Rafael Nadal will continue his U.S. Open campaign when he goes up against wild card Thanasi Kokkinakis on Thursday. Nadal is on a collision course for the fourth round with John Isner, who faces an in-form Jan-Lennard Struff.
(WC) Thanasi Kokkinakis vs. (2) Rafael Nadal
Did any player get a better U.S. Open draw than Nadal? In the early rounds perhaps, as Nadal had to go up against a 2018 U.S. Open quarterfinalist right off the bat (John Millman). But the second-ranked Spaniard’s path to the final is friendlier than anyone else’s after he clobbered Millman 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday night. Nadal also had a favorable road–even including the final, in fact–when he lifted the U.S. Open trophy for the third time in his career in 2017. The 18-time major champion has set himself up nicely for more success in New York with a recent triumph at the Montreal Masters followed by rest and relaxation while the rest of the tour slugged it out in Cincinnati.
Up next for Nadal on Thursday is another Aussie in Kokkinakis. Their only previous encounter came five years ago at the Australian Open, where Nadal rolled 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. Kokkinakis was only 17 at the time and projected to be one of the future stars in the sport, but injuries have derailed those plans. Stuck at No. 203 in the rankings, the 23-year-old has played just six ATP-level matches this season–one of those a much-needed 6-3, 7-6(8), 6-7(4), 6-2 win over Ilya Ivashka on Tuesday evening. Kokkinakis has not been on this kind of stage in quite a while and Nadal should put a swift end to the underdog’s short but productive fortnight.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 8-10 games
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(14) John Isner vs. Jan-Lennard Struff
Isner and Struff will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers on Thursday. The head-to-head series is being swept 3-0 by Isner, who cruised past the German 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2 at the 2014 U.S. Open–also in the second round. Their next two meetings, however, required final sets. Isner prevailed 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-4 at the 2016 Vienna event and 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3 immediately thereafter on the indoor hard courts of Paris.
It is safe to say, though, that Struff is a whole different beast now. He is a late bloomer on tour who is enjoying by far the best season of his career at 29 years old. The world No. 37 has won 29 main-tour matches in 2019, including three at the French Open and two in Cincinnati. Whereas last year was Isner’s year in a way, this year seems to be Struff’s year. Isner, a 2018 Nitto ATP Finals participant, reached the Miami final but then was out until Wimbledon due to a stress fracture. Although the 14th-ranked American managed to win the Newport title, he has slumped since. Isner has struggled in tiebreakers of late and there a sure to be at least a couple of those in what will be a huge-serving affair with a confident Struff.
Pick: Struff in 4
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WWW?
Rafa cruises; The Big dawg in 4.
Rafa and Isner
Rafa and Struff
Agree, poor Thanasi Kokkinakis had such a bright future as a teen. Good to see him back and get that first round win over Ivashka.
Rafa in 3 (can’t see Kokk getting 8-10 games)
Bracket pick is Struff. Guessing it goes the distance: 5 sets.
Nadal in 3
Struff in 3
Don’t know how Struff hasn’t cracked the top 30 yet. I’ve got him beating Isner in 5 and Rafa in three over Kokkinakis
Rafa in three; Struff in four.
Keep your mind focused, remain confident and be strong, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EDKhynsW4AYKvYc?format=jpg&name=large
I don’t know any details but according to the USO website, Kokkinakis has pulled out of tonight’s match v Rafa.
I read that he withdrew with a shoulder injury. So Rafa gets a walkover.
Looks like Rafa will get Verdasco next. At least Rafa’s familiar with his game!
Ha! I was one of 4 people who said Isner in 3! Lucky Rafa
Good to see Riske lost. It’s highly unethical to scream after you hit a shot to distract your opponent.
Now waiting for Serena’s inevitable loss against a very talented younger brigade.
Verdasco-Chung has become a real dog fight! Another advantage for Rafa!
Indeed. Chung may well pull this out! Hope he isn’t getting blisters!!
ESPN has become besotted with Cori Gauff. You wouldn’t know anyone else was playing. Even Kyrgios beating up on his qualifier couldn’t draw a smidge of attention.
Cori’s a cute kid and a heckuva young player but I really wish they wouldn’t fawn on her so much. She doesn’t need this kind of attention at her age.
So Chung that is, for Rafa’s R3. Chung is one who just won’t give up, Verdasco was leading in the fifth set but somehow lost the way.
Hi Lucky,
I wanted to ask you something. I saw a training video of Nadal pre Montreal and saw he was changing directions effortlessly on every shot hitting with two hitting partners / coaches. I saw the whole match with Millman and to me he still looks to play the same pattern cross court forehands and wear down his opponents. I find it frustrating that he wont change it and his rallies and match wins are more laboured than necessary and that doesnt seem to change at all. Agreed a lot say he is more aggressive but I dont see its aggressive enough. I dont see that pattern play out with Djokovic who you cant wear down. If he plays more to the corners and change directions with his DTLF, it is not something he cant do but can easily change the dynamics with this matches against Djokovic.
