No. 2 seed and two-time champion Rafael Nadal will be back in Wimbledon action when he goes up against Mikhail Kukushkin on Thursday. Nick Kyrgios and Robin Haase are also aiming for a place in the last 32.
Mikhail Kukushkin vs. (2) Rafael Nadal
Nadal and Kukushkin will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers and for the second time at Wimbledon when they meet again in the second round on Thursday. All three of their previous encounters have gone Nadal’s way, he is 7-1 in total sets, and he has breadsticked Kukushkin on a whopping five occasions. The two veterans most recently faced each other at this same event four years ago, when Nadal prevailed 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-1, 6-1.
Almost no one has been competitive with the Spaniard of late, although that can obviously be chalked up at least somewhat to the fact that the clay-court season just came and went–with Nadal capturing titles in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, and at the French Open. The world No. 1 maintained his fine form in his first official grass-court match of the season, hammering Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 on Monday. Kukushkin advanced by beating Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, improving to 4-1 in main-draw matches on grass in 2018. The 77th-ranked Kazakh defeated Alex De Minaur, David Ferrer, and Kyle Edmund in Eastbourne before succumbing to eventual champion Mischa Zverev in the semifinals. Kukushkin is a capable competitor on this surface, but–as his past woes in this matchup suggest–he does not wield enough power to hit Nadal off any kind of court.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 8-10 games
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(15) Nick Kyrgios vs. Robin Haase
Kyrgios and Haase took similar routes to the Wimbledon second round at the expense of dangerous grass-court players. In a somewhat expected serving duel with Denis Istomin, Kyrgios pocketed the only break of the entire day midway through the fourth set and got the job done 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 6-3. Haase held off Marius Copil 7-6(0), 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(4). The result is their second-ever showdown on Thursday, with Kyrgios having won their only previous contest 6-3, 6-4 on the red clay of Estoril in 2015.
On the opposite side of the draw from Roger Federer and Marin Cilic, Kyrgios is a trendy pick to reach the final–and he just may do it if he can remain healthy. Returns on grass are so far encouraging, as he missed the clay-court swing but got right back in gear to reach semifinals in Stuttgart (lost to Federer in a third-set tiebreaker) and Queen’s Club (lost to Cilic in two tiebreakers). Haase played all three weeks in the buildup to Wimbledon and made second-round exits on all three occasions (to Bernard Tomic in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, to Roberto Bautista Agut in Halle, and to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Halle). Another round-two ouster is likely in the cards, because Kyrgios’ serve should be too big in the pressure moments and Haase is not as skilled in tiebreakers as his result against Copil suggests.
Pick: Kyrgios in 3
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Break points for Rafa.
Yesssss!!!
Yes Rafa breaks! Now he can serve fictge match.
Come on Rafa! Show the naysayers!
Kukuskhin hits hard and flat, this kind of players can trouble anyone with their shots come witb precision. Its no wonder he’s hitting so many winners and Rafa has a hard time dealing with him. Moreover, Rafa hasnt served all that well to start with.
Fedexal
Kukushkin murdered Edmund at Eastbourne a week ago!
Yes, I know . But Edmund is no top player. Kukushkin lost to M.Zverev who could not win a set in his first round. And the player who beat Zverev has lost his second round today.
This is Kukushkin’s 8th Wimby appearence and he has not won 5 matches in all. If that makes Kukushkin a very tall order, then Rafa needs to pick his game up in next few rounds.
Serve this out Rafa!
Novak has the trainer out for a MTO. Uh oh,
Match point Rafa!
Rafa wins!
Yessss!! 💘💘
A win is a win is a win!!!
Well done Rafa, wins in straight sets 🙂
About the time violation when serving, I can only discern that he must have disrupted Kukushkin’s serve somehow.
Are you guys maybe overreacting a bit? He’s about to win in straight sets, 4-3-4!
