Rafael Nadal leads the charge as the bottom half of the draw is in round of 16 action on Monday at the All-England Club. The Spaniard will take on Botic van de Zandschulp, while American Brandon Nakashima battles Nick Kyrgios.
(2) Rafael Nadal vs. (21) Botic van de Zandschulp
Prior to this week, Rafael Nadal hadn’t played a match on grass for three years, thanks to both injury and the 2020 COVID cancellation. His first two matches were exactly as rusty as a 3-year layoff would suggest. But the Spaniard found his game in his third round win over Lorenzo Sonego.
Of course, the courts at the All-England Club aren’t the same the second week as they are during the first week of play. The beautiful green lawns are gone, replaced by chewed up turf and dirt, an eventuality that suits Nadal’s game and turns him into a legitimate threat.
Botic van de Zandschulp has quietly gone about the business of beating all of the players he was supposed to beat. The Dutchman has steadily made his way up the rankings. Last year at this time, van de Zandschulp was ranked 139 in the world, he sits at a career-high 25 currently.
Van de Zandschulp ran into the Spaniard at the French Open for the first time. Nadal gave him a proper shellacking, but that was in Nadal’s personal clay-court playground. The Dutchman should acquit himself better on Monday, but it’s still Nadal in the second week of a Slam, so it’s doubtful the final result will be any different.
Cheryl pick: Nadal in 4
Ricky pick: Nadal in 3
Nick Kyrgios vs. Brandon Nakashima
There probably aren’t many experts who had Nick Kyrgios and Brandon Nakashima as fourth round opponents in their section of the draw…yet there they are. Kyrgios is by far the more experienced player. The 27 year-old has been playing at Slams since 2013, and he is one of the few players whom Novak Djokovic has never managed to beat. Kyrgios also has a notable upset victory over Rafael Nadal from the 2014 fourth round.
Still despite that, the young American has a decent chance on Monday. Such is the unpredictability of Kyrgios’s game that it wouldn’t really be a surprise for him to come out after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round and lose soundly to Nakashima. Also useful for the promising young star is that he’s playing great tennis at the moment. He upset Denis Shapovalov in the second round and he completely dominated Daniel Elahi Galan in the third round.
Kyrgios will be the favorite to advance, but Nakashima will make him work for it.
Cheryl pick: Kyrgios in 4
Ricky pick: Nakashima in 5
Rafa in three.
I don’t know about Kyrgios; if he gets through to the QF then he will most likely beat whoever in the QF to reach the SF. If that’s the case, then if it’s Rafa in the SF, I have Rafa beating Kyrgios there, provided Rafa beats his two other opponents convincingly before the SF; otherwise Rafa may not be able to beat Kyrgios in the SF.
I expect Rafa to be extremely focused from here on and elevate his game. He may still succumb to his 3rd set dips but that”s ok, I have come to expect it. But I feel Rafa is quite determined here, he is into the second week and he seems confident. I have no reservations about his abilities on the grass now, he’ll navigate his way.
Kyrios is playing well enough, after all he’s into the second week. His opponent seems very dogged so I look for Kyrios to be really tested here and if he maintains his cool, which is a lofty expectation, he may prevail but………
Anyway, Here’s hoping for some enjoyable tennis. Vamos, Rafa!! 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽😃
So you guys r SO quiet!!!! Y? What’s going on folks?!!
Kyrios in his on court interview mentioned how beating Rafa here motivated him to win this match. Name drop, wink, wink 😜🤪😜 is he sending Rafa a message there?! 🤣🤣🤣🤣