Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will be part of the year’s greatest day in tennis–the second Monday at Wimbledon. The multiple Wimbledon winners are heavy favorites against unseeded opponents Jiri Vesely and Karen Khachanov.
Jiri Vesely vs. (2) Rafael Nadal
Nadal reaching the second week at Wimbledon is never a foregone conclusion. The world No. 1 was 7-for-12 in such efforts and 2-for-5 in his last five appearances heading into this fortnight. But an early exit hasn’t been–and may not be–in the cards this time around, as Nadal is just as good if not even better with age at 32 years old. Coming off his 11th French Open title, the Spaniard has improved to 33-2 for the season following straight-set victories at the All-England Club over Dudi Sela, Mikhail Kukushkin, and Alex De Minaur.
Up next for Nadal on Monday is a second career contest against Vesely, who lost their only previous meeting 6-4, 7-6(2) on the red clay of Hamburg in 2015. Grass obviously gives the 6’6” Czech a much better chance, mainly because of the man on the other side of the net but also due to his own prowess on the green stuff. Vesely is now 10-4 lifetime in main-draw action at Wimbledon and this is his second trip to the second Monday. The world No. 93 earned his spot in the last 16 by defeating Florian Mayer, Diego Schwartzman, and Fabio Fognini, surrendering sets to Mayer and Fognini in the process. Vesely’s lefty serve and backhand slice are effective on grass, but despite his frame he is not the kind of player who is going to blast Nadal off the court and take the racket out of his opponent’s hands.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 11-14 games
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Karen Khachanov vs. (12) Novak Djokovic
Djokovic’s comeback has been a roller-coaster ride in 2018, but he has been able to get up for the Grand Slams. The 21st-ranked Serb has now won at least three matches at all three of the majors; he has accomplished that feat in just two of his other seven appearances. Of course, Djokovic has been good just about everywhere of late–with a 15-3 record in his last 18 matches and trips to the Rome semifinals, the French Open quarters, and the Queen’s Club final during this stretch. The 12-time slam champion punched his ticket the last 16 by disposing of Tennys Sandgren, Horacio Zeballos, and Kyle Edmund, donating only one set to Edmund along the way.
The second Monday will see Djokovic go head-to-head with Khachanov for the first time in their careers. Khachanov’s place in round four was earned in far more difficult fashion, as he held off David Ferrer in four sets before beating both Marcos Baghdatis and Frances Tiafoe in five. The 40th-ranked Russian trailed Tiafoe by two sets to love on Saturday before storming back for a 4-6, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-1 victory. Khachanov is now 8-2 in his last 10 matches with a fourth-round performance at Roland Garros and a quarterfinal showing on the grass courts of Halle. Some bad news for the 22-year-old, however, is that he has never advanced past this stage of a major and he is 0-7 lifetime against former Grand Slam winners.
Pick: Djokovic in 4
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Congrats Rafa!! And all Rafa fans!! Woohoo, were into the quarters!!
Vamos!!
So happy for Rafa, into the QF now, for the first time since 2011!
One mental hurdle overcome! Onward we go Rafa! VAMOS!
Yes Rafa! In the quarterfinals! Bring it on!
😀
High five nny!!!😀😀
amy,
Yes! High five to you, too! It’s great to see Rafa back where he belongs!
So happy!
😍
Yes it’s wonderful nny!!😀😀
Rafa hit 37 winners and 12 ues!!
And aces? How many, lol!! I think 9!
Really mona! Bring it on!!
Delpo won first set t ie break!
YEESSSSSS!!WOOOHOOO!!…QF!HERE WE COME!!
Btw….With that win,Rafa officially squashed our fears about his nervousness at Wimby this year!…No worries about his nervousness anymore amy!…They’re almost not exist!!…Oh Thank u God!!…Now,Rafa can face anybody with high confidence..That’s for sure!!Wooohooo!!
You were right and I was wrong mira!! Hooray!!!😀😀
High fives!!
Hehehe….Hoooraaayyyy amy!!Wooohoooo!!…
And DelPo also not looking good it seems…I like Rafa chances when he meet him later…
I love delpo mira! But I hope he has to play a long match!
Oh yess amy!…me too!!
Now I can say it: Congrats to Rafa fans – it’s good to have Rafa back in the QF!
Not good for Nole’s chances but first things first: Khachanov.
Go Nole!!!😀
Great win for Rafa! 9 aces, 37 winners and only 12 UEs if I am not mistaken! Almost perfect match for Rafa except for the brief loss of concentration in the third set when he got broken! But the order was soon after restored for Rafa to break back! Excellent match! Bravo Rafa!
Vamos Champ!
well rested for when his tournament really begins in the QFs. First four rounds were warmup opponents.
Ricky, same for Roger, and for him warmup extends up until semis!
Hey, Rafa seems to pick up steam ☺!
Isn’t Jiry a very tall big hitter from an East European country – just the sort of player who is supposedly dangerous for Rafa?
And it’s the first time this season that Rafa actually gains some points. So far he only lost or defended points. So, this is very good news!
Yes, yes he is, as all Fedfans have pointed out. However, he’ll now be that low ranked loser who sneaked into the round of 16 somehow just to make life easier for Rafa.
Now the move not to play Queens looks very good. Rafa would still be relatively fresh. Had he played Queens , he would have been dead tired. I think Rafa camp took the same gamble last time, they were unlucky Rafa was playing good but ran into Muller and lost a nail-biter. So they thought that they would go with the same approach especially as Rafa had a more tiring Roland Garros this time around and would take 7-8 days full off.
I thought overall apart from one bad service game and little defensive tennis in the end , Rafa should be happy overall with the match. Rafa has not been forced to go to 7 in any of his matches of the 12 sets he played.
Good job Rafa.