At the moment, I keep hoping Djokovic doesnt reach the finals and Nadal can scrape a few wins to add to his GS tally. But no matter how much a fan I am of Nadal, I cannot not think Djokovic is a better player and plays and changes directions more effortlessly.
Thoughts ?
Hi PK,
Djoko to me is one player who can change directions of his shots better than anyone, and that includes Rafa and Fed. This is something unique to Djoko, just like his almost elastic flexibility and his good balance from both wings (I guess it’s his good balance that makes him change directions so effortlessly at will, helped also by his court position, staying close to the centre of the baseline most of the times).
I doubt Rafa could match Djoko’s ability in changing of directions, and so he needs to put in more efforts to do so. Rafa tends to camp at his BH corner and so he has to run more to cover his forehand corner.
One thing I admire about Djoko is that despite not being a hard hitter, he could hit his shots, both CC and DTL from both wings, with so much depth and precision, and so effortlessly! It’s amazing! I feel both Fed and Rafa have a weaker wing and so they’re not able to do what Djoko could from both wings.
Rafa tends to go CC with both his FH and BH I guess because he doesn’t have a good enough BHDTL shot. His FH DTL is awesome but only hits it when he’s confident enough to do so, and so not too frequently imo.
Thanks for the response Lucky. I havent noticed the camping at the backhand corner as much as you do. All I know is he still is a couple meters away from the baseline and a large percentage of his shots dont land beyond the service line ( even if they have the zing to it). I am not sure I agree he cant change directions as good as anyone. Its more habitual that he naturally sticks to it. He does have a fabulous DTLB. Just that we dont see it often. There are often times you see him hitting his backhand looped and deep down the line or occasionally hard and flat.
The problem is CCF is more neutral to the Djok backhand because Djok knows its going to come in that same pattern for a few and he is ready for it and one hard hit cross court or DTL is going to put Nadal in an uncomfortable or defensive position. I remember 2013 where Nadal was hitting deep like he would on clay. His backhand this year is actually way improved. and as much as I agree he hits the DTLF only when confident, getting into a lead is all thats needed for it even in matches against Djokovic.
Since 2011, Djok got the better of him and Rafa reversed that pattern and now it seems like he cant get dominant enough nor break down Djokovic’s dominance over him.
Well he is hitting 120s avg first serves. Thank God that part has changed this Open. Hopefully he will be in full form as he goes deep into the tournament.
Agree with the comments about Coco, it’s nothing personal, but the media does this to all the “up and coming” players and then if they don’t continue to perform, they’re history. Watched this too many times over the years.
On a side note, ESPN sucks, they spend more time talking amoung themselves when we have matches going on. I;m not watching to hear them talk to each other.
Or to try to keep themselves relevant!
I like Coco and all, but they are really doing their best to make ppl dislike her!!
I am disgusted with the absurd hype about a fifteen year old who is ranked outside the top 100. Here in the states, they even stayed with her match after Rafa’s match started. Then when her match ended, they switched to Rafa. That is just absolutely ridiculous! They are shoving this girl down our throats. She won her second round match and you would think it meant something.
It’s beyond overkill. Maybe this girl will become a good player and succeed in this sport. Bitbste has not done anything to deserve the attention she is getting, I have seen too many young players get hyped early on and then slip into obscurity,
When you stay with a match featuring a young unknown and don’t show a match with one of the greatest players of all time, who has won 18 slams, then there is something very wrong.
I am actually embarrassed to see ESPN lavish so much attention on this girl. Let her develop and get experience and then maybe see what happens.
Here, here, NY!!!
That’s what the media does, put you on a pedestal and very quickly pull you off!!
I wish Coco the best at the Open but plz, baby steps!! Can’t wait to see her match with Osaka! Hope it does not end up being a damp squib!! Sigh!
Mona,
I have nothing against this girl. But I think this is just very premature and really over the top. She needs time to develop and mature and grow as a tennis player. This can all go to her head very easily and that is when trouble starts.
To elevate a second round win against a relative unknown player, is just absurd. At some point these young players who get over hyped, have to face the reality of life on the tour with its ups and downs. There needs to be some perspective. Other players deserve attention, too. But when you give someone all this attention that they have not earned, it can set them up for failure,
I mentioned Jennifer Capriati in an earlier post. It is worth remembering what happened to her. She was heralded as the next great women’s player when she was only 13 or 14. She ended up self-destructing on drugs. It is a cautionary tale that should not be forgotten.
The hype is so nauseating around Gauff. Gauff appears quite high on it right now too. I hope she has someone sane keeping her head from getting too big.
At least they are leaving Andreescu alone for now.