ARTICLES:

• Nadal Sets Sock Showdown In Fourth Round (via ATP World Tour)

“It will be not fair if I say that I am not happy about what happened this first week, being fourth round without losing a set,” said Nadal. “I think playing solid, consistent. That’s what I need to. Then I arrive the second week and you know that you have to go that extra step to have chances. So I hope to have a good practice tomorrow and be ready to play a great match on Monday, because I will need it.”

• Nadal Plans to Hit Net To Prepare for Sock (via Tennis Now)

Nadal said both he and coach Uncle Toni watch Internet video of new opponents, compare notes on what they see then devise a tactical game-plan. “You can find videos out on the Internet, so is nothing very difficult,” Nadal said. “Normally I try to watch few videos on Internet and then try to create an opinion and try to think about what I have to do to try to bother a little bit him. I see that Toni is doing the same. Then we talk, and when that happens, the normal thing is you go on court, you try to do your game.”

• Guga Says Nadal Is Not of This World, Rafa Responds (via Tennis Now)

“I didn’t expect him to win that much, but perhaps not either him,” Kuerten said. “Because it’s really too much. Nine of ten years. I’m sure it will never happen again. It’s impossible. So how can — if he would think this way would be amazing, but he lives this way. Perhaps he didn’t think that much whether bet on expectations, but he live this way.” Informed of Kuerten’s comments, a smiling Nadal provoked laughter from the media for reaffirming he is not an extraterrestrial sent from space to conquer clay. “First of all, I am from this planet, I think,” Nadal said. “Second thing, thanks to Guga for the words. Third thing, is true that is probably a tough record to beat. But at the same time, I tell you one thing: If I did, you know, somebody else can do it.”

• Jack Sock becomes youngest U.S. man into French Open R4 since ’93 (via SI.com)

“I don’t know if there is any time to have a better chance than not to play Rafa on clay,” Sock said. “It’s always going to be an extremely tough match, and always a tough battle. But obviously I do have confidence right now. I am playing some good tennis. But once again, he’s the King of Clay, they call it. It will be more of an exciting match and one I look forward to.”

• Anxiously awaiting the likely Djokovic, Nadal quarterfinal clash (via ESPN)

“He’s a great player, no?” said Nadal, who has never played Sock. “He’s playing fantastic, winning very tough matches against very difficult opponents like [Grigor] Dimitrov, Pablo Carrena and today against [Borna] Coric. He has an amazing forehand, good serve, very good serve, and then he’s a player that can play very aggressive and is dangerous, no? I know I have to be very solid. I know I have to play aggressive, try to don’t let him to hit the forehand in positions, because I am going to be in big trouble.”

• Brad Gilbert on Federer-Monfils, Chair Umpire Controversy and Top 5 Young Talents (via Tennis Now)

I’m still very annoyed the tournament didn’t put him to the No. 2 seed where he should have been. This tournament does have that right, but they’ve never done that. I’m not sure playing Djoker earlier or later at the moment is a great thing. I think Rafa is playing a lot better. Obviously, he’s been amazing at this place. I think the way Rafa is, he won’t be focused on [Novak] yet.

• Nadal’s Empire Built On One Golden Number (via ATP World Tour)

Nadal has won 7,160 points at Roland Garros, and the mythical aura that he has built on Court Philippe Chatrier has his opponents, and the tennis world, presuming he is also putting up invincible numbers in this critical metric. Nothing could be further from the truth.

• French Open 2015: Fashion Faults (via tennis.com)

PHOTOS:

• Rafael Nadal advances to French Open 4th Round
• Nadal vs. Kuznetsov, R3, Day 7 (via Roland Garros)
• Snapshots from Day 7 at the French Open (via SI.com)

VIDEOS:

• Highlights: Nadal vs. Kuznetsov – Roland Garros R3
• Press conference Rafael Nadal 2015 French Open / R32
• Live from Roland-Garros / Day 7 – Rafa’s part starts at 2:07 (via Roland Garros)