Rafael Nadal will begin his bid for a third Wimbledon title when he goes up against Francisco Cerundolo during third-round action on Tuesday. In the same section of the draw, Felix Auger-Aliassime could have a tough opener on his hands with Maxime Cressy.
Francisco Cerundolo vs. (2) Rafael Nadal
The only thing that has held Nadal back in 2022 is injury and that is certainly the only way his Wimbledon first-round match could be competitive. When healthy, the 36-year-old Spaniard has been the dominant player on tour this season. He is halfway to the calendar-year Grand Slam following triumphs at the Australian Open and French Open and is 30-3 overall–also with titles at a Melbourne 250 and Acapulco. Nadal is seeking his third Wimbledon winner’s trophy and first since 2013.
Up first for the No. 2 seed on Tuesday is Cerundolo, who is making his main-draw debut at the All-England Club. The 41st-ranked Argentine is not entirely hopeless on grass (3-3 lifetime) and he advanced one round at Queen’s Club before losing to British wild card Ryan Peniston. Cerundolo then dropped his Eastbourne opener to Tommy Paul via a 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 decision. The 23-year-old has proven to be capable of finding success on surfaces other than clay, but nothing suggests he can seriously test Nadal on grass at major.
Pick: Nadal in 3
(6) Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Maxime Cressy
Arguably the marquee matchup of the entire first round features Auger-Alassime and Cressy, who will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers. Auger-Aliassime is deservedly among the title favorites given his quarterfinal run last summer, his overall success at Grand Slams, and his form in 2022. The eighth-ranked Canadian is 30-15 with his first-ever ATP title in Rotterdam, a quarterfinal performance at Melbourne Park, and a fourth-round showing at Roland Garros (lost to Nadal in five sets).
This should be a classic grass-court contest worthy of a second-week showdown between two guys who love the lawn. Cressy serves and volleys more than anyone else on tour and that tactic just carried him to the Eastbourne final, which he lost to Taylor Fritz in a third-set tiebreaker. It would not be shocking if the 45th-ranked American pulls off an upset, but Auger-Aliassime’s experience of Grand Slam success should help him get what could be a very successful fortnight underway.
Pick: Auger-Aliassime in 4
It seems I will have to turn off my tv! Rafa is really starting to piss me off!!!
I can’t watch much more of this either!
I can’t stand it when Rafa’s nerves take over.
Cerundolo is really starting to get on my nerves.
Rafa could easily win this match if he could just relax.
This is very concerning. I may have to stop watching.
WTH is wrong with him. he is missing every shot
Vamoooossss! Love you, Champ! Never give up!
Vamos Champ! 💪💪
I don’t believe it! He did it! What a relief!
Relief here too, I chickened out for a while, got back for the final game.
Will look forward to reading all your, & others, technical comments later. Or maybe there’ll be nothing to say on this one, we’ll allow this one-off. Onwards and upwards.
My recording stopped before the end of the match. So I will have to watch the replay on the tennis channel later.
Maybe this will help Rafa get more comfortable on the grass. His draw has opened up now. As I thought it could, although no one could have predicted players having to withdraw with Covid.
I was worried that the fall might have hurt Rafa’s foot. He seemed to lose the plot in the third set. Rafa seems to thrive on these kinds of matches. I hope it gives him good feelings and confidence moving forward. He has a real opportunity now.
Yeah, I did ask that Rafa not stress me out!! Sigh!!
But I guess that’s the kind of match Rafa needs!
One match at a time, Vamos!!
he changed his racket and then everything started going in? Was a really weird middle portion of the match from Rafa. Anyhow, onto Round 2. Looks like Felix in trouble too.
Yes, Felix is down two sets to one against Cressy.
Felix is out!! Meanwhile Serena can’t seem to keep any of her balls in, sigh!! Rust can really look ugly!!!
There is something about grass that many players can’t seem to manage.
Vamos Rafa!
I had to go get something to eat and when I got back he had won!
It was said to be very windy today. Maybe that bothered Rafa? I only watched the last bit of set 4. Wayyy too nervous to watch it all. May wait until tomorrow and watch the tennis channel replay. I’ll take any commie except Jimmy Arias over JMac. Arias makes me crazy by calling the match he *wants* the players to play, not the one that’s actually on the court. Really, one of the big commentator problems is they think they’re coaches.
Cerundolo is a pretty decent clay courter and will maybe be good on grass eventually. Young, little experience, right?
Great to read all your comments. Interesting about the racket, didn’t see that. Is it for looser tension or what? Yes, the bottom half of the draw had really levelled out very unexpectedly.
On another note, what an absolute joy to listen to Martina and Jo calling the Serena match, they’re both so insightful.
First match in 3 years on grass , fresh grass , unknown opponent never played him .it’s ok ..cut him sum slack .
It’s better to play known players than unknown in Wimbledon first week. He has played berkanis before ,so that’s good
Rafa will move on match by match and find his groove.
