Expert picks are back for the second week at Wimbledon, where quarterfinal action takes place on Wednesday. Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Roberto Bautista Agut have respective matchups against Sam Querrey and Guido Pella. The Grandstand’s Ricky Dimon and Cheryl Murray along with Mert Ertunga of Mertov’s Tennis Desk make their picks.
Sam Querrey vs. (3) Rafael Nadal
Ricky: I was wrong about Nadal vs. Nick Kyrgios, in that an absolute beatdown was forecasted. It turned out to be what is still the best match of the tournament. But Querrey isn’t Kyrgios; at least he’s not an Against-Nadal-Kyrgios. The 6’6” American will be somewhat competitive, for sure, as he has been broken only once through four rounds and is making his third quarterfinal appearance in the last four Wimbledons. But other than in round two, Nadal has been destroying people. Querrey, on the other hand, is coming off a tough fourth-rounder against Tennys Sandgren–a grass-court result that is less than encouraging, it has to be said. Nadal in 3: 6-4, 7-6(5), 7-5.
Cheryl: Ordinarily, I would surmise Querrey’s chances against Nadal as “slim.” But the American is playing some really good grass-court tennis this fortnight and Wimbledon is where Querrey is at his most dangerous, so a routine victory for Nadal is not a foregone conclusion. That’s not to say that a Nadal win isn’t highly likely. The Spaniard is playing magnificent tennis, seemingly buoyed by his second-round revenge win over Kyrgios. If Querrey serves well he could snag a set (or even two), but it’s hard to imagine him playing well enough to dispatch the world No. 2. Nadal in 4: 7-5, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.
Mert: This is a solid test for Nadal, one that should provide for a close match but one that he should slip by at the end of the day. Querrey has won all of his service games but one (71 out of 72). He will probably only lose his serve once against Nadal, too (ok, maybe twice), but that shall be too many because he is unlikely to break Nadal’s serve. Nadal is quite successful, too, in this category (56 out of 59 service games held). On the other hand, Querrey is at the bottom of the pack out of the eight quarterfinalists in terms of return games won with an alarming 18 percent (13 out of 72). The Spaniard needs to keep a high first-serve percentage to avoid Querrey blasting returns for winners (whether he will make them consistently or not, that is another story). I believe there will be one or more tiebreakers, and if the underdog can steal one (or two) this could go to five sets, but a four-setter sounds more realistic to me. Nadal in 4: 7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 7-6.
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(26) Guido Pella vs. (23) Roberto Bautista Agut
Ricky: Bautista Agut has benefited from a favorable draw, but who cares? He has been awesome the whole, and he at least destroyed No. 10 seed Karen Khachanov during the first week. The Spaniard is 12-0 in total sets and only Khachanov managed to even force a single tiebreaker. Pella is making a quick turnaround after coming back from two sets down to stun Milos Raonic in a thrilling five-setter. It has been an incredible run for the Argentine, but it likely ends here. RBA is on fire, and outside of the Big 3 there may be no one on tour better at completely taking out an opponent’s legs. Bautista Agut in 3: 7-6(6), 7-5, 6-1.
Cheryl: Pella may have had the most impressive first four rounds in the entire men’s draw. He not only stunned 2018 finalist Kevin Anderson in the third round, but he also came back in the round of 16 to take out the 15th-seeded Raonic. The Argentine isn’t exactly a Wimbledon specialist, either. He’s played three other times, with a pair of first-round exits and a third-round result to show for his efforts. RBA’s first-week run wasn’t quite as impressive as Pella’s, but was close. He ousted Khachanov and then clobbered Benoit Paire on Monday. RBA has a 2-0 record over Pella and the Spaniard’s matches have been far more routine. Pella will fight hard, but RBA should come through his quarterfinal. Bautista Agut in 4: 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Mert: Can Pella pull another one again? More importantly, does he have enough stamina left to take out a player who will surely not go down without a battle? You don’t win easy matches, nor do you get to win points short-cut points against Bautista Agut. You win, but you will suffer. Or he outlasts you, out-rallies you, and exhausts you. Pella has his hands full. RBA is the only player in the quarterfinals not to have lost a set. He will continue that streak today after a close first set. Bautista Agut in 3: 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.
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Layhani threw him with the time violation warning. He can get lost!! If it was Nick he would have given him a pedicure.
This is going to be hell on my nerves. Rafa picked the wrong time to serve poorly.