He struggled much more than this in the early rounds at US Open, and wound up winning the damn thing! For the second round of Wimbledon with no warm-up event, I think he’s looking just fine and will get progressively better as the tournament goes on.
The match ended by the time I finished that comment. Just to clarify, I’m referring to the people who were freaking out thinking Rafa is playing poorly.
He did lose his serve twice, which can be dangerous at Wimbly, although there seem to have been more breaks than usual this year? I’m just going by what I saw of the warm up tournies where virtually every set ended in a tb and I usually fell asleep before they got there.
Kevin,
I agree with you! We should keep in mind that Rafa comes in having not played any warm up tournament. I think he’s looking pretty good considering he only had two exho matches.
It’s bad enough to read that his game is a disgrace on grass. He played great last year in losing to Muller, who had to play the match of his life to win.
Every win will make Rafa feel more confident. It’s okay if he struggles a bit, but still closes it out in straight sets.
And I agree with YOU, NNY! Anyone who tries to claim that Rafa is some sort of a disgrace on grass now, or is in any way awful, that have no idea what they’re talking about… Sure, he’s unquestionably not as good on grass as he was earlier in his career. But let’s not pretend like he’s a total non-factor. He could have made the semis or further last year, but he lost a 5-set heartbreaker to an ultra-inspired Muller who has the type of game that can hurt Rafa on a faster/lower bouncing court.
I don’t care how long it’s been since Rafa made noise at Wimbledon- he will ALWAYS be a contender at all 4 majors as long as he’s still at or near the top of the game. And the same goes for Federer and Djokovic. As long as they’re playing well and are under 40 years old, they will always have at least a shot at winning any of the 4 majors.
These guys are just that great and compete that well, that no matter which major it is, they will always be a factor as long as they are capable of competing at the top. It a very small, exclusive group of players who have been able to dominate at the majors at such a high level, and 3 of them are still active now. 🙂
Speaking of Muller…😢😢
Sorry about Muller, Benny. Nice for Kohlschreiber though. Sometimes you wish they could both win. But I really wish NK would lose! If he’s the future of tennis I’ll take up soccer.
I agree about Kyrgios. He is a boorish best in court. Self-indulgent is a kind way to describe his behavior. I don’t care how talented he is, the guy is beyond obnoxious and should just learn to keep his big mouth shut!
boorish at best?
Yeah, but he needs to improve his serve, ASAP!!! Thats no lie! He wont win if he doesn’t, maybe not even go past the quarters!!! At least he will pick up a few points if he gets to quarters!!
I meant to say a boorish BRAT on court! *
Wow finally in straight sets! Certainly not an easy match, Kukushkin plays well and I’m glad Rafa wins in straight sets.
sorry, time violation when receiving…
Seems like the courts are a little bit slow this year. This is good for Rafa.
5 aces isn’t bad at all for Rafa
Rafa’s second serve aces (2 of them) were really pleasant surprises. Hope he can do that more often.
I dont think Kukushkin played well to be honest. Had he played well this scoreline was more than fine. Rafa losing his serve twice and giving multiple looks is a problem.
Rafa was playing at 50% today. I don’t think he likes to play the first match on the schedule.
He’ll improve on that, the most important thing is to win and in straight sets, that’ll help him conserve some energy.
The grass is slippery at this early stage. I saw Cilic slipped and fell yesterday, Djoko in the previous day and Rafa had a slip in this match. They have to be careful not to get injured.
I agree about Rafa getting better. The goal is to win and get through the first week. He doesn’t need to be at his best now. Hopefully he can play himself into really good form. He’s got the draw to do it and get through the first week.
Agreed he would improve. The worrying part is serve. And now Fed’s draw is wide open, I dont think Fed is going to lose a set before finals.
Oh what a relief! So the player with the disgraceful game on grass will improve! I am SO relieved!🙄
Good one. Do you know any world number 1 in history who lost to no names in 5 out of 6 Grand Slam tourneys he participated to no-names. 4 of them were outside top 100.
