Rafael Nadal and Botic van de Zandschulp will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time in less than a month when they meet again in round four at Wimbledon on Monday. They just faced each other during third-round action at the French Open, where Nadal cruised 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
The question is: will grass make any difference?
Probably not. Both guys are all-court players, so the surface should not have any significant impact. Nadal may be the King of Clay, but right now he is the king of everything. The 36-year-old Spaniard has won each of the first two Grand Slams in 2022 and is No. 1 in the race to Turin by almost 2,000 points. He has improved his season record to 33-3 and extended his slam winning streak to 17 with victories over Francisco Cerundolo, Ricardas Berankis, and Lorenzo Sonego. Nadal dropped sets to both Cerundolo and Berankis in mediocre performances but raised his level considerably to crush Sonego 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.
Van de Zandschulp has been great dating back to last summer–albeit not anywhere near Nadal’s level, of course. The 26-year-old Dutchman is up to a career-high of No. 25 in the world and this marks the second grass-court event of the summer in which he has won three matches (previously at Queen’s Club). Van de Zandschulp earned his spot in week two of Wimbledon by beating and Feliciano Lopez, Emil Ruusuvuori, and Richard Gasquet in mostly routine fashion.
“He’s a player that [has] been improving unbelievable the last year,” Nadal commented. “(It) was a good challenge in the French and I think he will be [again]. He’s a complete player with a lot of great [attributes], and I need to keep going the way that I played [against Sonego]–playing aggressive and playing with the right energy.
“He’s a tough opponent, but we are in fourth round. That’s the way that it should be.”
Van de Zandschulp does have a fair amount of firepower, but not enough to make him that prototypical player who would consistently give Nadal trouble. And given the way the second seed looked on Saturday, all signs point to this being one-way traffic.
Pick: Nadal in 3
Finally!
Finally he does it!
So stressful…
Oh my gosh, good thing I was running errands!! I would have just burst a rib if I was watching third set!! Third set is ALWAYS a nightmare for Rafa!! Although I understand y I just can’t stomach it……….so close but yet so far sort of thing 🤣🤣🤣🤣
But happy to see he’s won. Now I can eat my heart out given that I’m only about to have lunch!!
Vamos, Rafa!!! We love ❤️ U!!
Yes, glad it was over. But he needs to avoid these lapses going forward. QF is going to be a tough one against Fritz.
Taylor fritz next…that will be a big danger match…qf is always tricky for rafa as it’s the transition key round. Just like it was at ao with shapo, this won’t be easy..
It won’t be a late start atleast n hopefully good sun on Wednesday with no roof..how’s weather Wednesday?
Warmer by a couple of degrees but cloudy. No rain.
They(Rafa n Fritz) may be up first up, who knows. Rafa has had lot of late starts, ideally they will like to change the schedule rather than putting the same player last 3 matches in a row.
He is always having problems serving it out!
It’s nothing new..
Still, straight sets is straight sets. Novak lost his serve and a set against someone who wasn’t playing any better..
I will be interested whether Ricky still picks Fritz in 5. I doubt very much Cheryl will pick Fritz against Rafa but who knows?!
Much more complicated for Nadal than it needed to be, but credit to Botic for trying to hold on.
Getting tired with the BBC’s endless hyping of NK for all the wrong reasons.
It’s not good that people come to watch him because of his swearing and threatening people…
I am in complete agreement about NK! The media are not doing any favors by. their hyping a guy who is seriously emotionally and mentally disturbed. Spitting at people? That is vile and disgusting.
I find it quite disturbing that anyone would want to see him for his bullying behavior and abusive antics. This conduct should not be celebrated.
Connors used to spit into Mac’s box. Really recommend Tignor’s “High Strung” about that era.
margot,
I just saw your comment. I lived through that era.I remember it well. Nastasi and his crazy antics. Back then the players would openly hit their opponent. I saw a YouTube video of a match with Lendl and Gerulaiitis. Lendl hit a shit and it ended up hitting Gerulaitis in the head. He was stunned but continued playing. I kniw the game was different back then. McEnroe and Connery were the bully boys of tennis. Nastase was just nuts.
I do not remenber Connors spitting in JMac’s box, But that does not make it okay then or now. Nastase is the reason they created a code of conduct for players. The rules changed and that conduct stopped.
Lendi hit a shot! *
You know my sister just made a point that has gotten overlooked. Spitting is dangerous in the era of Covid! I never even thought about that. We are in the midst of a pandemic. We can still wear masks and take precautions. What is worse than spitting at people in the midst of a pandemic that has killed so many people.
Sometimes you have to think about others.
I agree. Spitting is horrible, anywhere!
That’s exactly my thing Amy!! Ppl love the “bad” boy thing and it’s only for selfish reasons: either bcoz he makes them feel better about themselves or they r entertained by his behavior. I am sure Nick is a nice person but surely he knows what he’s doing is not right but he can’t seem to help it bcoz he gets the attention.
