The draw was performed today in New York City. World No. 1 Rafael Nadal has been drawn to face Dusan Lajovic in the first round of the US Open. He could meet No. 26 seed Richard Gasquet in the third round, 15th-seeded Tomas Berdych in the fourth round and No. 7 Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals.
If Rafa and Roger Federer finally are going to face each other at the U.S. Open for the first time in their long rivalry, it only could happen in the semifinals.
If it falls per ranking, this would be Rafa’s path to the final:
- 1st round: Dusan Lajovic
- 2nd round: Taro Daniel
- 3rd round: Richard Gasquet
- 4th round: Tomas Berdych
- Quarter-final: Grigor Dimitrov
- Semi-final: Roger Federer
- Final: Andy Murray
If the men play to seed the quarter-final line up will be:
- Rafael Nadal vs. Grigor Dimitrov
- Roger Federer vs. Dominic Thiem
- Marin Cilic vs. Alexander Zverev
- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Andy Murray
Rafa is bidding to clinch a 16th grand slam title of his career and his third in the Big Apple. He is seeded No 1 at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2010 after returning to the ATP’s top ranking this week.
Rafa, who has a 46-10 record in New York City, including the 2010 and 2013 crowns, has never lost in the first round of the US Open and last failed to get past the second round 13 years ago, when he lost to Andy Roddick in 2004.
The tournament starts on Monday.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: US Open
Good draw for Rafa to reach the quarterfinals and from there on always tough in slams….Here is hoping best for Rafa to clinch no.16 and with that probably no.1….In Sha Allah you would rock in the big Apple again in your black outfit
Vamosssssss Rafa 😎😍😘
You are the greatest Rafa
Do you think I have the time to read all the long comments.
Just hit scroll.
RAFA ROCKS MANHATTAN
Rafa that was very wise practicing with Grigor so you know all his moves and shots.
All the very best for Monday.
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
All the very best Rafa!!!!!!!
Rafa actually has a very tricky draw in the middle, the Fognini>>Dimitrov>>Fed sequence.
R4 Fognini/Berdych: Foggy can be hot and cold but if he’s more hot than cold, Rafa will definitely have his work cut out for him. Rafa always seems to get uncomfortable each time he plays him. I guess because of his attitude and nonchalant game. I’m pretty sure no other top guys want to draw him early either.
Berdych, despite his lopsided h22 against Rafa, is perfectly capable of beating Rafa on HC. The last time they played, the AO15 QF, he demolished Rafa in straights, even bagelling him in the 2nd set after losing 17 consecutive matches to our guy! Imagine the shock. Like Foggy, if he’s dialed in and stays there, serving bombs and hitting big consistently, Rafa can’t afford any lapses which are becoming more characteristic and will have to raise his game to at least his AO level this year to beat them, hopefully not in some 3hrs++ matches.
QF Dimitrov: The new contender for the title after his freshly win at Cincy. Will never forget their AO SF this year, a classic on its own. I will try to watch it in full again should they meet. Despite his “Baby Fed” nickname, Dimitrov is actually a curious case of Fed blended with Murray and [insert a talented headcase here]. He’s got incredible atheleticism, one of the quickest and the most agile on tour; is now maybe at the peak of his physique and very high in confidence. I have no doubt he will come in to play should he meet Rafa. Rafa will need to be able to hit through his Murray-like defense and speed while dominate his own serve to have a chance to not let the match go to distance, if he is to win it of course, because the one will be waiting for him after that is most likely:
SF Fed (or Kyrgios if somehow he could make it agaist all odds, against the rude USO crowd): Well, here we go, the usual suspect. I actually suspected Rafa would have the luck of drawing the opposite half from Fed’s (not so much on Fed’s part because let’s face it, he’s owning Rafa this year on HC so far) and voila. At least this time Fed will do the “dirty work” of beating Kyrgios or vice versa for him :p, no disrespect to any other players in the draw.
I wish Fed all the health and no injures ever, but let’s face it, if his back problem is actually not a problem and by all acounts, including the man himself, he is well and has been practising as well as ever, Rafa won’t beat him playing like he’s been playing this year. He must do something different while doing well what he does well, hold his nerves ADN enjoy it like he said to have a chance.
The most talked, Fed’s BH, which has been absent since Miami (one of the reasons why I thought Rafa actually had a very good chance playing him should he reach the Wimby final, based on his impressive level of play in the first 3 matches and Fed actually not goating at Wimby and him predicting Rafa would make the final beating Murray himself – Rafa missed his opportunity big time this year 🙁 ), will be back just in time for the deciding slam. I think Fed knows it more than anyone else that he needs it the most beside his health to be able to win big on HC, especially after the Montreal final when Zverev was actually outplaying him before he tweaked his back in the 2nd set. Knowing him, I have no doubt he will do everything he can to make it happen.
