On Saturday, Rafael Nadal will play his semi-final match at the Mutua Madrid Open against defending champion Andy Murray, who beat Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-3.
Date: May 7, 2016
Match time: Not before 1 PM local time / 7 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / Noon BST – United Kingdom / 1 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 9 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Watch online: 3pmstream
Rafa on playing Andy:
We know each other very well. It’s a question of playing my best, and if I am playing my best, I hope to have my chances. If not, it will be almost impossible.
Andy played the semi-finals in Monte-Carlo winning good matches, and was close to beating me in the semi-finals. Last year he won here, so he knows how to play very well here. That’s a great level that he’s playing.
He’s a player that can win against everybody. I know it’s going to be a very hard match for me, but I am going to be fighting.
Rafa is 17-6 against Andy overall and 7-1 against Andy on clay, with his only loss coming in the final of last year’s Madrid Masters.
Their only meeting so far this season came a few weeks ago in the semifinals of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, which Rafa won in three sets.
Here are the matches Rafa and Andy have played against each other:
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal |
26 64 62
|
| 2015 | Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Great Britain |
Indoor Hard | RR | Rafael Nadal |
64 61
|
| 2015 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Andy Murray |
63 62
|
| 2014 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal |
63 62 61
|
| 2014 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Rafael Nadal |
16 63 75
|
| 2012 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Andy Murray |
W/O
|
| 2011 | Tokyo Japan |
Outdoor Hard | F | Andy Murray |
36 62 60
|
| 2011 | US Open NY, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal |
64 62 36 62
|
| 2011 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | SF | Rafael Nadal |
57 62 62 64
|
| 2011 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal |
64 75 64
|
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal |
64 26 61
|
| 2010 | Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Great Britain |
Indoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal |
765 36 766
|
| 2010 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Canada Canada |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Andy Murray |
63 64
|
| 2010 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | SF | Rafael Nadal |
64 766 64
|
| 2010 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Andy Murray |
63 762 30
RET
|
| 2009 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal |
62 764
|
| 2009 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | F | Rafael Nadal |
61 62
|
| 2009 | Rotterdam Netherlands |
Indoor Hard | F | Andy Murray |
63 46 60
|
| 2008 | US Open NY, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Andy Murray |
62 765 46 64
|
| 2008 | ATP Masters Series Canada Canada |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal |
762 63
|
| 2008 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | QF | Rafael Nadal |
63 62 64
|
| 2008 | ATP Masters Series Hamburg Germany |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
63 62
|
| 2007 | ATP Masters Series Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
765 64
|
| 2007 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
673 64 46 63 61
|
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP World Tour
Rafa needs to be aggressive from the start! No point starting slowly, going down a set then working your way back up. No sir! Good luck Vamos and all that Rafa, get it done!
A very best luck to rafa
Just enjoy the 5th semifinals of the year
Vamos rafa
I wish you love and luck Rafa with all my heart. Stay in your ‘flow’… and you can beat anyone…
I haven’t seen the match but based on what RAFA said; the wet conditions impacted his game, the balls were heavier and were not hurting Sousa.
If it rains tomorrow, Andy is NOT going to waiver because he said he enjoyed playing under the roof and it was comfortable for him.
Let’s see what RAFA comes up with, I’m still choosing RAFA to be in the finals because he is hungry and mentally tough again.
RAFA fan forever.
Good luck and all the best for the match. You can do it. Vamos Rafa!!!
Whether with the roof on or off, it has been said that at this level of tennis, the player who wants the win more will find the way to win. Be fierce, Rafael, there is only one way to beat Murray. The trophy awaits!🏆🏆🏆👑👑👑💪💪💪❤️
Rafa is my favourite player and Andy second and they are very good friends but he will have a very touch match for this semi final but I am sure he knows this and just need to play with confidence and keep his mind on the job and not think about who he is playing and just keep fighting fighting fighting as he has been doing so over the last few weeks
So go Rafa go and win this you know you can do this
very bad draw 🙁