Nadal is just a machine on clay, but eventually the stunning loss to an outsider will come. Wonder who it will be?
Milos Raonic could be that man this week, but Raonic has to get by Ferrer today.
Raonic delivered a knockout blow to Andy Murray earlier this week in Barcelona, taking out the Scot in straight sets, a very good follow-up win to beating his pal Nicolas Almagro 63 63 one round earlier. Raonic could be making his big move to the top 5 right now.
The next Nadal-Djokovic clash on clay will be very interesting. If Nadal wins again, I’ll be shocked, how about you?
Feliciano Lopez had match points on Ferrer in the quarter, but lost in three sets. This is another example of F-Lo taking a top 5 player to the brink of defeat but letting it slip away. Lefty Lopez is at a career high rank now and could rate a chance to crack the top 10 if he can make some minute changes to his approach in finishing off top players.
Sharapova saved MP vs. Stosur in Stuttgart 67 76 75, Maria still such a fighter. I met a former NBTA employee for 40 years in Bradenton who was at the academy and witnessed Maria’s stay there. He said she always wanted success more than her father did, which is unique.
Kerber dominated Wozniacki in straight sets this week, her second win in a row over Caro. But then Kerber fell in the quarters to Kvitova 64 64.
Kvitova knocked off Schiavone for the second time in a row this week, also having beat the Italian in Fed Cup last weekend.
This Mona Barthel must be a very good player. Keep seeing her name in the win column. The German won a title earlier this year and took #1 Azarenka down to the wire, losing 64 67 75.
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Steve · April 28, 2012 at 3:29 pm
By outsider do you mean outside the top 10? Can’t think of anyone unless Nadal has a bad day. Simon showed some potential and I always give Nalby and Delpo a chance but it would be very hard for anyone outside the top 10 to beat Rafal on red clay. Rafa has never played Fognini which could be a blow out for Rafa or be an interesting match. Rafa’s consistency seems to handle Dolgo’s style with relative ease. Maybe Monfils.
Not sure Raonic has the fitness for best of five on clay but for best of three, yes.
Scoop Malinowski · April 28, 2012 at 10:05 pm
teve, by outsider I mean someone like Spadea beating Agassi in Australia, Bastl beating Pete at Wimbledon, Youzhny beating Rafa at US Open, Karlovic beating Hewitt at Wimbledon. Just someone who shocks the tennis world. Hard to see that ever happening to Rafa or Fed they are always always ready with their A games.
Mitch · April 28, 2012 at 10:13 pm
The year Fed won Roland Garros, he nearly got taken out by Haas. Didn’t Falla also serve for it against him at Wimbledon a couple of years ago?
Steve · April 29, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Simon is playing Fognini. Interesting match!
Scoop Malinowski · April 29, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Simon is having a nice year so far, very consistently successful on clay. Will always respect Fognini for that dramatic five set epic win he had vs. Monfils at French Open, that showed Fognini is a special player capable of dynamic performances on big courts. Hard to pick against Simon today though.
Steve · April 30, 2012 at 12:10 am
Fognini was up a break(2-0) in the first set but then Simon kept pulling out some amazing sliding shot winners as if they were routine. I root for both these players. They are two of my recent favs.