Rafael Nadal and Nikoloz Basilashvili will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they battle for a spot in the U.S. Open quarterfinals on Sunday.
Unless Basilashvili gets triple-bageled, he won’t do any worse than he did in their only previous encounter at the 2017 French Open. Obviously going up against Nadal on a woefully unfavorable surface, the Georgian managed to win all of one game in a 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 defeat.
A hard court should provide a much better opportunity for Basilashvili, who is enjoying success for the second time at a major this season after reaching round three of the Australian Open. The world No. 37 has already done one better in New York, where he booked his spot in the last 16 thanks to victories over Aljaz Bedene, Jack Sock, and Guido Pella.
Nadal’s title defense got off to a strong start with wins at the expense of David Ferrer (via second-set retirement) and Vasek Pospisil (6-3, 6-4, 6-2). The Spaniard suddenly ran into a whole lot of trouble in the form of Karen Khachanov on Friday, but he survived 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(7), 7-6(3) in more than four hours.
“I think I played two good matches to start,” Nadal said of his first week in Flushing Meadows. “Especially the second one. [Against Khachanov], I think I started the match great…. I believe that there is some margin to improve. But I really hope that this kind of match helps. These kind of matches make you feel confident; make you feel stronger. At some point you need to go through some tough moments.
“I think this match helps. [Winning] these kind of matches, going through some very tough situations, lot of moments in the match…helps a lot for the confidence and helps to understand how you have to play for next match.”
The biggest key for Nadal in his next match is the status of his knees, as yet another potential physical issue reared its head against Khachanov. But the world No. 1 said, “my personal feeling is I (am) going to be at my 100 percent for the next one.”
If he is, the end of Basilashvili’s run is here–but it will be a lot more competitive than it was at Roland Garros.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 11-14 games
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WYG?
Ricky, Im still trying to catch my breath from last night, lol!!
Hehehe….Agree Monalisa!!…Last nite was one of the MOST stressful & intense nite i’ve ever experienced!
It almost does seem too soon to think about Rafa’s next match. I am not even going there with a prediction. I did not think Khachanov would be as easy as some. I thought it might be interesting and more challenging than his first two matches. But no way did I expect what ended up happening.
I saw him practice a bit today. His movement looked good to me.
Was he wincing Cheryl ? N the serve ?
This match will be a lot closer than the last one at RG…which isn’t saying much at all. Still, I’ve watched a bit of Basilashvilli in his past couple matches, and he looked a lot better than I’ve ever seen him. I don’t know if he’s been hittin gym, but he’s a seriously buff dude; will be a lot of muscle on display.
A lot depends on Rafa’s health, of course, especially if it affects his serve; but in any case I don’t think this will be a total walk in the park for him. Wouldn’t be too surprised to see him drop a set, but probably Rafa in 3 close ones.
No practice scheduled for Rafa in the morning. Is that normal given the early start? Cheryl or Ricky any thoughts?
He will practise always to warm up. Knowing Rafa he will not come to court without practising
Rafa practiced on Sunday morning around 9 – 9:30 AM.
https://tenngrand.com/social/player-pages/rafael-nadal/comment-page-186/#comment-314832
BTW, I saw him practice yesterday too. He was smoking the balls. I didn’t see him serve much though. Believe the knee has got to affect the serve more than anything else.
Stay focused, remain confident and be strong, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmGRhBfWsAAlZ0D.jpg
Vamos Rafa! No tape on the knee!
Rafa with a much better start today.
That curling backhand return is a thing of beauty from Nadal
Much better start from Rafa although helped by opponent. He should just put the lid in this match and get off the court. Although I doubt he will close easily.
Nadal is putting his 100% in return. Something is wrong. I am tensed.
I mean not putting 100%
Maybe he has got a break so not investing in return games when he is down 30-0 or 40-15.
#DjokoSmash
Rafa not looking healthy to me
Yes he is not. He is not 100%. He is worried.
Rafa’s knee is done. He could manage for 1 hour, but he looks in strife now.
^Trolling comment.
And this comes from the biggest TROLL on internet.
Subjective.
But your amount of trolling is ok apparently.
Incredible.
I have one username at least. If you have to build a machine learning model to detect trolling that would be one very important feature. And thats the only feature we can detect on an internet.
Everything is subjective , but if it becomes subjective for most, it tilts towards fact.
Leave it, its beyond you to understand machine learning or artifical intelligence. Its for someone who possesses real intelligence first.
Take a breath fedexal. Your getting too wound up again.
Better for you to ignore me my replying with #ignore.
Neither playing well atm.
Rafa’s knee is fine. I don’t know why someone has to stir things up by ignorant comments. As if anyone on here would know the state of Rafa’s knees from watching him on tv. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
You can do whatever you want, you can easily make out from Rafa’s muted celebrations that he is struggling. It could be a minor niggle but its more to do with the mental effect such an injury could do to the player.
^ Uh no! Just no! Are you adding palm reading to body language?
More utter nonsense. With the shots Rafa is pulling off?
Just stirring the pot.
Did you see Rafa’s last service game . There is no jump . Its not that long a match that he he just can’t serve. Obviously knee is the issue. Pretty senseless that you are unable to make out on TV.
This is one of the worst matches quality wise I have seen.
What is Rafa looking at when he serves? The shot clock? Each time he does so, he loses his first serve, serving poorly! I really can’t stand it, just go out there and serve!! Why bother about the clock? Just concentrates and gets the first serve in!
Rafa is poor in his BP conversion too, I mean he has so many chances yet he only manages one after being broken himself. And, he’s losing more often in baseline rallies nowadays against many players!
Why is Rafa going CC to his opponent’s BH all the time? His opponent has a very solid BH and is hitting so many winners! Rafa really has brain freezes out there, makes a mess of everything in the third set; should have broken Basil’s serve in that first service game when he had so many chances. As usual he’s making life difficult for himself.