Nadal Has Easy Day, Sock Next In Rome; Nishikori, Wawrinka Advance

by Staff | May 17th, 2017, 5:54 pm
  • 35 Comments

Rafael Nadal enjoyed his easiest day of the clay season getting an early retirement from compatriot Nicolas Almagro who ended the match down 3-0 with a knee injury.

Nadal will continue his bid for an eighth Rome title tomorrow against Jack Sock. The American edged Jiri Vesely 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1).

Nadal has won all three meetings with Sock most recently in Miami in March. But Sock did take a set from Nadal at the French in 2015 and later that year in Beijing.


Another tasty match-up is also lined-up for Thursday. Kei Nishikori knocked out David Ferrer for the second straight week, and he’ll now face Juan Martin del Potro. Del Potro cruised past Kyle Edmund 7-5, 6-4.

“I think I’m playing better (than 2016), for sure,” said del Potro. “Last year, I was trying to win a couple of matches at this moment of the year, and now I’m beating good guys. I’m playing well, and I think my game can still improve week by week. It’s going to be a big challenge for me to play three tournaments on clay in a row after many years.”

Del Potro leads Nishikori 4-1 and had won 10 straight sets until losing their most recent meeting in Beijing quarters last fall.

“It’s going to be a difficult match,” said del Potro of playing Nishikori. “I think he has everything to win because he’s playing so well. I’m just starting to play on this surface after my family problems. But we have never played on a clay court, so it could be an interesting match. I need to play even better than today to beat Kei.”

Last week, Benoit Paire ousted Stan Wawrinka. This week, Wawrinka got the better of their friendship beating the Frenchman in three 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

Wawrinka moves on to meet American big man John Isner.

Also, Roberto Bautista Agut outlasted Pablo Carreno Busta 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-4. He’ll now take on Novak Djokovic tomorrow. And for the second time in less than a week, Dominic Thiem took out Pablo Cuevas, beating the Uruguayan 7-6(4), 6-4. Thiem will face surprising American Sam Querrey who was a winner over Jan-Lennard Struff.

“I’m feeling a little bit [tired], but I have very good confidence right now. The match was good and it was a very tough opponent. I’m really happy that I won it again,” said Thiem. “The serve was more important in Madrid because of the altitude. I didn’t face a break point, and it was also way more difficult to break him. There were more long rallies today and the game was decided more from the baseline.”

Milos Raonic and Alexander were winners as well. Raonic will test Tomas Berdych in a battle of robots while Zverev faces the flamboyant Fabio Fognini.

“He’s very entertaining to watch, and I like it. I like how the crowd is supporting him, and I like how the crowd is always behind him and always has his back,” said Zverev. “I really enjoy that, even though I will play against him tomorrow.

“The stadium will be very loud for him. It’s going to be a fun day, a fun atmosphere and a great match.”

THURSDAY ROME SCHEDULE
CENTRALE start 12:00 noon
ATP – F. Fognini (ITA) vs [16] A. Zverev (GER)
WTA – [5] J. Konta (GBR) vs [9] V. Williams (USA)
ATP – R. Bautista Agut (ESP) vs [2] N. Djokovic (SRB)
Not Before 7:30 pm
ATP – [13] J. Sock (USA) vs [4] R. Nadal (ESP)
Not Before 9:00 pm
WTA – T. Bacsinszky (SUI) vs [2] K. Pliskova (CZE)

NEXT GEN ARENA start 11:00 am
WTA – [Q] A. Kontaveit (EST) vs [16] M. Lucic-Baroni (CRO)
Not Before 12:00 noon
ATP – [9] D. Goffin (BEL) vs [6] M. Cilic (CRO)
ATP – [12] T. Berdych (CZE) vs [5] M. Raonic (CAN)
Not Before 4:00 pm
WTA – J. Goerges (GER) vs [Q] J. Ostapenko (LAT) or [3] G. Muguruza (ESP)
Not Before 7:00 pm
ATP – [8] D. Thiem (AUT) vs S. Querrey (USA)


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35 Comments for Nadal Has Easy Day, Sock Next In Rome; Nishikori, Wawrinka Advance

Daniel Says:

Djoko way more Djoko like today. He is conservative in a few rallies and than used the trigger for a winner. Playing much better than MC and Madrid.


Margot Says:

Could see Nole’s mum and dad and wee bro in the crowd but no sign of Huggy. Wog Boy and VP must’ve kidnapped him and are refusing to give him back no matter how much money Nole offers…;)


Milos Says:

Lol Margot :-) Desperate times require desperate measures, for us, Novak fans :-)


Van Persie Says:

Haha Margot,

Who knows ;)

Watched the last games of the match and agree, he did better. He needs matches as he did not play many this year.
Will be the first FO since years and I can be relaxed, that’s good.


Van Persie Says:

Djoko vs DelPo it is tomorrow


Tennis Vagabond Says:

What a wonder DelPotro is! After years away, he comes back for a silver medal at the Olympics. Then, after months of relapses, he’s back and beats two top tennish guys in his first matches.

It seems like he never gets his first serve when he needs it. If he can get that serve cooking, he’ll really be hard to stop. As it is, I think he’s getting past Novak tomorrow. He’s got the 2HBH working, and that’s been the area Novak has really attacked in their last matches.

What a QF line-up tomorrow!