About the speed, yep the court and the ball may be quite significantly slower this year according to Brad Gilbert and Jim Courier, which means Fed’s bread and butter of taking time away from his opponents will be cut off to some extent. But I have the feeling that might be balanced out by him needing some extra time himself as well, especially if he’s not as fresh, and he shouldn’t be, as he was in the first half of the season. Plus the court is now not as windy as as it used to be without the roof, which is Rafa’s strong forte. It is now closer to the indoor conditions, meaning it should favour Fed much more than Rafa. But still it’s just an excuse. Rafa just needs to go out there and play his best
As in Rafa’ case, young, powerful players or very good returners can hurt Fed these days. His movement and FH can be exploited if they’re patient enough. His neo BH, assumed that it will reappear, Rafa needs to avoid feeding it with his hesitative loopy FH and incredibly predictable CC exchanges. Either hitting to it his truly wicked topspin FH or flattening it out and creating more BH-BH exchanges because Rafa’s BH is much flatter and lower and if he wants it he can hit it like Djokovic (just can’t be that consistently obviously), which troubled Fed too much in the past few years.
(Well, he played so many “unusual” week, high balls BH in the Kyrgios match which was shocking to me in terms of both poor quality and tactics as Kyrgios could just thrive on both sides comfortably like we did witness and consequently Rafa lost the majority of rallies.)
I have to admit can’t think of anything beyond Fed at this point, so there’s that. The final is so far far away and there’s a lot more to talk about Kyrgios and their Cincy match, plus I still don’t count out a potential 2R Gasquet either – you never know when your piegon will come back and beat you to a pulp. I guess Rafa must have been really shocked at how he lost to Berdych at the AO15 and that Fed doesn’t feel that comfortable playing Ferrer again and again despite knowing he will most likely win again.
Hopefully the weather will be favourable and Rafa will “play with calm” like he ususally says. I trust Rafa and his team and will try to be as calm as I can be myself. I know I can’t and shouldn’t expect Rafa to win everything. I just hope the weather will be fine all 2 weeks and Rafa won’t have anything to regret after those 2 weeks, winning or losing, staying #1 or sliping to #2/3. Let’s do it, Rafa. 💪💪🇪🇸🇪🇸
You sure this is a comment ; looks more like a n article to me on ‘Rafa nadal’s chances at us open 2017’ lol
But have to appreciate you for giving tour views.
Your not tour
Spam should not be allowed.
RAFA ROCKS MANHATTAN
All this predictions/ permutations/combinations are not much useful..I appeal to all fans to only predict the winner wen reaches the final.
Excellent and precise Review by Ranier again….
Thanks for this insight
Good luck to Rafa and us
Wow Rainier! That’s an article and a half! Tooooooo long for me to read all I’m afraid.
Lol. Okay sorry guys. I didn’t notice how long my comment was and forgot to attach the usual “This is too long already. Sorry for the rambling”.
I was just writing what I thought, well, a tiny part of it, in a very casual Internet language with usual grammar and spelling mistakes. Not sure how some say it reads like an “article”. If they said “essay” or “book” or “novel”, I would totally get the sacarsm though.
This is not the first time that I write something long but it’s sure the first time I get this kind of reaction. Guess the “forum” has changed a bit because I hasn’t. Still I think we all should save our time and energy to discuss about Rafa only?
@Margo: I have never said this to anyone here or on any Internet forum because normally I just don’t care, but your comment this time is so nasty that I think I should say something to you for once.
You could have totally ignored my comment or if you had read it and don’t like what I said, attack the opinions, not the man. Or just ask RNF to set a rule against long comments yourself.
I have never had any problems with you though I know you have some issues with some members here and you guys used to argue a lot. Now I think you do have a problem with someone else – me – for whatever reason.
Honestly I couldn’t care less because I only come here to discuss about Rafa and share thoughts with Rafa fans, not to argue with anyone or take part in some “forum politics” (?). Sometimes the negativity here put me off and for quite some time I just don’t feel like commenting regularly like I used to even though that comes with missing out having some fun with some familiar members like in the past.
Now, just right before a big and very important tournament, I only came to share my “preview” about the draw like I normally do (mind you, not all the time, not before any tourney), with all good intention, and you have nothing better to say than this?
I repeat, I only come here to discuss about Rafa. So please save your time and also mine and maybe someone else’s and try to restrain your personal attacks. I don’t have the patience of Maria or Susie and I don’t want to have some unnecessarily negative feeling each time I come here. You’re still welcome to discuss about my *opinions* about Rafa’s game and tennis in general. Thanks.
