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]
FINALLY he unleashes his forehands inside-out and goes for the corners. He utterly dominated from the baseline in this game. 2-1 !
I’m enjoying this! Rafa is on the verge of, yes…another break.
Current Rafa is on FIRE.
Fearhand in the house. Welcome fearhand, you have been missed!
I was about to use almost the same phrase ‘fearhand in the house’ . LOL
Oh yeah, commies just said Taro Daniel played a tough 5 set match yesterday. Who did he play?
Tommy Paul.
Thanks, for reminding me. Tommy Paul was my bracket pick.
Nadal absolutely killing rallies rn.
Vintage Rafa in that point for 15-15! excellent forehand counterpunching to create a short ball and then BOOM
He’s just ripping his FH rn.
Daniel is toast.
Rafa is ridiculous now. 😀
Daniel making more errors. Nadal literally just nailing almost every shot.
I like this Rafa! 😀
Looks like the fearhand showed up for the first time after the FO finals. Maybe just in time.
His fearhand is just breathtaking rn! Where has this been since the French?!?!?!
How much better is Rafa over anyone else left in this tournament 😀
There’s no one.
Nny, wherever you are, I hope you are watching!
rc,
You are not going to believe this, but I just came back on here to post and I read your comment! We must be on the same wavelength!
I started watching after the second set. I just got so freaked out that I had to stop for a while.
I am very relieved to see that Rafa has gotten it together. He needs to get this done in four sets.
Thanks for caring!
?
Nny,
You are never far from my mind when I think tennis or politics and especially if it’s Rafa!
rc,
Same with me!
?
Rafa is fine now. This is all a confidence thing. Once Rafa gets it, he will be unbeatable.
The only problem is that he is likely to start most matches playing like this unless he gets a break.
Performance continues to go uphill…
First time in the match, Rafa has more winners than UE (30 to 29). This set was quite clinical (10 winners to 5 UE)
Rafa won 92% of 1st serve points in the 3rd, jeez XD
One can just see how Rafa is blooming with confidence now!
Vamos Rafa! Finish this in style!
The lower half of my bracket is destroyed. Sascha was supposed to go deep, as was Muller. Trying to think which one from the bottom half will make it to the final, hmm….Querrey? Shapovalov? Pouille?
Daniel is showing a little energy. Nice hold for the kid.
probably cilic. He’s not looking too bad rn.
Yeah. I hope Rafa holds and gets a break early. Don’t want anything funny.
I agree! I won’t relax until Rafa gets a break! He need to keep up the pressure and get this done in four sets!
This kid seems to have a second wind. I think maybe Rafa needed a match where he had to come from behind. But he has to finish the job!
Okay the kid double faulted away the break! Now hold your serve Rafa!
I don’t want to see Rafa lose this opportunity. His draw has opened up and he’s got a ticket to the semifinals.
Look at Daniel tho, he can barely stand up, lol. It was a miracle for him to get that one strong serve game. He’s done now.
But I hope to see more of him down the road. 🙂
Rafa needs to get a break! He can get nervous towards the end of this set and Daniel is raising his level and seems ready to give it his all in the fourth,.,
Daniel is fading now. Rafa is doing pretty well now!