As for Rafa and Fritz!?! They talk about Fritz not having dropped a set. That means nothing when u play Rafa, ok!! NOTHING!! Just wait and c!
Like I said previously, I have gotten used to the 3rd set yips, I expect it in future matches
You think NK is a nice person? Are you kidding? There is nothing nice about spitting at people. Normal, well adjusted people do not behave tbat way. He can’t help it because he is mentally and emotionally disturbed. He needs psychiatric help to get his anger and hostility control.
It says more about the people who go to his matches to see his bullying abusive behavior, then it does about him.
NNY, I do believe Nick is unstable for whatever reason that’s y I am willing to believe that underneath it all he is a good kid. 😃 at least he has no criminal records or anything like that 😜
I am taking one match at a time like Rafa does. I believe Rafa will prevail as he seems to really want this! Think about it: Rafa has all the attributes to help him reach the final, no confidence issues, no obvious fitness issues, experience from being to multiple finals, H2H ratio advantage, and on top of that he’s playing free from knowing he has nothing left to prove. Rafa is in a VERY good place. His only lingering issues in my view are his nerves and 3rd set dips and after all, the man is human. So I will never bet against Rafa, not even if he gets to the final. And even if he doesn’t, I’ll be disappointed but yet still proud bcoz given his age and foot condition, he has already far exceeded expectations!
Mona,
I just read your reply to me. Very well said! However, things may change because of an allegation of assault by Nick on his ex- girlfriend. It would not surprise me.
Love what you said about Rafa!
Fritz has not dropped a set because he is playing nobodies.
Vamos Rafa! @Amy, agree with you re the awful NK. Tennis Channel has been touting him too. The McEnroe bros love him. Well, JMac was as bad or worse, why wouldn’t they? But since when does Wimbledon require sideshows to get people in the door?
It’s really awful Ramara! With the examples of toxic masculinity we see all around the world..!
There is a relationship between glorifying bullying and the theft of democracies and war…
Kyrgios is a breath of fresh air , talking about his tennis .
His behaviour is anything but .
Whether you like him or not, he brings in the crowds and Wimbledon apparently needs the dosh. Temporary workers have been subjected to summary dismissal because too many have been taken on, and the numbers are down.
That serves Wimby right bcoz maybe it’s backlash from banning players, and they r also too stringent in their rules with regards to ticketing! Choopz! All this drama about having to apply a whole year in advance and all this raffle business!!! What the hell? Just allow ppl to buy their darn tickets online like ALL other slams!!!!!! They make this Wimby so exclusive and when I look u can c so many empty seats!! I mean if Wimby of all organizations has to rely on dicey characters like Nick for coin, then all fall down (colloquialism in St. Lucia for “it’s hopeless”) 😀
It means there is some issue
https://mobile.twitter.com/Stroppa_Del/status/1544059253362671616
Yup, Sanju, there is something going on – and while I have not been worried about Rafa’s opponents so far, his decline to talk about what these tapes are for, is indeed a bit concerning. So far his opponents not in his class, but this will change from the quarterfinals onwards.
Rafa is 36 and has played a lot of tennis with a lot of tough players. At this point of the tournament injury issues should not be a surprise but yes, a bit worrying. But if he’s still playing then he’s fine. I see players especially the women have straps on their whole leg!!! 🤣😂😂
Monalisa, I agree. And we cannot do anything about it anyway 😉 Let’s wait and see how he will deal with Fritz. He might turn out to be the toughest opponent so far, but I am optimistisch that Rafa can deal with him, if he doesn’t pick up more niggling injuries.
Fun fact: Fritz became the highest ranked potential opponent in Rafa’s half after FAA was beaten in the first round!
About NK. I posted before about his comments to his girlfriend a few months ago on a public social media platform.
He boasted about having sex with strippers while going out with her, called her toxic ( among other insults) and suggested she commit suicide.
His declaration s about having mental health problems came out shortly after this and look, to me, like him covering his ass over criticism of this repellent behaviour.
It was completely obvious from the tone and method of his comments to his girlfriend that they were part of a pattern of behaviour and standard fare from him. In other words, he is a serial abuser.
Men who use verbal abuse as a mode of control usually escalate to other forms of abuse.
Gosh! Wimby just released a statement saying NK is charged with assaulting his now ex girlfriend.
That was a prophetic comment!
I am so completely not surprised.
Gone off him completely now! Despicable.
Yeah agreed. That is what has been informing my comments in relation to him for a while.
He’s not some lovable rogue..and narratives constructed in this way are actively harmful at a time when women ‘s rights are under attack.
Has he withdrawn? Or is he still playing?
Still playing. Nothing is ever done ie look at Zverev and Basher.
Rafa is on second on centre tomorrow.
According to one media story, Nick has a hearing scheduled next month regarding the exe’s abuse claims. This should be interesting. He does have a short fuse…..but innocent until proven guilty??? Is this true everywhere?? Curious….