ChiChi’s Preview & Prediction for Nadal v. Verdasco

by ChiChi, GEM Tennis (28-12 record on GEM Tennis)

Can Verdasco keep up that high level of tennis he displayed against Ferrer for another 4 hrs against Nadal? If anyone can say yes to that then they are just plain going against the odds. I went against the odds yesterday thinking that a healthy, non fatigued Monfils could outdual a solid in form player in Djokovic based upon a hunch and … I’m not doing it with this match. Nadal will try to test Verdasco’s will early with some long rallies. If Nadal wins those early exchanges, then its going to be lights out. If Verdasco can find a way to win his share of those long points, then it may energize him and keep him in the hunt. If Verdasco starts going for broke and making his shots to avoid long rallies, I have enough trust in Rafa’s serve to at least hold and make it into a long drawn out war. Any way you slice it, Nadal has the advantage in every way possible. My heart would like to see Fernando pull off the upset. My paranoia thinks that Rafa is snakebitten at the open and always finds a way to fall short, but my logic says that Rafa gets through the battle of the 2 best spanish lefties 76 75 64.

Prediction: Nadal over Verdasco 7-6, 7-5, 6-4.

To read more about who ChiChi is follow this link: http://www.gemtennis.com/about/