Rafael Nadal will begin his quest for a third Wimbledon title when he takes the court on Tuesday against Thomaz Bellucci. Hasan Murad previews the first-round showdown.
Rafael Nadal is definitely in uncharted territory as he enters this year’s Championships as the No.10 seed, his lowest seeding in a Grand Slam since the 2005 Australian Open. While the 14-time Grand Slam champion is facing unfamiliarity with the current situation, there will be no secrets harbored by his 42nd-ranked opponent, Thomaz Bellucci.
The two lefties have played four times in the past and Nadal has dominated all four meetings without dropping a set. This will be their second battle on the verdant lawns of Wimbledon (Nadal won 7-6(0), 6-2, 6-3 in their first-round clash in 2012) and the dynamics are still heavily-weighted in favor of the Spaniard.
After reaching his fifth Wimbledon final in 2011, Nadal has managed to win only four matches over the past three years at this event. One the bright side, though, the former world No. 1 captured a title on grass as part of his preparation for the upcoming fortnight. He had not accomplished that feat since 2008, when he went on to lift the trophy for the first time at the All-England Club. Nadal was quick to shrug off his quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic at the French Open and played well to triumph in Stuttgart by beating Victor Troicki 7-6(3), 6-3 in the final.
Conversely, Bellucci’s attempt to fine-tune his grass-court game for Wimbledon took an early blow when he lost to Alexander Zverev 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-4 in the Nottingham first round last week. The Brazilian’s career record at Wimbledon stands at a modest 3-4. However, considering Nadal’s struggles throughout the season so far, Bellucci might view this encounter as a golden opportunity to pull off the biggest win of his career and advance to the second round.
Historically, Nadal is susceptible to losing early at Wimbledon but he is a heavy to favorite to win this contest. It will primarily be a baseline duel and the two-time champion can be expected out-hit his opponent with ruthless aggression.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 8-10 games
[polldaddy poll=8954629]
https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/status/615890593760284672
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIweXOMUYAABw2I.png
Crowded stands
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIwhurdW8AAuQKM.png
So popular is Rafa wherever he goes.
have never seen the crowd at wimby quite so behind rafa in an early round match. they really really want him to win and are virtually communicating their nerves if he makes mistakes….
hoping that this huge support may see him through the next round difficult match…
any fans of rafa enough to buy tickets is aware of the year rafa is having,
gosh, now I am writing yet another ‘down’ email, sorry but there it is
am really really NOT looking forward to the match with Brown chloro…
rafa still looks very shaky to me…..
Agreed. His fearhand is now more aptly named for his legions of fans (as opposed to his opponents).
You live for your Rafa put downs don’t you? Enjoy.
I’ll try to say this again, nadline: I think you’ve got us quite wrongly.
I do not cherish at all seeing rafa have such a hard year, all the difficulties, the off days etc, none of it. There is no relish in it for me. I wish he was doing as well with the challenges of the circuit as he did in most of his years. There is no ‘enjoy’ here, no ‘living for’. I simply write some things about rafa’s current state and current year being as realistic as I can.
In this I probably speak for a few other people here. A few others that might appear to you as relishing this etc. but do not. Whenever we write anything of this kind it seems to make you believe we are anti-rafa or just negative people or enjoy it. None of that is the case even if it might seem that way to you, gussie and mary (going by your posts).
Some times it seems surprising to me that this is not all utterly clear. But I think that simply speaks for how deep your feelings for rafa go. It speaks to that, nothing else.
Pax.
Except that my comment was not directed at you. Thanks, anyway.
nadline, it was directed at hawkeye, right? that was clear. I wrote things that I truly believe speak for him and several others, very straightforward things.
Did they make sense to you? Would you perhaps believe that they may be true for me and some others? And I hope you see things are not any kind of criticism, just trying to clarify where many of my posts about rafa (and those of others) come from …. that you seem to take the wrong way. Is all.
Only hawkeye goes out of his way to be nasty about Rafa. He refutes anything said in Rafa’s favour and endeavours to prove that he has nothing going for him.
Only nadline10 and augusta08 go out of their way to be nasty about other posters (e.g., “You live for your Rafa put downs don’t you? Enjoy.”).
They endeavour to prove that some posters have nothing going for them.
“He refutes anything said in Rafa’s favour”
Nadline BS meter: No. I said if he gets to the 3rd round, he will win the 3rd round. If he beats Muzza, he will reach tie final.
But you only deal in absolutes and only see what fits into your world.
Nothing going for him, right. Even though I’ve called him the most successful tennis player and greatest player of all time.
Whatevs nadline. Your posts are hilarious!!! Keep ’em coming.
Look Boss!!! Da plane!!! Da Plane!!!!!
nadline10 says:
“Look hawkeye, you seem to get your kicks out of denigrating Rafa. The good thing is Rafa doesn’t know or care what you think, but if it makes you feel good, then go for it. It’s free fun for you and it probably makes you sleep better at night .”
Only nadline10 goes out of her way to be nasty about other posters. She endeavours to prove that some posters have nothing going for them.
Tooooo funny.
