Rafael Nadal has not been seriously tested through three U.S. Open matches and he will hope to keep it that way with Lucas Pouille on the other side of the net on Sunday. Gael Monfils and Marcos Baghdatis are also aiming for a place in the quarterfinals.
(4) Rafael Nadal vs. (24) Lucas Pouille
Nadal and Pouille will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash in the fourth round of the U.S. Open on Sunday. Their only previous meeting came last spring on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo, where Nadal cruised 6-2, 6-1. A hard court will obviously give Pouille a better chance, but the Spaniard is certainly no slouch on this surface. Nadal is a two-time champion of this tournament, he is coming off a fourth-place performance at the Rio Olympics, and he has not dropped a set through three matches in Flushing Meadows. The world No. 5 blitzed Denis Istomin 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, cruised past Andreas Seppi 6-0, 7-5, 6-1, and made similar 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 work of Andrey Kuznetsov on Friday night.
Pouille punched a ticket to the last 16 of a second straight major (he went all the way to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon) in dramatic fashion. After taking care of Mikhail Kukushkin in four sets, the 25th-ranked Frenchman overcame Marco Chiudinelli 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-2, 6-0 and outlasted Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1. Prior to Roland Garros this spring, Pouille owned just a single main-draw win at a Grand Slam; he has since picked up eight such victories. The 22-year-old will be unafraid of the big stage, but Nadal is in stellar hard-court form this summer and should have way too much game for an opponent coming off consecutive five-setters.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 11-14 games
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(10) Gael Monfils vs. Marcos Baghdatis
Monfils and Baghdatis went more than nine years without facing each other. Now the two veterans are set to square off for the second time in a three-week span. At last month’s Cincinnati Masters, Monfils took a modest 2-1 lead in the head-to-head series by rolling over the Cypriot 7-5, 6-0. Interestingly, their first-ever showdown also came in Cincinnati–way back in 2006 when Baghdatis prevailed 7-6(8), 2-6, 6-1. They also met at the 2007 Australian Open, where Monfils got the job done 7-6(5), 6-2, 2-6, 6-0.
A second Grand Slam encounter between them was not expected given that Baghdatis found himself in the same section of the draw as a red-hot Milos Raonic. But Ryan Harrison ousted a hobbled Raonic in four sets and Baghdatis promptly took care of Harrison 6-3, 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-1 on Friday. The world No. 44 preceded that victory by beating Facundo Bagnis and Benoit Paire in mostly routine fashion. Monfils has not dropped a single set in wins over Gilles Muller, Jan Satral, and Nicolas Almagro. The Frenchman is an awesome 38-11 for the season and currently in position to qualify for the World Tour Finals. Nothing suggests Baghdatis, who is in the last 16 of a slam for the first time since 2009, will be the one to slow Monfils down.
Pick: Monfils in 3
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La monf in three and Nadal in four losing more than 14 games.
3 votes so far for La monf in 2 😀
I think Bagman will fight but Monfils in 3.
Voted Nadal in 4. Pouille is awfully lucky – I’ll give him a set. But Rafa in 3 is more realistic. I’m loving this match already!!
Nadal in 3.
Monfils has been very focused lately. He’ll win this in 3 or 4 and then Rafa vs Monf will be a decent match.
I hope Rafa can keep the intensity high throughout this match. The guy has practiced with Rafa a week ago so he won’t need time to get used to the spins and all. Anyway, counting on an aggressive Rafa to win in 3.
Pouille looks more like a better version of Kuznetsov, but with better consistency and precision maybe. Rafa may have to work harder for this win, also the weather may be hotter and more humid in the day I think so will be tough for Rafa.
Rafa has a lot to improve… his last win was good but he needs to improve literally everything. He has also stepped down a bit in terms of being aggressive with his backhand, which is a bit disappointing. In Rio he was totally crushing backhands , even the DTL backhands. Here, he has gotten safer with it. I hope he can overcome the nerves better now that he has crossed the third round. He needs to unleash his backhand and keep working that forehand!
Lamonf in three.
Rafa Pouille going five. Coin toss depending on Rafa’s confidence.
pouille has just won back to back five setters. it’s surely unlikely he wins 3 in a row. the heat won’t help him if he is tired which he must be.crowd will be heavily for rafa as well.
i am always very nervous for rafa early on in slams now – round 4 is still early on as far as i am concerned but it’s hard to see pouille outlasting rafa over 5 sets.
I’m just concerned for the heat and his confidence. Used to be his strength.
Rafa will have no problems if he plays like he has done in the first and third sets of all his matches last week. If he plays more like he has done in his second sets, could be a bad day. He’s also struggled big time in hot humid conditions this year like against Dzuhmar (sp?).
gosh hawks i am very nervous about rafa’s confidence as well in the early rounds of slams. so much so that i am trying not to invest any emotions until he gets further on and i can start to relax a bit. and i know the problems with the heat – but even so pouille winning 3 five setters in a row is a bit of a stretch. maybe you are scarred by the memory of the five set loss to foggy last year? bet it’s in the back of rafa’s mind somewhere as well…it’s certainly in mine..
yep.
Rafa commented in his post match on court interview that he’s been practicing with Pouille. Of course Rafa complemented him and said it’s going to be tough. Rafa will be ready.
