On the heels of a brilliant clay-court swing, Rafael Nadal will make the surface transition to grass when he meets John Millman on Monday at Wimbledon. Denis Shapovalov and Jerzy Janowicz are also in action.
(4) Rafael Nadal vs. John Millman
Each of Nadal’s two Wimbledon titles (2008, 2010) has come immediately following a French Open triumph. The second-ranked Spaniard is hoping that summer lightning strikes three times, as his impressive 2017 campaign is already highlighted by a 10th Coupe des Mousquetaires. Nadal was particularly dominant in Paris this time around, refusing to lose even a single set the entire way despite facing two-time Roland Garros semifinalist Dominic Thiem and 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in his last two matches.
Up first for Nadal on Monday is Millman, whom the 15-time Grand Slam winner has never faced. Due to major hip problems, the 28-year-old Australian is down at 137th in the rankings and did not play a single match this season until late May. He has contested only one ATP-level match in 2017 (a four-set French Open loss to Roberto Bautista Agut) and followed that up with a trio of setbacks in the second rounds of grass-court Challengers. Millman should win at least a handful of games because of Nadal’s grass-court rust, but this will be nothing short of one-way traffic from start to finish.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 8-10
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(WC) Denis Shapovalov vs. Jerzy Janowicz
Shapovalov and Janowicz will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time this season when they meet again on Monday. Their only previous encounter came on the hard courts of the Guadalajara Challenger, where Shapovalov prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). The 18-year-old Canadian eventually finished runner-up at that March tournament, which came during a stretch in which he also won both a different Challenger event and a Futures title. Shapovalov, who registers at No. 164 in the world, is coming off a solid second-round showing in Eastbourne as a qualifier (lost to Tomas Berdych 7-5 in the third set).
Janowicz has suffered from physical problems and perhaps motivational issues since reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2013. The 6’8” Pole is just 3-4 at the ATP level in 2017 and recently threw away any momentum he gained from ousting Grigor Dimitrov in the Stuttgart second round, as he lost his next match to Benoit Paire in straight sets and then fell to Franko Skugor in Eastbourne qualifying. Janowicz’s game is tailor-made for grass and he can therefore make this competitive, but Shapovalov has played far more meaningful matches of late and will be tougher mentally down the stretch.
Pick: Shapovalov in 5
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who ya got?
Rafa
Jerzy
Rafa in 3
Shapalov in 4
Rafa in three losing 8-10 games and Shapovalov in four
Me 2
Nadal in 3.
Janowicz in 4.
Very happy for Jerzy! He’s off to a good start. Unfortunately I got on the Shapopalov bandwagon.
Keep calm, stay focused, remain confident, be strong and enjoy the game, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DDzRYTQXgAA0r-c.jpg
Nadal in 4 or 5. Milman can play in grass
Jano in 4. Don’t know much about Shapolov
If Rafa wins losing 8-10 games, then I think not will be a great start for him.
*I think that will be a great start for him.
It started to rain. 🙁
Wimbledon 13 minutes ago: “Rain is anticipated for the next 15-20 minutes, but once it clears no more is expected.”
It’s Rafa time!
Rafa up s break already. Striking the ball well in the early going.
Rafa is really looking comfortable out there on the grass. He just hit a superb volley for game point. Rafa moving well, too. So nice to see h at Wimby again!
Rafa up two breaks, just came back from 0-30 down.
Rafa serving really well!
Rafa in a battle up 4-1 to hold his serve. Using the slice backhand quite a bit. His serve is really good.
Rafa looking at home out there!
Rafa holds to make it 5-1.
Rafa getting into some good rallies in this match. Much needed match play for him. The ESPN commies are full of praise for Rafa’s tennis so far!
Rafa wins the first set with an i/o forehand!
6-1 Rafa!
1st set Rafa – 61
Vamos Rafa
Beautiful showing, Rafa! Keep it up!
Vamos Champ!
It’s great to see Rafa come out playing well and looking good!
Way to go, Rafa!
Istomin retires. Young will play Rafa or Millman in the next round.
There is a delay in Rafa’s natch because we Millman has a cut on his hand. They were down a ball kid. I don’t know if they are going to call the trainers, but play has resumed.
They pulled away from Rafa’s match to cover Venus Williams pressure.
Rafa just hit an outrageous DTL forehand to break Millman!
Sorry, it should read – Venus Williams presser. She broke down when asked about the car accident. They ended it,
This guy Millman is having his troubles out there. But this match is just what Rafa needs to get himself going here.
It’s a ball boy who was receiving treatment on the side of the court.
They said that Millman had a cut on his hand.
Millman breaks Rafa.
Rafa breaks back!
Millman had a cut on his hand, but the ballboy was still receiving treatment when play resumed and they said Rafa only had one ball boy at his end so he couldn’t use two towels until the ball boy was back at his post.
Another great DTL forehand winner Friday m Rafa!
Rafa up 5-2.
Rafa wins the second set 6-3.
I’m not watching the match but if Rafa is nailing those DTLs that means his game is ticking. I think it’s been said here that that’s Rafa’s tale-tale shot when gauging his game-momentum.
DTL forehands I mean
Yes! That’s what we want to see. Rafa firing DTL forehand winners is a good thing.
Millman had a nasty fall in the previous game. A reminder about the slippery conditions. He was okay.
Rafa is looking sharper than I thought he would. Millman is giving Rafa some long rallies and that is great to get his rhythm and timing going.
I am loving this! Great from Rafa!
Vamooosss!