You live for your Tenngrand poster put downs don’t you?. Enjoy.
Look hawkeye, you seem to get your kicks out of denigrating Rafa. The good thing is Rafa doesn’t know or care what you think, but if it makes you feel good, then go for it. It’s free fun for you and it probably makes you sleep better at night .
This is the very perception … of yours, nadline… that I wrote about. Not because hawkeye needs me to write on his behalf, of course not. Simply because for a long time the posts here go round and round due to this misunderstanding. If posters here say anything not rose-glasses-colored about our mutual favorite player then it is taken as a put down.
You live for your Tenngrand poster put downs don’t you.. Enjoy.
No I don’t.
His forehand simply was subpar today.
But you definitely enjoy putting down any poster that dares to disagree with your verison of Rafa.
You recently said that you have to learn to live in a world about Rafa. That is a more condemning statement on Rafa’s potential to get his game back than anything I’ve ever said.
Hilarious @potline10
This is the main reason we are not doing our biannual pilgrimage to Montreal to see if Rafa can defend his title there this year.
Extremely popular. Second most popular player on tour today. (Third of all time.)
who’s the third one apart from roger and rafa?
This site is acting up. All replies are appearing at the bottom of the thread.
Agassi IMO. Hugely popular. Borg was up there too but not universally the way Agassi was loved.
No strike that. I just posted at the bottom and it appeared above!
https://tenngrand.com/2015/06/29/wimbledon-r1-preview-and-pick-nadal-vs-bellucci/comment-page-2/#comment-202749
chloro says:
June 30, 2015 at 7:39 pm,
—it might seem that way to you, gussie…—
=============================================
I am wondering what’s wrong with YOU that YOU are always “misunderstood” ?!
June 30, 2015 at 8:27 pm
—Only nadline10 and augusta08 go out of their way to be nasty about other posters—
=======================
.
That’s only YOUR main business on this site!
Case in point.
chloro says:
June 30, 2015 at 7:52 pm,
—Not because hawkeye needs me to write on his behalf.—
==========================
.
Sometimes I have had a feeling that you are the same person, you have been trolling together.
That’s only YOUR main business on this site!
augusta08 says:
June 30, 2015 at 8:50 pm
—Sometimes I have had a feeling that you are the same person, you have been trolling together.—
==========================
That’s only YOUR main business on this site!
augusta, you may be on to something.
Sometimes I have had a feeling that you are the same person, you have been trolling together.
Rafa’s post-match interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLxnMl_g-CI
Murray is acting like a prima donna thinking it’s an affront for his opponent to break him, firing 4 letter words at the change over. There was still no action taken by the umpire.
did you hear one of the british commies going on and on about rafa’s slowness??
double standards rule ok, no??
ok for kygrios to swear and issue disgusting insults……so much for fair play…..
he’s not wearing his party shorts for W? I don’t see the shiny stuff on the side.
The party shorts won’t be allowed at Wimbledon.
not even with a shiny silver/white stripe? 🙂
Jeu Nadal says:
June 30, 2015 at 3:53 pm
—he’s not wearing his party shorts for W?—
=========================
.
Actually, Rafa IS wearing party shorts:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIwtKoyVAAAiGyZ.png
aahhh. I see! thank you Augusta!!
Bodo writing that Rafa’s forehand was in ‘lethal’ form this match. what is that guy on?
have the fumes from his own mad writing finally addled his brain….?!
call me cynical, but perhaps to better damn Rafa if he falters
yeah could be….!!
rafa’s forehand is about as lethal as a popgun at the moment….no way can he pull the trigger when he really needs to…..
No, Bodo is not on anything. OK, not all of his F/Hs were successful but that’s not to write the rest of them off. Rafa looked better than Nole and Andy. Neither of them had a walk in the park.
Bellucci is not Kohlschrieber nor Kukushkin (the latter of which took a set off an admittedly healthy Rafa at Wimby last year and the former who knocked Rafa out of Halle in straight sets in 2012).
Bodo has never been a fan of Rafa. I stopped reading his blogs a long time ago, but sometimes people here post links to them. But I really try not to read him at all. He has never gotten Rafa, never has, never will.
Bouchard loses again. Her ranking will plummet now.
I looked at the score and came here hoping to read some positive comments. However all I read is load of negativity about his sub standard play. Not blaming you guys, just saying.
I did not see the match, hence cant comment.
Rafa beat Bellucci in 2012 and then lost to Rosol in 5 in 2012..just saying :-)..
ha ha sanju..thanks for reminding us of that one…as if we needed anything else to make us nervous…!
PS sorry exaggerating a bit because i was taking the piss out of Bodo and his mad pronouncements…..!
Bodo has and always will be an idiot. Also he’s huge fedole fan.
Sanju,
This coming from the person who was always trashed for being so pessimistic? Watch the match and then come here to give your thoughts.
Rafa played decent, not great but he didn’t have to against Bellucci. He needs to work on his serve and he even said that in his post-match interview. He got the win, but will have to play better against Brown. I have already said that I believe in a best of five format that Brown cannot hang with Rafa.