I’d love to be contradicted here.
Since you ask, check out Pete Sampras’ record at RG the last several years of his career. I didn’t bother to look up the names he lost to, but he can’t have been losing to big names in 2nd and 3rd rounds, given he was very highly ranked at the time.
And in my book, skipping a major when healthy is somewhat worse than losing in the 1st round.
Ramara,
Thanks for pointing out Pete Sampras at RG. I am not about to dignify that comment. It does not deserve a response.
Fed is skipping major at 35+ . Thanks for bringing up the the second worst example of Fed whose record of consecutive major appearances just got broken now if I am not wrong.
Even if Sampras did lose to no-names(although thewere never 4 no-names outside 100), he considered an awful clay-courter. Rafa’s losses to Darcis, Rosol and Brown in such a short span and against those players who never have a top-10 win in any of the majors meant his performances were well below par.
Fed’s open draw is definitely really good in terms of him trying be as fresh as possible going into the Final. However, it could potentially be a negative for him if he gets to Final having faced no true threats, and then suddenly faces a more battle-tested big gun like Rafa, Djokovic, Del Po, or Kyrgios.
Sure, whoever comes out of the bottom half would have preferred that Fed have to go through a 5-set epic in the semis against Cilic, and be less fresh for the Final. But they will at least now know that Fed will be less prepared for them in the Final.
Any top player would be rather fresh than tested before finals. The top guys are so good that if the other opponent is slightly weary or little off, that make sure they take that extra edge.
Yeah, I agree with you, Fedexal- Federer at his age would unquestionably take being as fresh as possible in the Final despite any potential risk of being unprepared for a top player. If he makes the Final, he is half a decade or more older than whoever he faces in it. In terms of physicality, a 5+ year difference in age might not make as much of a difference when he’s 31 and the others are 26 or younger. But when he’s 37 and the others are 32 and under, that’s a significant difference… So he’s gonna want to be as fresh as humanly possible!
But there’s Raonic who’s serving from a tree! I think Raonic played better than Cilic here, at least more consistent.
Strange thing is, those who won the grass warm up events are not doing well here – Mischa, Coric and now Cilic. I dont understand why.
Raonic is a sleeper. He’s been so disappointing the last twelve months, but this guy will be tough to beat if he starts heating up these next few matches.
how was his quality against Millman?
Add Dzumhur to your list Lucky
Holy crap Dzumhur was in total control up a set and a break vs Gulbis last time I checked! He lost that match? Wow good win for Gulbis!!
As a Fed fan, I would much rather he goes to the finals unscathed by a long battle.
I just have a strange feeling Federer is not winning this this year! Something just makes me feel this way, dont know what it is!
I find matches in Rafa’s half of the draw looking very interesting. Besides Rafa and Djoko, there’re Delpo and Sasha, Kyrgios, Nishikori, Tsisitpas and Shapo. There’s no shortage of good matches though can’t see all of them; just following live scores for most of their matches.
I agree with both Kevin and NNY! People are mostly so harsh on Rafa and his own fans are extremely demanding always asking for perfection from him!
Rafa played well for the second round match on his least favorite surface! Grass has never been kind to his knees and movement on grass is a challenge for Rafa at his age due to his style of play! One can not expect Rafa to transform into big hittter or S&V dude! That’s not what he is! I was actually very pleased the way he handled Kukuskin today especially woth those humid conditions which Rafa can’t stand!
Btw, saying Rafa’s game on grass has been a disgrace is totally unfair considering Rafa’s long and physically and emotionally exhausting clay season every year! At least he showed up and played not opting to skip it Rafa might as well have done the same on grass this year and nobody should dare judging him for that after all the injuries he has suffered throughout his career…
Good job, Rafa! Just keep winning!
Vamos Champ!
It was so funny to hear R0ger defend his skipping of RG! Smh!! It was best he just admit the obvious!! It was almost a disgrace!!
