Three Spanish players will be in quarterfinal action on Wednesday at the U.S. Open. Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo are squaring off in an all-Spanish showdown, with the winner to go up against either David Ferrer or Richard Gasquet.
Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo will be going head-to-head for the seventh time in their careers and for the first time since 2009 when the two Spaniards collide in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open on Wednesday. Nadal has won all six of their previous encounters, including four on hard courts. The world No. 2 is 13-1 lifetime in sets against Robredo.
This was, of course, supposed to be the 32nd meeting between Nadal and Roger Federer, but Robredo derailed those plans on Monday evening with a 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4 upset. The 31-year-old preceded that triumph with victories over Marinko Matosevic, Frank Dancevic, and Daniel Evens. Finally armed with a clean bill of health, Robredo is 35-17 for a resurgent 2013 campaign and he is back up to No. 22 in the world.
Nadal, though, is even more on fire than Robredo–and everyone else–this season. This fortnight’s No. 2 seed is 57-3 for the year and undefeated on hard courts (titles in Indian Wells, Montreal, and Cincinnati). So far at the U.S. Open, Nadal has dismissed Ryan Harrison, Rogerio Dutra Silva, Ivan Dodig, and Philipp Kohlschreiber. The 2010 champion has dropped only one set and his serve has not yet been broken.
“I’m happy to see him come back after injury,” Nadal said of Robredo. “He’s playing a very good tournament. He will come to the match with confidence and I hope I will be ready.”
Robedo is the one who will have to be ready, having endured a few tough matches in the earlier rounds and obviously an emotional win over Federer–even though it lasted just three sets. As past history suggests, this is not a good matchup for the underdog. Nadal can grind from the baseline all day with Robredo and the 12-time slam champion has a much easier time finishing points both with forehands and at net.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 11-13 games
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Slight correction Ricky — Rafa won the Open in 2010, not 2009. But I like your pick. Hope it’s a comfortable three set win for Rafael:)
yep, thanks! fixed.
Can’t help feeling a bit smug. Although expatriated for almost 15 years now, I was born and raised in Spain and it feels good to have these guys in QFs.
It was not long ago when players were being put down just because of the racist fact that they came from Spain and didn’t have English (imagine that!) as their native language.
Well, haters and racists, eat your hear out.
Vamos!!!
C’mon Hewitt.. you can do it!
Amazing fighting spirit Hewitt!
respect and well done to Youzhny for the win
The humidity has dropped today and it’s cooler. It should be more pleasant for all players.
I don’t know if anyone abroad is awake, but Istomin just broke Murray. He will serve for the first set at 5-3. The commentators are saying that Murray has seemed out of sorts and his forehand isn’t working.
I’m half awake. Just. Too soon to panic.
It’s 4 a.m. here and I’m watching murray online and Berdy on TV.
But being driven to distraction by the trite US commies. Talking for the sake of talking. Talk about the statement of the obvious.
Meanwhile WaWa takes the TB to go 2:1 up against Berdy. The French commies are so excited they can hardly get their words out. They keep ooh, oohing and ooh la la-ing. Priceless.
Stan’s in the zone and Berdy is struggling.
Ooooeeeee, OoooLaLaaaaaa
Berdy goes down to Stan the Man.
didn’t see that one coming
Andy leads 2 sets to 1.
I shouldn’t boast but I commented after Berdy’s struggle against Kudla not to count on him making it to the QFs. Murray had better be on his toes, Stan in this mood will be a handful.
Murray is making heavy weather of the 4th set. Time to pick up the pace Andy.
You dont need a five set tussle at this point.
The commentators said that it’s very windy tonight. Really gusting. So that may be creating some problems. Murray hasn’t looked all that sharp. But Istomin doesn’t have the game to beat him.
I was surprised to see Berdy go down to Stan. They did switch over at times to cover their match and Stan played some great defense. I thought Berdy just wasn’t playing all that well. Stan was really focused and got the win.
Berdy wasn’t going to beat Murray the way he was playing. He will lose points because they said he made the semis last year.
We do have to suffer from the verbal excesses of the American commentators. It can make you want to scream at times!
Very ragged from Andy. But a win is a win……………………..Now I can go back to bed.
ed u r a star staying up 🙂 Didn’t watch, Am glad, don’t like to see Andy struggling 🙁
Am glad Berd’s gone because Andy seems to find him so difficult, but has lost here to Stan….so who knows??????
#FingersCrossed
It was not Andy’s finest hour but on the other hand I never felt he was going to lose to Istomin. You never know what to expect from Stan – his level can fluctuate wildly (as it did against Bagdahtis). He looked very confident last night against
Berdy who unravelled under the pressure so he’ll have momentum and believe he can unseat Andy.
No room for lapses of concentration on Andy’s part !
guys? what are your thoughts about this djoker!? He is destroying everybody in his path! although he hasn’t been tested yet! but i don’t like it! 😀
Am I in the wrong place? All I’ve read so far is about Andy and now Djoker.
^^^lol.
rafaelo: Dont be such a pessimist. Djokovic has only played exhibition matches so far.
Not good preparation for the sharp end of the tournament.
I only stay up for Rafa’s late night matches as I can’t stay up late every night. Robredo will not make it easy for Rafa but I think Rafa has enough ammunition to fend him off.
#Vamos Rafa