Hi Rainer,
No, not at all re a problem with you. I was alerted that you commented about me so I came to see.
I really didn’t try to tackle that very lengthy post of yours but have no alternative to tackle this one.
I will say I didn’t make any nasty comments to you.
And since you mentioned it re problems with others, why don’t you go back to the beginning of those problems to find out about the “group” of fans who were just disgusting toward me. See for yourself. False accusations, etc. One should not talk about what one does not know.
RAFA ROCKS MANHATTAN
Rainier
I know I said it looked like an article n would still say the same but that doesn’t mean I didn’t liked it. The comment shows how much you follow Rafa and how passionate you are about him. I respect your views and sorry if you felt bad
I have my 💯% support to all the Rafa Fans here….I really like and appreciate all the guys here who regularly comment here about Rafa’s game and his life….I always like the Rainier Preview and Margo too along with Susie, Maria, Navdeep and co but I really don’t like this negativity from anyone on a forum which is belonged to a Man Known as Rafael Nadal which has meanings like humbleness and down to earth personality….I only follow him bcoz of his passion for the game and humbleness and in my real life i kind of try to follow him in my daily life….. Kindly don’t spread this hate between all of you….we are brothers and sisters here
And Margo and Rainier are too cute too quarrel……ha
Love you both
I hope my message has conveyed
Sorry you had to read through all of that.
I agree and that’s why I made my response to rainier as short as possible.
I am not one to hold grudges and understand that it is difficult for people to understand each other when the only medium for communication is in writing. I was really perplexed by his/her outburst.
RAFA ROCKS THE USA
Thank you Margo…. Rainier is an excellent human being.I am following both of for quite some time
Let’s keep it together and Rock again with brotherhood
🌺👍
RAFA ROCKS THE USA
Rainier i think you have a good insight on Rafa’s game. It is always interesting to read about the technical aspect of the game.
Every match is a final for nadal. He lost last year against pouille and year before against fognini. If he wants to play for the title he needs to reach the second week and waiste too much energy. I hope carlos moya will be there the full two weeks in new york.
I am not counting on anything.
Counting he will go out there, play his heart out and try his best, even though he might lose at some point.
And yep, Moya will be there “the full two weeks”. Not counting and you still said “full two weeks”. 😉
@mjus Charly and Toni are in NY with him.
RAFA ROCKS
Spot on mjus.
Rafa good luck .you can do it Champ .VAMOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.All the way.🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸❤️
What day … Monday or Tuesday does Rafa play?
Rafa is the top seed so he will play Monday. 🙂
Rafa is scheduled to play @ 1100 local time Monday.
RAFA ROCK THE US OPEN
He was originally scheduled to play on Monday according to the USO site and I remember reading someplace else it will be Tuesday. RNF has posted Tuesday. For now I will go with Tuesday BUT I will keep checking with other sources. Scheduling is ALWAYS subject to change.
RAFA ROCKS MANHATTAN
Rafa is still scheduled to play on Tuesday. The time given is 14:15 local time but time can always change. He does not appear on today’s schedule, so far.
I am looking for information on how players are chosen to play their first round. I was not aware that being top seed calls for that player to play on the first day of main-draw players.
RAFA ROCKS THE USA
…best of luck.
There are dangerous players throughout the draw. Rafa never underestimates any player and will treat each opponent as a serious threat. Give it all you’ve got Rafa and the bast of luck 😀
Buena suerte Rafa eres el # 1 no lo olvides VAMOS RAFA
I’d say that draw is against a pretty intimidating bunch. However, these players are not in the U.S. Open for their health and to get the exercise. They will come at their opponents with everything they have. Grigor did great in Cincinnati against Nicky. Vamos, Rafa and have fun while you are competing. You’re in the Big Apple. It doesn’t get any better than that. I’m a proud New Yorker, a little bit biased.
Very well done Rafa, continue like that, keeping the Nrumber One, this´s the result of training always hard. From your canarian Fan, C. Javier
Best of luck Rafa, please remember you are the best.
WAMOS WAMOS WAMOS
A good draw I would say. Dimitrov is the toughest after Roger but From quarterfinals you have to face tougher opponents. To win this tournament Nadal needs to win the first 3-4 rounds in straight sets to keep himself fresh and the draw has given him that chance.
Vamos Champ
We accept that Rafa has to practice but he needs to cut down his practice times so he is not tired out even before he gets on the court. Three hours is too much practice time.
Rafa you are Number 1 and well capable of defeating all in your draw Vamos Rafa.
Good luck and Vamos Rafa <3
Vamos Rafa . We really hope you win the US open . You can do it champ . Vamos
With that draw I really wish you goodl uck!