To be fair to fedexal July 5, 2018 at 2:24 PM
He did mean: ‘… for the last five years’ which is kind of true. If not a disgrace at least a major disappointment for him and his fans
Yes, last five years are those that are particularly physically demanding as Rafa isn’t getting any younger you know! And the feature he accomplished to win 11 FOs is pretty amazing, ha? And the one coming at the age of 32! So yeah, pretty damn selfish and irrational of a fan to complain about Rafa on grass! Didn’t hear Fed’s fans complain about Fed skipping the entire clay season! Or for winning just one FO title in his entire career…
Vamos Rafa!
nats,
I am with you all the way! Well said! Rafa lost early due to knee injuries. Now he had to contend with playing after winning at RG a d being older. Rafa could have elected to protect his knees and skip Wimbledon like Fed skipped clay. But he has shown up when he was healthy enough to play and I give him all due credit. He is still here playing and working to get a really good result.
There is nothing disgraceful about either Rafa’s game on grass or him as a player. It’s a very disrespectful thing to say. He had done tough losses, especially last year when he was playing very well. But he is not a quitter!
Vamos Rafa!
Amen!
I understand what your sayinging, but in fairness to Federer, he wasn’t skipping majors either when he was Rafa’s age… That’s one thing that I don’t really understand about criticism of Fed for skipping RG (not saying you are Nats)- by age 36, 99.99% of top players are either not playing a full schedule, or aren’t even playing at all anymore! I think that some people think that, just because the other top players who are half a decade or more younger than Fed aren’t skipping tournaments, that means that Fed shouldn’t get to skip tournaments, despite the fact that he’s at an age where most top players are retired.
I’m not speaking specifically to you, Nats, but I’m surprised by the diehard fans of Rafa and Djokovic who talk as if they are 100% certain that their favorite player won’t be skipping tournaments at Fed’s age, if they’re even still active on tour.
I just wonder, what will said Rafa/Novak fans who are criticizing Fed say if Rafa/Novak do the same thing in 5 or 6 years? It seems like some people forgot to consider this before getting on Fed for doing what most top players do at that age- IF they’re even still playing at all.
And as far as those salty Federer/Djokovic fans who try to claim that Rafa is just not a contender at Wimbledon anymore- they just have no idea what they’re talking about… Personally, I can totally see Rafa getting one more Wimbledon title before he retires! Sure, he might need a certain type of draw for it to happen, but so would Federer if he played RG! And Rafa is still great enough across the board that he could actually win Wimbledon WITHOUT a helpful draw! Once he gets deep into anybod the 4 majors, he is immediately a threat to win it all, no matter who remains in the way…
I was not criticizing Fed for skipping RG. He’s old enough and accomplished enough to do what he pleases. Just saying that not playing is a worse result than playing and losing early.
Yes, and that also goes for not playing due to injury.
Yeah, but y chose to skip RG? Y not the US Open, He has no won there in years. Im not convinced with his reason for skipping RG! Its BS!!! if he had a great chance of winning he would never skip it, and thats what makes me think he is a sore loser!! Hope he does not win the sportsman of the yr award!!
Monalisa, Fed has said many times that playing on clay is bad for his knees since his injury in 2016. His trainer has strongly advised him not to play on it.
He is nearly 37, and this is only the second slam he has skipped voluntarily (he was injured in 2016). It’s clear that this year’s decision had nothing to do with Nadal (I am sure last year’s didn’t, either), because when Fed made his decision this year it wasn’t even a sure thing that Rafa was going to be healthy enough to play the clay season.
Can anyone tell how high humidity is today as compared to other days? If its very high, weather forecast is same for next few days, that means its going to be very hot and humid for the rest of the tourney. Courts would play slow in these humid conditions. Players would not like to play long matches as they could get very exhausting.