If Novak who won the last 2 times he played here struggled yest ,it’s ok for rafa to struggle
Sanju,
I agree with you! First grass match in 3 years and it’s natural to feel a bit out of sorts. I should have realized that he has never played this guy, too. I am relieved that the fall did not hurt his foot.
I thought overall Rafa’s movement was very good. He has to be feeling better after the procedure.
I agree about cutting him some slack. He will do it match by match. I heard that Felix lost to Cressy. So that means Querrey, Cilic, Felix and Berrettini are all gone from Rafa’s draw!
Yes indeed, draws do open up!
😉
Just watched the end of the Felix match and he is out.
Cressy was playing very well and will be very hard to beat.
Serving endless winners. Felix didn’t do much wrong.
When you watch matches like that where both players bomb down countless unreturnable serves you wonder how Rafa can win with his dodgy serve.
But later in the tourney he will play much better.
Berankis next!
Relax Amy ..3 more matches till he faces cressy if he gets there. Lot of time to clean up..
Felix ,cilic ,berretini ,querrey all out. Cilic n berretini to covid
Can a draw open up so much in one day ..every player we worried about is out today ..it’s like too much of a gift
It’s ok sanju! I am quite relaxed as I know Rafa will improve.
Rafa hasn’t played on grass for 3 years and was clearly nervous. Getting through today should give him confidence.
That’s why it helps not to fret too much when the draw comes out. Rafa deserves a break with the draws he has been getting.
This is a real opportunity for him. As for Cressy, he still has to get there to meet Rafa. Rafa will get better in every match and should be ready if it happens.
N he has played him in Melbourne 250 final this year .not totally unknown .he’s a good guy
N fritz n cressy have to cut each other out.
I forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder that he played Cressy. That helps.
So it’s only one who gets through to meet Rafa. Both are good grass court players. But as you said Rafa should be playing better with a few matches under his belt.
Rafa beat Cressy in Melbourne in the final in straight sets.
Btw if Alcaraz reaches the qtrs ,mind you he will give Novak a very very hard time .5 written all over it. Supposedly the grass is really slow this year and lot of rallies
Yeah I can see a five setter. I expect Alcaraz will get there now.
He has to go through Murray no ..won’t be easy
No! Let’s see. One match at a time.
Yeah, I would love to c Murray play Alcaraz, would be a cracker, lol!!
The way the draw has opened for Rafa is just really something else! Hope he makes good use of this opportunity!
Apparently NK spat at people in the crowd he didn’t like.
He really is repellent.
Gosh this boy is an abomination!!!
If he did that he needs to be disqualified!!!!
Rafa says his contact with Matteo was limited. he is feeling fine currently
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjLrSvuw6-8
nadline,
My recording stopped before the end of the fourth set. I have to wait to see the replay on the tennis channel. So again many thanks for posting the highlights.
😍
Super interesting press conference from Rafa re COVID protocols. Especially what happened in French Open. he really needed to be at his diplomatic best. Apparently a lot happened at the French that we dont know about.
atul1985, I watched Rafa’s presser, and he confirmed my suspicion that some players with symptoms prefer not to get tested because they want to continue playing. But it’s news to me that in London even those who test positive are allowed to continue! I don’t know how sick Berettini felt, but I appreciate that the safety of others was more important for him than his ambition. In Germany this would not be possible, because those who test positive, still have to isolate themselves for 5 days. But I also understand that this rule might reduce the willingness to get tested in the first place. A lot of people with mild symptoms prefer to ignore the symptoms and simply sit it out without knowing if they have covid or not.
These Covid protocols r really wild in London! O mean ppl r still dying from this thing! How could they leave testing at the discretion of players?! How on earth will this end well?
Monalisa, I agree! I don’t understand these rules. But while infected people still have to isolate themselves for 5 days in Germany, tests are also not mandatory anymore. Therefore the organizers of events can decide for themselves if they want to demand tests or not.
But there is another huge problem: many infected persons who decide to test themselves because they have symptoms, get a negative result, and they need to test themselves more often or even need to have a PCR-test in order to find out that they are infected after all. The available rapid tests don’t seem to respond well to the new virus variations. And especially the virus load of vaccined persons can be so low that the tests often don’t respond during the early days.
I have the feeling that right now most countries decided to ride this out, because at the moment most infected people don’t get seriously ill.
I should add that infected athlets can jeopardize not only the health of the persons they have contact with, but also their own health if they continue to compete. Playing best-of-five matches which may last for a couple of hours is not a good idea.
Littlefoot, it’s just crazy. I understand they trying to ride it out but when it comes to a tournament it’s best to protect players and organizers. What would be of the tourney if everyone gets sick? And then what happens after? They have to go home to their families and infect them?! Rafa”s wife is pregnant, I doubt she can afford to be exposed!