Amy, don’t worry, Brown wil have to do it in 5 and I dont see his skinny legs getting him that far!!! Browm might make some noise, no doubt, but thats all it will be, noise!
ha ha Mona..thanks for your reassurance! i so needed that….
hope his skinny legs snap…(not seriously…just a metaphorical snap for 2/3 hours)
They can’t get away from Rafa; even Murray is citing Kukushkin taking a set off Rafa last year as justification for his tough match against him. Every Rafa loss is tattooed on their brain. Rafa must be the most talked about and iconic player of all time.
Nadline, a huge chunk of the tennis world is so happy that Rafa is in a funk!!! It just goes to show how much of a rash Rafa was on tour!!!!……lol!!!!
Vamos Rafa, cant wait to see you bring out the bull in you!!!
Yep. Kuku is a better grass player than Syd Bellucci.
Why don’t these people give up. Now on discussing Hasse, Murray’s next opponent, his credentials are taking Rafa to 5 sets in 2010. One minute they are writing Rafa off the next minute they are using him as their yardstick.
nadline10 says:
“Look hawkeye, you seem to get your kicks out of denigrating Rafa. The good thing is Rafa doesn’t know or care what you think, but if it makes you feel good, then go for it. It’s free fun for you and it probably makes you sleep better at night .”
Only nadline10 goes out of her way to be nasty about other posters. She endeavours to prove that some posters have nothing going for them.
Too funny.
June 30, 2015 at 8:29 pm,
—… her way to be nasty about other posters—
=================================
–
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIzQcDgXAAAZMzy.png
What?
nadline10 says:
“Look hawkeye, you seem to get your kicks out of denigrating Rafa. The good thing is Rafa doesn’t know or care what you think, but if it makes you feel good, then go for it. It’s free fun for you and it probably makes you sleep better at night .”
Only nadline10 goes out of her way to be nasty about other posters. She endeavours to prove that some posters have nothing going for them.
Too funny!
Bodo’s gone totally nuts! rafa’s forehand was lethal in that match? damn….
extraordinary comment no?? don’t know what bodo is smoking, as i mentioned above maybe the fumes from his own mad prose have been his undoing…..
what did he say
vr, just replied to you but will come through as anon….! as forgot to put in details..
is rafa going to beat brown? i am feeling very nervous about that match…the crowd is hugely pro-rafa this year so hope that will pull him through…
Amy..match is tomorrow..why are u so nervous from yesterday ? ;-)..
I don’t know why anyone would quote or read Bodo. He’s worthless. Tignor is better when it comes to understanding Rafa, but I haven’t read him in a while either. I am trying to stay away from online blogs about Rafa. I want to stay in my little cocoon and just keep focused on Rafa one match at a time!
Had a busy day today and only now checked the score, so glad our boy won…He will beat Brown, I’ve no doubt. Vamos!
Murray, Nadal and Federer unfazed by rising Wimbledon temperature
Murray said: “I don’t really want to get into that. Because the points are much quicker [at Wimbledon], you don’t feel it as much.
Nadal found it “difficult to think about a better day to play tennis at Wimbledon” and Federer, cool as ever, looked like the heat wouldn’t even make him break sweat.
“In Australia, we’ve had some moments. But here, in Europe, seriously, on clay, grass, problems never come,” Federer said. “[When] we have concrete underneath, on the side of you, the sun beating down, it gets rough.
“That’s why the Australian Open has almost done the rule, I want to say more for the fans I feel like almost, and the officials and the ballboys and the linesmen and spectators rather than us.
“We can play through these kind of conditions because we’re used to it.”
http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/story/_/id/13176190/murray-nadal-federer-dismiss-notion-men-heat-rule-wimbledon
Rafa says:
“Good backhands and the forehand always is ok and the forehand needs to be a little more aggressive for the next (round).”
Preach it Rafa.
#RealWorld
Yes, that was Rafa’s assessment of his game in his first match. I said during the match that I thought he was hitting his backhand more consistently than his forehand and vamosrafa agreed.
Rafa knows what he has to do and that’s a good thing!
RastaMan is coming! Selassie! Rastafari! Rafa will be toast. Or ganja smoke when the match is done.
Such insights are to be expected from the intelligence of a closet fedbot fanboy.
He claims to lead such a busy fulfilled life but still finds the time in his day to troll the ordinary people.
Hilarious!!!
You and I both know Rafa is shitting himself at the prospect of losing to the Rasta. C u after the match suckers.
What did your mother do to you.
Sad little fedbot troll. Can’t be more creative than that?
Too funny!
you know what filter…i reckon that your moniker stands for the filter in your brain which stops it working….(or is it the ganja…?)
that’s enough
Yeah, I guess filter comes here to have his kicks!
When Rafa wins, this guy is nowhere to be found.
[polldaddy poll=8958610]
Video by Wimbledon: Rafael Nadal First Round Press Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmknzqImIrY
Say it loud, say it clear, Rafa’s forehand WAS lethal even though he missed one or two.
You get that F/H working 100% Rafa and everyone will sit up and know you mean business.
#be consistent
#be brave
#Vamos