I love delpo! I wish rafa didn’t have to play him!😕
Nole is playing with a lot of freedom and confidence! He’s becoming very dangerous again. I don’t see nishi beating him..
Agree with you. I thought KNish did very well to take Gulbis down but I’m afraid he still has some fitness problems. Well, let’s hope he and Delpo have a nice and good looonnggg match, lol!
But Vamos Rafa!!! He prepared as well as he could and played the right way. So happy for him and us! I expect he’s cooking and resting and watching soccer now. :=)
So happy ramara!
Delpo and Simon are about to play another tiebreak!
Also Nole lost his serve! He does make these ues now but I bet he won’t if he plays rafa!
Vamos!!
No Soccer today!
I’m home now… just in time to watch Nole take the first set.
And it’s the split screen so if I squint real hard I can sort of see both matches. Delpo in another TB.
Oh Nole isn’t terribly sharp so far. How did he get the first set? Khachanov playing terrible?
How is DelPo playing ?
good until the second set breaker. Breaker was terrible.
Karen makes too many mistakes! As usual!
Vamos Delpo! He’s got 2 sets now.
I don’t know which match to watch.
Delpo Simon for sure
Yes, that’s my pick.
There isn’t much suspense in the other match.
Both Simon and Djoko are trying to grind down their opponents even on grass. The matches are a bit boring, not much varieties.
I can’t stand Simon, he had all the opportunities to move forward to shorten points yet he just stayed at the baseline and grind and grind, I pity Delpo, was dragged into a grinding war with Simon even on grass!
Khachanov is truly one dimensional, half the time he doesn’t no where Djoko is going to hit to, there’s just not much variety in his game. It’s time for his coach to help him add in some new dimensions to his game, if not he may turn out to be another Berdych.
If he turns to Berdych , he will be happy. Karen is a poor player honeslty.
Well, I love Simon and Delpo, so it’s not boring to me. And of course I want Nole back to playing his best — so I’m watching him. I think he’s incredible at his best. Love watching him but right now…I don’t see him at his best. There’s a loss of power, speed and confidence about his game right now.
Even so, he should beat Karen.
He will beat Khachanov but this Djoko is just grinding his way around and through matches, against Edmund, he was also grinding to a win.
There’s something missing in his game, it’s like he’s lacking in his usual power and precision, is relying on his guile and experience to win his matches.
Yeah…Simon has perhaps ground down Delpo enough to at least take the third set.
Love how light on his feet Gillou is. He’s also got tremendous endurance – well at least better lungs than Delpo.
Again, strange to see both Novak and Delpo matches develop as they were playing on clay. Simon doesn’t know better but Delpo should not allow getting into long rallies…as it currently stands match cancellation will be good for Delpo since he is behind in the third set…
I think DelPo got a physical problem…It seems his leg @ groin?He stopped chasing the ball a while ago…Did u guys see it too?
He’s just won 3 games in a row mira!!
Calm down amy!…No need to be angry with me…Hehe..My TV commentator[from Sky Sport/BBC..not sure] said the same thing..He said DelPo carrying some injury which he too don’t know what about?So,it’s not just me amy…
RC…Yeah i know about DelPo’s tired/lazy appearance..It’s his trademark..Btw…Heat so bad in Boise atm?Ermm…i still remember how u said u hate the heat last year….Good thing there’s an aircond in your apartment yeah?And it’s going to stay hot until october?
I wasn’t cross mira!!
Play suspended so Delpo has to play tomorrow! That’s a big advantage to rafa! Hope they play another 2 sets!!😀
Rafa can beat Delpo if they meet. Rafa is playing better tennis than Delpo is playing now.
Rafa has more weapons than Simon so he need not grind down Delpo to win.
I think Rafa should beat Del Po if they meet. Especially now that Del Po will have to play at very least a set tomorrow.
I don’t know, MA. Delpo most of the time appears tired, sluggish or winded. And he can still hold serve and get back on serve if he loses it.
Simon isn’t at his best. None of these guys I’m watching are lol
Maybe I’m just cranky — it’s over 100F outside. I can’t stand the heat.
Hopefully all the matches can finish today. I hope Kei is physically ok too as I want to see a Kei/Djoko rematch like that Rome encounter.
Kei is playing well now and it’ll be a shame if hes hampered by injuries.
That’s the story of Kei’s tennis life though. He is so good but by now he’s probably pulled something.
Oh !@#$, Simon won a set while I wasn’t looking lol. Sneaky Simon knows when to pounce. His prey was suffering.
Is DelPo-Simon suspended ?
Yeah
yes.
Oh, so Simon won the third set and the match is suspended for another day. It may be better for Delpo as he looks tired.
I think Delpo will win the fourth set tomorrow being physically fresh, hes the better player of the two imo.
Agreed. Delpo needed this break! He looked exhausted out there! No wonder after having to go through long grueling rallies with Simon which is exactly Simon wanted…Delpo will win tomorrow…I actually like both guys! But Delpo is certainly a better player..
Del Po better hope that he can quickly win that 4th set tomorrow and be done with it, otherwise it’s going to be serious advantage Rafa in the QF. I mean, I already consider Rafa the slight favorite in that match, so Del Po can’t afford to be dead tired.
Delpo has to finish it in 4
So Kei vs Nole. Two of my favorites. I didn’t see Kei play today. May the stonger man win. Nole isn’t full speed. Maybe Kei isn’t either after his match vs Gulbis.
It;s all setting up nicely for Rafa.
Glad Raonic and Isner are playing each other.
third comment: why?
For me, it’s because they both make for boring servebot tennis so, by meeting, they only spoil one match and only one can advance.
#CaptObv
Djokovic looked great against Khachanov. If he isn’t at full speed, he’s pretty close to it.