Guessing it will take Pouille almost the entire first two sets to get loosened up. Even if Lucas wins the second or third set, there’s not going to be a miracle 5 set comeback for him. Giving Pouille a set as I did is extremely generous and sort of a nod to his general luck. Rafa in 3 is more likely. But I understand “very nervous”!! Vamos Rafa!
I don’t believe last year’s comeback by fognini was a miracle of any kind.
Rafa simply collapsed and almost any other top 50 player would have done the same against him.
The match is completely on Rafa’s racquet no question.
Keep calm, stay focused, remain confident and fight bravely, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrhDi5LXEAE_cJD.jpg
I think that Pouille can test Rafa, especially if he has any second set lapses again. I also think that Rafa has to serve better in this match. He lost the rhythm on his serve and also had too many DF’s. He cannot afford that heading into the second week.
I do not see this going five sets. I do think that Pouille will come out and play with no pressure and that could mean trouble for Rafa. I am also hoping to see Rafa play more aggressive, hitting the forehand with more confidence and authority and keep hitting his backhand well.
Rafa is capable of working himself into better form with each match. I hope that his wrist holds up and so does his fitness.
I would always bet on Rafa in a best of five set match. As long as his body is okay, I like his chances.
No way this one goes to five! I actually think Rafa is playing better than in Rio! I think he hardly had FH working in Rio and completely relied on hos BHs. Here he is gradually improving and his FH is much better than Rio’s one.
I do expect long points and Pouille hitting hard in the first set to try to outhit Rafa but Rafa will be ready! As long as his wrist is fine Rafa will win this one in 3! I agree Rafa must serve better than in his last match…if Rafa’s serve deserted him he would end up losing a set but no more than that…
Vamos!
Yes, I do think you make some good points about Rafa hitting his forehand better than in Rio. He is definitely getting there and looking more confident with that shot.
I can see Pouille coming out playing aggressive to take it to Rafa. But I think Rafa will be ready.
Monfils in good form. Maybe he is a more dangerous rival than Raonic could have been?
Not rival, dangerous opponent
Rafa vs Lo Monf will be a real fun match if both get there….Monf is almost there…
Monfils through.
Pouille definitely dangerous. He is 22, an age at which physically he is getting better every day. Rafa is 30. Rising star vs aging genius with a suspect wrist?
I will relax ( or not!) after watching the first set to see how Rafa plays.
I think Monfils will give Rafa a match. Of course, rafa must get through Pouille first, which I think he will do. But this Monfils is more focused on playing tennis and not being a circus act. He is playing some of his best tennis now. Monfils never had the mental strength that Rafa had and that was a big disadvantage for him. But I think Monfils is more focused and is now using his considerable athletic gifts. It should be an entertaining quarterfinal match, but I don’t want to get caught thinking ahead.
I’m more worried about Monfils than Pouille. Monfils plays some of his best tennis here. Pouille is inexperienced; Rafa should take care of business today unless he’s physically not well.
Monfils does play well here and the crowd loves him. He seems to get energized from them.
I don’t want to take anything for granted with Rafa, but he should get through Pouille and then I think the first big test will be Monfils.
Rafa can get through anyone including Monfils but the big question mark is his wrist. If that holds up, he will be in the semis.
If he finds his forehand, no one can stop him especially as his backhand too is working. Rafa did not have a great serve even in his best days but he was known for his extraordinary ability to defend his serve. Somewhere I read that he saw the serve as just a way of starting the point. Rafa’s unbreakable serve. He saved so many breakpoints against Nole even at USO 2010 when he was supposed to have a great serve. With all his injuries he has lost some of that super quickness that the young Rafa had so he is not able to chase down every ball. A better serve is needed now especially against good returners like Muzz or Nole but serve was never his weapon. His forehand (fearhand) was his chief weapon. His backhand was extraordinary at AO 2009 but since then the best I saw was at Rio.
He’s physically fine.
Rafa not off to should start here. Rafa down a break. This is what I was afraid of with this guy. He’s come out going for his shots.
3-0 Pouille.
I said Rafa was going to be tested and it may happen in this match.
Sheesh, was I wrong about Pouille coming out slow. That’s some quick recovery time. A beast, maybe.
Come on Rafa!
Rafa is on the board. Maybe he can set me down now.
3-1 Pouille
I meant to say maybe rafa can settle down now.
what is going on? is rafa playing horrible..am working…
i looked at live scores. rafa has won 11 points to 24 points to pouille. that’s dreadful! must be nerves.
Lucas playing well…Rafa playing terrible, missing shots, standing way behind the baseline, no aggression, lousy serve…
thanks natashao. i can’t watch because of needing to work. this sounds awful!
I knew this guy would come out playing aggressive tennis and won’t need much time to get into a good rhythm because he has practiced with Rafa and has dealt with the spins before.
BUT, 5-1?!!!
He is dominating baseline rallies! Rafa needs to find better length on his groundies and SERVE BETTER.
He will have his chances and will work through this gradually..
First time I seeing Lucas play… had just seen some of his practice with Rafa… He has a good game plan too
First BP for rafa…CRUCIAL
Tough opponent today… playing like this against Istomin would still have been enough… wow he thrashed Rafa 6-1 so effortlessly…
SHIT!
Rafa serves first now which is good.. No more lapses please!
Rafa did not win a SINGLE point on second serves! this has to be a record