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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Okay, rafa has been somewhat shaky in the last few games….I think he is going to be back to the ruthless mode in set 3….the backhand has lost its sting at the moment
Yeah, Ricky, thats a point, but Rafa must know that he is playing the guy who beat Federer!
I think Rafa wants to be able to look Tommy in the eye afterwards. Rafa was embarrassed when he beat his friend, Monaco, 62 60 60 at RG last year.
I would have felt bad if rafa had not broken serve here !! now don’t you dare lose a game from hear rafa , at least make tommy win the game(s)
Haha yeah, rafa has embarrased after that monaco beatdown…
Gasquet in semis after he played a 5 setter against Ferrer…Lolz, looks like Rafa will not lose serve till the finals atleast
Two sweet serves to wrap it up ! 6-0 6-2
how many games for tommy in set 3???
OK, Rafa, you need to practice your serves before next game! – Uncle Tony
Rafa did not lose serve in 2010 before the final… djokovic broke his serve in the fourth game of the match I think..
He lost his serve to Youzhny in the SF, IN 2010.
two perfect points from robredo and two relatively bad mistakes from rafa… but thats ok..robredo WON that game rather than rafa losing it
oh, are you sure nadline? don’t know why I had it in my mind that rafa lost serve in the final
Yes, I’m certain.
Why are U. Toni and Carlos Costa looking so anxious?
nopes, rafa had lost his serve TWICE before the final in 2010…once in the qtr final against verdasco and once against youzhny ! so bad memory from me
I don’t remember the Verdasco one.
Rafa to serve for the match.
#Vamos
Has everyone gone to bed already? 😀
yes
Rafa 100% on net play. Are you watching, Fed? That’s how you rush the net……
Vaaaaaaammmmmmmooosssssss!
Night is still young here. 😀
Rafa, do your homework, practice your serves!
Vamos, Rafa!!! You look so good out there!!!! Two more to go Rafa till you bite that trophy!!!! One match at a time!!!!