Yes but Layhani shouldn’t.have given him the warning at that point serving for the set.
Yeah, but he takes too damn long to serve!! Look how well he served in beginning of 2nd set!! Sometimes he needs the warning!!!
Did the crowd applaud when he was slapped with warning?
amy,
I agree.
At least he won the set without having to play a TB. But he should have just served it out the first time.
They said it’s very humid there today. Rafa’s shirt is drenched.
He’s drenched because he’s nervous against a big server! Rafa seems not having much confidence in his own serve imo.
NNY, Rafa is always like that when serving for set! He’s fast becoming like those low ranked players who lose their serve while serving for set against the TOP players.
lucky,
I was too nervous and I stopped watching. But since Rafa was holding his serve easily up until then, it does seem as though nerves got to him.
But the ESPN commies did say that it’s not all that hot but very humid today. Rafa tends to sweat profusely in humid conditions. But I will not disagree with you about nerves playing a part, too.
Ok I am not seeing great comments on here other than learning he won the first set. I will give it time and come back on here later. Good luck guys!.
Hopefully he loosens up and plays better..
2 break points for Rafa!☺
Yes! Break!☺
That’s what I want to hear Amy. Come on.😊
Stay with us PK!☺
I am. But not watching. Give me the good news
Rafa playing better now and holds easily
No, Rafa held serve easily and even broke Querrey’s serve at the beginning of first set but he tightened up when serving for the set and created a mess out of it. He’s fortunate that he need not go to a TB in the first set.
I hope there’s no repeat of set one in the second, and Rafa holds serve till the end! Come on Rafa!!
He seems to be unsettled a bit! Maybe its the humidity, lol! Cant play like this against Roger or Novak!
Sloppy again! Get a grip Rafa!
So sloppy. 2 break points Querrey.
Saved.Another sloppy shot. Deuce. Game point again. Finally Rafa holds. God this is such hard work!
Every service game of Rafa is such a torture! Why is he serving so poorly from end of first set onwards? He’s having too much respect for Querrey’s serve and FH imo. Another messy service game!
Oh god. Its torture even waiting to read comments on here. Did have a feeling he would save and hold. Am outta here for now. Will check back in later.
Why is Rafa not using his FH DTL when Querrey is camping at the BH corner? Make Querrey run, Rafa!
Some very odd shot selections
Rafa getting into Sam’s service games a lot! 2 break points☺
Rafa breaks!!!☺
Double break against Querrey serve shouldn’t be sniffed at
Nope! Did u see Rafa’s record at majors when leading 2 set up? 305:1! Lost to the Fog at US Open, sigh!
He definitely needs that insurance break, lol!
Rafa takes the second set 6-2☺☺
Super!. Cudnt resist coming back and that’s welcome news Amy. We are a bunch of nervous wrecks 🤣🤣
Rafa breaks first game PK! ☺
Amy. You are the gift that keeps on giving 😊
Double break Rafa PK!☺☺
Wow.. just wow.. now I am watching live scores… And hopefully watch his interview soon. Thanks Amy
40-15 and still not holding. Smh
Rafa should try not hitting with much pace to Querrey; Querrey seems unable to handle variation of pace in the shots.
Fed just finished off Kei in four sets, as expected, in two hours and 36 mins. .
Nadal serving up a beatdown!!
Querrey saves break point. Deuce. Sam holds.
Rafa holds to love☺
Fed will beat Rafa, IMO.
Not sure on this one. Too tight a call.
I don’t think so. Nadal had lost only 1 semi-final match (last year against Djokovic with under roof). There are 2 factors against Federer: stamina and floor. This friday will be a clay game.
If Rafa continues to mess up his own service games, then he’ll have a hard life vs Fed; even if he Beats Fed to reach the final, he’ll have a bigger problem if he faces Djoko in the final.
TBH, I don’t think Rafa is playing well in this match; it’s because it’s Querrey across the net, who basically doesn’t have much to offer except for his serve. If it’s Pella for example, Rafa will definitely be sweating even more and having a hard time beating him.
Rafa is fortunate not having to go to TB especially in the first set; he made a mess out of it while serving for the set; Fed or Djoko won’t give him much chances should he mess up like that.
Rafa wins! Not at his best but winning in straights against a big server is a fine achievement☺
Yes! Vamos!! 💪💪💪
Vamos Champ!
Yay! Congratulations all Rafans. Hopefully he plays better in the semi..
He will PK!!
Indeed!!