Nadal, Del Potro Could Collide in Bangkok Quarterfinals
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The last two US Open champions, Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin Del Potro, are seeded to meet in the Bangkok Open which begins on Monday. ADHEREL
In the draw, the No. 5 seed Del Potro opens against the foot-smaller Olivier Rochus, then plays the winner of a qualifier and Kukushkin.
The top-seeded Nadal gets a first round bye and then is assured of a qualifier in the second round on Thursday.
Again, it’s great to see Delpo back and hopefully 100% healthy after eight months off the tennis tour because of that wrist. And while Nadal should get out to the Friday quarterfinal, Delpo could have his hands full in a first-time, first round clash with the undersized and oft-underestimated Rochus.
As I said before, I can’t imagine Del Potro beating Nadal or winning tournaments just yet. For him it’s about getting matches and getting comfortable again playing pro tennis.
Fernando Verdasco, Ernests Gulbis and Jurgen Melzer are also seeded in the field.
The seeded quarterfinal pairings look like: Nadal v. Del Potro, Gulbis v. Berrer, Troicki v. Melzer and De Bakker v. Vedasco.
Also, the Metz final is set with Gilles Simon facing Mischa Zverev. Simon, who’s coming on of late, dispatched Phil Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-2. Zverez earned a walkover when Richard Gasquet withdrew due to a fever.
In Bucharest, Pablo Andujar and Juan Ignacia Chela will battle for the final clay title of the season. Chela beat Albert Montanes, Andujar was victorious over Marcel Granollers.
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