They better put Rafa and De Minaur on Centre Court, that match will be awesome. De Minaur has a great all court game and had a huge win over a phenomenal grass courter in Herbert. I love the kid’s energy. I think he will give Rafa a run for his money and surprise some people. Bottom line is that match has fun written all over it 🍿
Is de minaur another kygrios Benny!??
Am nervous!
It’s kind of that same situation actually now that I think about it. 19 year old Aussie who plays well on grass taking on Nadal in the first week. But De Minaur is not nearly as dangerous as Kyrgios imo. He’s dangerous but he doesn’t have the firepower of NK, he is just very solid from the back of the court and gets a lot of balls back. He does hit a flatter ball that suits grass well, but I don’t think he will be able to beat Nadal like Nick did. But I think he will make it interesting for a set or two.
Benny it hasn’t escaped my superstitious mind that rafa lost to kygrios after playing Kukushkin!
Nick has surely far greater firepower??
I mean there can’t be two of them?!
Does he have a big serve?
Totally agree with Benny assessment amy!…De Minaur is good..I like him!…He maybe will give Rafa a stern test in the 1st set…2nd too maybe…But,that bcoz Rafa has never meet him before,therefore as usual Rafa maybe struggle to handle this kid at 1st….But imo,Rafa will give him a precious lessons in the end…
Ok thanks mira!!
So he is no kygrios!!!?? Good!!
😀😀i am watching Delpo! I love Delpo! Wish he wasn’t in rafa’s quarter!!
Mira i don’t like that moya isn’t with rafa at wimby!!!😕
Gosh Lopez is playing rubbish!!
Hahaha..No!..De Minaur is no Kyrgios amy!…he’s only 5’11” amy!..And his serve also not as dangerous as Nicky…
About Moya…yeah!…It’s a shame!…But they’re all already have an agreement that in some tourneys Moya will accompany Rafa..and some it will be Roig..
Yes Kyrgios has much bigger firepower for sure. And De Minaur has a pretty good serve but nothing too special. Shouldn’t be able to hurt Rafa much with it.
No less than half a dozen aces today.
Nope, he’s no Kyrgios. I’d watched his match early this year when he reached SF or final in one of the warm up event before the AO. To me he’s someone like that Spanish guy who played Rafa in his first match at Barcelona this year I think, giving Rafa all sorts of troubles even on clay. I can’t remember his name.
The Aussie boy is a hard hitter and moves well, Rafa will have to be careful and uses all his guile and varieties to give this boy different looks.
I mean he hits hard but not exactly big hitter the likes of Delpo. I think the boy can play well for his age but Rafa can handle a player like him.
Ok that’s good lucky!
Rafa was driving me mad with all the times Kukushkin hit winners into his forehand corner! Is this normal?
Rafa will handle a boy like him in a HEARTBEAT. I mean, I suppose anything is technically possible, but c’mon….
Kevin, you are always the optimist as far as Rafa is concerned 😊
It’s very refreshing and I hope, you are right. Unfortunately I cannot share your optimism as far as Wimby is concerned. If Rafa makes a deep run into the second week he would already exceed my expectations. Rafafans have been hopeful year after year after year now. Especially last year my hopes were high because Rafa played really as well on grass as he hadn’t for years – even against Müller he most certainly didn’t play badly at all. However, this year I’m very skeptical since he doesn’t serve nearly as well as last year. That was already evident at RG. But there it didn’t matter a lot. But you cannot be a serious contender for the Wimby title without a potent serve. If Rafa doesn’t improve drastically, it will sooner or later bite him.
As always I hope that I’m wrong. Soneone said earlier that Rafa’s game at Wimby is a disgrace. Since he won his first two matches comfortably without losing a set, it can hardly be called a disgrace. But unfortunately Rafa eventually lost fairly early in the last few years even when he was playing relatively well…
It was Roberto Carballes Baena
Little foot, my thoughts exactly! His serve, his serve, his serve!!