After getting their first-rounders in under the Arthur Ashe roof, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will continue their U.S. Open campaigns when second-round action resumes on Thursday. Nadal has a date with Taro Daniel, while Federer is going up against Mikhail Youzhny.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. Taro Daniel
Nadal began his bid for a third U.S. Open title on Tuesday, when he got off to a slow start against Dusan Lajovic but recovered from an early break down in the first set and eventually cruised 7-6(6), 6-2, 6-2. Thus continued a stellar 2017 campaign, highlighted by a 10th French Open triumph and a return to the world No. 1 ranking (Nadal regained it two weeks ago following the Cincinnati Masters). The top-seeded Spaniard is 50-9 this season, but he bowed out early at Wimbledon to Gilles Muller and did not play great in either Montreal (lost to Denis Shapovalov) or Cincinnati (lost to Nick Kyrgios), so the jury is currently out on his form away from clay.
Up next for Nadal on Thursday is a first-ever meeting with Daniel. The world No. 121 from Japan took a much more circuitous route to the last 64, requiring five sets to outlast Tommy Paul 6-1, 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday. Because of Tuesday’s rainout on all courts other than Ashe, Daniel also has one less day than his opponent with which to recover. The 24-year-old is now 4-8 at the ATP level this season and 3-7 lifetime in the main draws of Grand Slams. A massive step up in competition should bring about a swift end to Daniel’s fortnight.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 8-10 games
[polldaddy poll=9820000]
Mikhail Youzhny vs. (2) Roger Federer
Federer and Youzhny will be facing each other for the 17th time in their careers on Thursday. This is one of the most lopsided matchups on tour, as Federer is sporting a perfect 16-0 record in the head-to-head series. He is also 37-4 in total sets at Youzhny’s expense, including 12-1 at Grand Slams. The U.S. Open is the only major at which the two veterans have never squared off, and they have not met at all since February of 2015 in Dubai. Federer is 14-1 in total sets against the Russian dating back to the second set of a 2011 Wimbledon encounter, won by the Swiss 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Whereas the 36-year-old did not donate a single set on the way to capturing an eighth Wimbledon title last month, things look like they could be more difficult for him in New York. Federer struggled with a back issue in a recent Montreal final loss to Alexander Zverev and he has already dropped two sets at the U.S. Open, needing five to fight past Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 on Tuesday night. Youzhny benefited from a favorable draw against Blaz Kavcic and took care of business 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday afternoon. The 35-year-old is still a dreadful 9-18 this season and toiling away at No. 101 in the rankings. Federer may not be 100 percent, but if he is even close to full stretch he will likely make mincemeat out of Youzhny yet again.
Pick: Federer in 3 losing 8-10 games
[polldaddy poll=9820003]
Okay, I did not see this coming. I was not watching every single point as I was busy assembling a shoe rack with my wife but I was watching enough to get the impression that Rafa was hitting quite well early on and had a lot of openings to break. He got tentative 4-4 onward and his forehand got safer as well.
I also think Rafa must go for more on his first serve and not be safe with it as his second serve is holding up nicely against Daniel.
I expect Rafa to win in 4 sets.
Rafa needs to be reminded this is not Paris.
Fed fans are the last ones to be gloating! Really? Maybe Rafa fans should start trashing Fed with his back-to-back five set wins!
I dont want Fed to win against Rafa. Leave it to your imagination though. I understand all Rafa fans are frustrated with his level of display including me.
Rafa’s forehand continues to regress. He is hitting a few good ones here and there but the metric I use – ‘average rally forehand’- has been on a decline since 4-4 set 1.
Booming CC backhand winner! Wicked sharp angle on that one. 15-15 1-1
BRUTAL hitting from Rafa. Finishes off the point with anotherh scorching CC backhand winner
Yep, Rafa in 4. But he is standing what appears like too far back for Daniel’s serve, isn’t he?
Nice fh cc shots from Rafa. He’s putting more on them, too.
I meant backhand winners…
Beautiful ball striking
I appreciate watching Rafa more than ever these days.
Yep, CC backhand is on but he is drifting those DTL ones a tad wide.
He’s not quite dialed completely in, tho.
Missing too many DTL backhands is putting pressure on his CC backhand now.
The forehand needs a boost. It is too central at the moment and the hesitation has grown.
Okay, a 0-30 hole now!
Fine serve for 15-30. Yes, I like that! go for riskier first serves please.
Shoot!
MAGNIFICENT backhand drop volley winner from Rafa! 30-30
Increasing hesitation on Rafa’s groundstrokes and growing confidence in his opponent’s play. Rafa down a set and a break in the second! SHIT!
Daniel’s playing good but Rafa’s casual errors is the primary reason he is finding himself in this HOLE.
This is beyond belief.
just don’t understand the growing hesitation when it comes to hitting the forehand :s The only shot he is hitting well and consistently is the CC backhand.
Okay 2 BP’s for Rafa. BREAK BACK!
Rafa going to break back!
Hit the ROS he wanted to hit, set up a forehand inside-in and somehow sails it wide :s was such a routine shot
The long rallies are stunning – hahaha Lung burners
Rafa breaks back.
BEST FOREHAND OF THE MATCH and not a bad time to hit it! Sizzling forehand DTL winner to break back. 2-2! NO more brakes for the Rafa Express, ok?
Daniel leading is even more shocking when u look at the guys latest results. He was playing like garbage heading into this tourney!! Rafa with the. Real back I would be surprised if he doesn’t get some momentum and take off here.
Daniel is a shit player. And that makes me wonder what Rafa is playing. He has a shit serve.
Chill. Daniel is whacking the ball give him some credit geez ? Nadal gonna close it in four anyways
Yeah, I didn’t pick Daniel to win a round. I still think of him on the challenger circuit. This is my first good look at him. Impressive, surprising competitor. He isn’t coughing up blood yet! It makes my lungs burn watching Daniel.
CC backhand is ON FIRE! Forehand is now 5-10% better at least in terms of consistency.
It’s not Daniel, it’s Rafa spreading errors all over the place! We have seen it in both Montreal and Cincy…nothing new…
First serve is AWOL now
exactly. But I have to say, he’s been NAILING the CC BH tonight.