Okiegal Says:

Way to go Rafa! Keep it going and you can possibly bite another trophy. I’m in California in a hotel room……the match was not aired on my hotel TV…..I’m gonna complain. THEY NEED THE TENNIS CHANNEL ASAP….. I will be here 3 more nights! Grrr but in the meantime…VAMOS! 🐂🐂🐂


skeezer Says:

Preach it Rafole!
xhttp://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2017/05/roger-federer-novak-djokovic-rafael-nadal-french-open-atp-tennis/66106/


Wog Boy Says:

Pepe is safe, atm,
I took him to Simpson desert as the best place for spiritual enlightenment and soul searching and left him there…there is no water there…let’s see if he can survive on air and love only and hugging the Western Brown Snake, Mulga or King Brown Snake, Desert Death Adders…
I’ll let you know about outcome in due course …


Wog Boy Says:

“He’s got the 2HBH working, and that’s been the area Novak has really attacked in their last matches.”

Interesting observations, hmm, I guess everybody was attacking that side, that’s what players do, attacking weaknesses in their oponents, no?
I wonder what was Nole attacking prior Delpo’s injury since he had quite a decent H2H until 2013 (before Delpo’s operation) which is 11:3 in Nole’s favor?


Wog Boy Says:

Saying all of this, this is not that Nole, this Nole carries injury for the last 12 months or so, invisible injury, so advantage Delpo.


skeezer Says:

“Nole carries injury for the last 12 months or so, invisible injury”
Mental. Call RF for mental juice. You will do well.


J.S. Says:

Wogboy do you have room in your trunk for Thiem?
Just saying…..


J.S. Says:

Okiegal, I travel too…buy tennistv they are amazing, no commercials, today tennis channel left Rafa’s match for Thiem’s..thank goodness I had laptop ready although sometimes a point delay – I always have both but love my tennistv over tennis channel – enjoy!!


Daniel Says:

Think Novak is ready and eager to beat Delpo. If he gets a win tomorrow and in straights, think h has a chance against Nadal.

Let’s see if Thiem will have anything left in the tank for another run at Nadal, third straight tourney after Barca and Madrid


Wog Boy Says:

J.S.

I like Thiem, really do,..but I think he is overdue for a new coach.


Wog Boy Says:

Just checked schedule for today, Rafa is playing 4pm local time and Nole 9pm local time.
Even if Nole wins, good luck with that schedule against Rafa next day:))


J.S. Says:

I don’t think Djokovic can beat Rafa…..But, putting one foot in front of the other, Can Rafa get past Thiem for a 3rd time? Yikes, just not sure! I am on west coast and will be up watching at 7am! NOTHING ABOUT CHOKOVIC can beat RAFA, SORRY~~~ AND I WILL BET ON IT!!

Still waiting to see how big WOGBOYS trunk is?


Wog Boy Says:

“NOTHING ABOUT CHOKOVIC can beat RAFA,”

I heard that 26 times..


skeezer Says:

“Even if Nole wins, good luck with that schedule against Rafa next day:))”
This is soo wuzzy from The Church, it’s basically a no vote of confidence. Shame. Try looking at RF draw at AO, IW, and Miami. You wanna win? Doesn’t matter when you play or who you play. To make your mark, you just beat everyone on route. Thats how you get through it and get better.


Van Persie Says:

^^ Nole did this already, Skeeze, from 2014 until 2016, and against of all sort of “nice” crowds ;)


Wog Boy Says:

I remember very well wuzzy fedfanatics with their leader justifying so-called “the GOAT” for doing WO in the WTF because finishing late his SF match .. oh wait, he had bad back, just to play CC match few days after, same CC that he avoided this season since it is very bad for his back..


chrisford1 Says:

Waaaaaayy to say it straight and hard, Wog Boy!!
Delpo generally has been beaten in a lop sided way by Novak. Pre-injury days of Juan Martin included, too. But Delpo is one of the few that can beat Rafa in a humiliating way, beat Fed hard a few times, Andy too, and 2 of his 3 wins over Novak were Olympic defeats. The last with Djokovic leaving the court in tears. But of the Big 4, Djokovic’s 11-3 mark against Juan is better than any H2H of the other 3 against the “Big Guy”.


skeezer Says:

^then why be a pessimist fan now? Lots of fair weather Church fans here.


Wog Boy Says:

VP,
Just ignore him, Slimy is being slimy, being himself.


skeezer Says:

Sniff sniff, if only Novak had a chance to win a match. Crock meet crockette.


skeezer Says:

WB brings up WTF for the millionith time. So b&tt hurt. Here is one to remember that really matters. 18. Record books are not going to remember Fed WO from back injury. Sh1t happens when you get hurt. Give it up or we can start going over Novaks retirements and WO’s. Wheeze , cough.


Wog Boy Says:

CF1,
11:3 is H2H by the end of 2013, against healthy Delpo and even this Nole, 80% Nole who plays, as somebody here said by memory now, is 2:1 against after injury Delpo, he was unlucky to bump in Delpo in the first round of Olympics.
More importantly is that Nole actually was beating Delpo and Rafa for that matter, by playing against their strength, against FH, old Nole was never shy of doing that and that brought him success against both.
He use to go after Delpo’s FH all the time, knowing that due to Delpo using unusually lot of strength, if he only can sustain and survive 3-4 Delpo’s FHs, the power of shots suddenly goes down and Nole takes control of the point. Record speaks for itsel, 13:4 H2H says it all.


J.S. Says:

Are you saying Delpo will beat Djokovic? What happened to this thread? I only want to talk about GOAT Rafa , lol


Van Persie Says:

WB,

@12;20 AM. Sorry, do not know, what was I thinking. to early for me in the morning. lol


Wog Boy Says:

VP,

It is forgiven since you repented …now you can sin again;)


Van Persie Says:

“now you can sin again;)”

I will say “pass”. It was not exactly Adam’s apple. Will try something new. lol


Wog Boy Says:

^^
Lol


Margot Says:

Dunno about that hidey hole Wog Boy, two world religions came out of the desert…..;) Really, really doesn’t bear thinking about!
And there’s a weird American sect which used to try to prove its faith by cuddling poisonous snakes. Probably died out by now, can’t think why!

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