Top-seeded Rafael Nadal will begin his Argentina Open title defense on Thursday against his good friend Juan Monaco, who posted a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Marco Cecchinati in 64 minutes.
It will be a repeat of last year’s final, won by Rafa in straight sets.
Date: February 11, 2016
Match time: 9 pm local time / February 12, 12 midnight GMT – United Kingdom / February 12, 1 am CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 7 pm EST – New York, Montreal / February 12, 11 am AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Watch online: 3pmstream
Rafa and Pico will be going head-to-head for the eighth time in their careers. Our champ has won all of their six clay court meetings and remarkably the Tandil native has won just 18 games in 14 sets against Rafa. Here are the matches they have played against each other:
| YEAR | EVENT | RND | WINNER |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Buenos Aires Argentina Outdoor Clay |
F | Rafael Nadal
64 61
|
| 2014 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain Outdoor Clay |
R32 | Rafael Nadal
61 60
|
| 2012 | Roland Garros France Outdoor Clay |
R16 | Rafael Nadal
62 60 60
|
| 2011 | ESP vs.ARG DC Final Spain |
RR | Rafael Nadal
61 61 62
|
| 2007 | ATP Masters Series Cincinnati OH, U.S.A. Outdoor Hard |
R32 | Juan Monaco
765 41
RET
|
| 2007 | Stuttgart Germany Outdoor Grass |
QF | Rafael Nadal
61 63
|
| 2005 | Bastad Sweden Outdoor Clay |
R32 | Rafael Nadal
61 61
|
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
he played way behind the baseline and his returns were either short or out and he was playing Monaco that was just came back from wrist injury. There was absolutely no improvement in Rafa’s game. Old Rafa is gone forever and I am so used to his losses that I don’t care anymore. .
ALL THE BEST RAFA.💖. ENJOY YOUR GAME. THAT IS WHAT YOU DO. AND WE TOO.
YOU ARE THE BEST , BABY.
BEST WISHES FOR YOU.
LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YOU AS ALWAYS. 🌷 🌸 🌹 🍂 🍀 🍁 🍂 🌺 🌻 🌻 🌼 🌼 🌽.
ENJOY YOUR MATCH WITH JUAN, BUT I THINK YOU WILL WIN INFACT AFTER WATCHING YOUR MATCH WITH VERD: YOU ARE WELL BACK ,KEEP SMILING YOU GORG: MANXX
Vamos Rafa, good luck you are the best player
A very good luck for the matcH
I hopre this will be new start of.the season for u rafa
Vamos Rafa!
I’m sure you ‘d have preferred Djokovic instead!!! (smiling).
Deep Thinker Cynical as usual.
To bad it has to be Juan but this is the road back in 2016.
I wish you, as always the best. Looking forward to the match.
OLA & VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Nice draw for you have a great time playing Monaco !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) It will be a great match for you!!!!!! There is so much beauty about your tennis dear Rafa & perhaps the best good news is that you have your priorities well placed, beautifully in tact. The most important aspect of your successful career is that you always keep everything in perspective & placing your precious family, your blessed happiness & well being above all!!!!!!!! KUDOS !!!!!!!: ) You can take lots of pride with your classy efforts & beautiful tennis & each time walking onto the courts enjoy that deep knowing you give it all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Lots of love & have a beautiful week!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
Love them both! I enjoyed when they played doubles together last year!
Best wishes to both Rafa and Juan!