjoys a 7-4 edge in the head-to-head series. The Frenchman is 3-1 lifetime at Berdych’s expense on outdoor hard courts. An alarmingly routine Wimbledon contest this summer went Simon’s way 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. The world No. 14 bounced back from a shocking five-set loss to Donald Young in round one of the U.S. Open to finish runner-up in Metz and reach the Tokyo quarterfinals. So far this week he has taken out Nikoloz Basilashvili and Leonardo Mayer in three sets. Everything points to another win for Simon in this one.
Pick: Simon in 2
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Now the commies say Rafa’s game has the wow factor.
That’s the way to go! Another win for our Rafa! The points won on second serve have significantly improved. We can see the difference and progress in Rafa’s game…keep up the good work, Rafa!!!
Vamos Rafa!
Vaaamooos Rafa!
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/dancing/dancing-smiley-face-emoticon.gif
When I said, on Sunday, that Rafa’s game wasn’t far off, the doomsayers were not having it. They were deriding him saying he was misfiring, blah, blah, blah. I’ve been proved right.
who
not yet
what
That’s right! It’s too soon to say that. But Rafa is going in the right direction!
The happy winner:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRW3bBgWIAAaXmJ.jpg
(Photo by AFP)
Rafa, I am happy you are happy! See you making steady progress, a lot more calm and confident on court, going for your shot, just the way I have always known you to play!! If you keep this up good things are going to happen for you next year! you movement is great, you look a lot fresher….one match at a time Rafa.
Good luck tomorrow, I know you can beat Stan!!! Vamos!!
Well done Rafa, he (and all of us )has reasons to be happy 🙂
Simon with his second turnover of the first quarter.
Tomas can win it with a field goal.
Berdy up a set and a break.
OOP for Friday:
http://www.protennislive.com/posting/2015/5014/op.pdf
Berdych won easily.
Berdych won.
Congrats to Me.
(commiserations to those who picked Simon)
Like me 🙁 I allowed my head to rule my heart
I picked Berdy!
Rod Laver wished Rafa ‘good luck’ before the match:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRXZvwGUcAEcdb-.jpg
Oh this is so sweet to see! Beautiful! I knew that Laver was watching the match. I got up and watched my recording of the match this morning. It was great to see Rafa playing so well! He’s really coming back.
Sometimes life intervenes and that’s why I am late getting on here, but it was a joy to watch this match! 🙂
It looks like Rafa is now Australia’s favourite adopted son. That must put Roger’s nose out of joint.
How bout Tomic right now. He’s impressive lately and he’s making push for top 15 with this kind of tennis.
very good stuff. Richard raised his level when he had to.
Yeah both r really grinding away. 4-3 Tomic on serve in the third now.
Benny,
I haven’t been much of a fan, but I will give him credit for what he’s doing.
Rafa’s post-R3- match interview in Spanish (I’ll post translation In Reply):
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x39rf8a_rn-post-r3-interview-shanghai-2015_sport
Translation of Rafa’s post-R3-match interview in Spanish:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRXmLoDVAAAuLQ6.png
Thanks.
Quotes from Rafa’s post-match press-conference in the article by the ATP Staff:
¤¤ “Today, I felt that I was not playing with as much nerves when I am on court,” said Nadal. “I was able to enjoy the match.”
“Winning a match 7‑6 in the third yesterday and winning a match again today in the tiebreak of a second set, two tiebreaks without losing a point with my serve, it’s impossible if you don’t have control of your emotions. That’s something that, a couple of months ago, would have been impossible for me,” added Nadal.
“My serve obviously worked much better than yesterday, but when I play well on my service game, it’s not just because I serve well, but especially because I play well from the baseline,” said Nadal. ¤¤
Read more in:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/shanghai-2015-thursday-nadal-downs-raonic-wawrinka-faces-cilic
This is interesting, because I said something to the effect yesterday that a few months ago Rafa would not have won the match against Karlovic. So Rafa agrees!
All the players who slipped and fell of the slippery grass at Wimbledon should have sued the AELTC.
^^^ Wrong thread > The rest
Yep