Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori will be squaring off for the 11th time in their careers and for the third time this season when they meet in Sunday’s bronze medal match at the Rio Olympics.
Date: August 14, 2016
Match time: Rafa is second on Court One. Not before 1.30 PM local time / 12.30 PM EDT – New York, Montreal / 5.30 PM BST – United Kingdom / 6.30 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / August 15 – Monday, 2.30 AM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
The two have met 10 times before, with Rafa leading their head-to-head 9-1.
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Barcelona Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2016 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2015 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Canada Canada |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Kei Nishikori | |
| 2014 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
RET |
| 2014 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2013 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2012 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R64 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2010 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | R128 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2008 | London / Queen’s Club Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
Rafa won gold in singles at the 2008 Beijing Games and earned a second gold, this time in men’s doubles, on Friday.
Good luck and Vamos Rafa!
Janice I don’t think he’s arrogant just a bit moody at times .look up arrogant and you will see definition- Novak Djokovic
JBeer why don’t you take time out to actually listen to what the commentator,’s have to say , who only have praise for Rafa and say he should be commended for the way he’s played after having so much time away from the game. Rather than thinking you know it all listen to the people who actually know what their going on about
I look at the photo above and realise Rafa got what he really wanted – what he didn’t already have the doubles gold. We all know his smile but I’ve never seen one quite like that. A Herculean effort, there wasn’t an expert who thought he could possibly have anything left in the tank – they were right. Well done Kei you deserved it as well. Rafa will go home a hero, his legend enhanced. I doubt he wasn’t in pain. I hope he has done no lasting damage. WE LOVE YOU RAFA. Your next step is eagerly awaited but please take it easy and rest Champion you deserve it.💪👊
Del Potro seems a lovely guy but Andy for gold now for a few reasons.
1. Rafa is always number one ,but Andy number two as I’m from the UK
2.Del Potro knocked out Rafa (not in my good books) 👎👎.
3.Andy will have two Olympic gold medals then , and we all know that Novak has always wanted what Rafa and Roger has ( even down to apparently having now a recurring injury – a wrist injury would you believe)but the chances of him now getting two golds at the Olympics is zilch😬😬
4. Andy becoming Sir Andy is on the cards🙌
Pleeeeease, not Sir Andy, he’s arrogant enough!
And that is another loss. I am sorry but this does not bode well at all for us open.
You deserved to win Rafa but sometimes life’s just not fair . You may not have come away with a medal today but who needs one when you yourself are pure gold. You have won yourself many more fans this tournament and if medals were measured in love and respect for the man and player you are, Spain would be at the top of the medal table . Stay positive Rafa and when you have taken rest look back at this week and realise how special you are . Thank you Rafa for making the Olympics so special 😍😍🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸
Well said, Maria! I couldn’t believe that Rafa fought back to win the second set. He is such an incredible fighter! For all he has accomplished this week, and his career, he deserves admiration, love, and respect from all, fans or not.
Could have done without that umpire in the chair today . Have I got it right that Rafa is going straight from the Olympics to play in Cincinnati
I admit it – I thought it was all over. What an amazing man he is! That close look at defeat obviously spurred him into finding a bit extra. I hope it’s unnerved Kei. 3rd set…
Rafa you are super human, how are you still standing . I have only been watching tennis into the early morning’s this week and I feel exhausted. I hope you take this Rafa no one deserves it more than you. 💗💗💗
I only hope he”s on a roll and wins this 3rd set! VENGA RAFA
He’s finally getting it together! Hope he’s not left it too,late! VAMOS
Rafa has nothing left in the tank , he has proved himself over and over this week but the scheduling was just to gruelling even for him. I don’t believe any other player would even be left standing with the hors Rafa’s put in . Rafa gave it all yesterday and fought like it was a final. He can go back to Mallorca feeling proud and with his head held high. Rafa they broke the mould when they made you. You are one in a million.🇪🇸🇪🇸💖💖
Rafa has been on court more than 19 hours while most of us watching.
RAFA you are my champion……..bronze medal or not because you have 2 GOLD medals already and no one can take that from you.
RAFA fan forever.
He would have been practising anyway. Instead he had,the games.
What’s happened with Rafa’s fighting talk? He’s throwing this Bronze medal match away!
VAMOS Rafa VENGA!!!
Dear Rafa, you’re STILL Number One for all your fans. GOOD LUCK today with Kei Nishikori. VAMOS, RAFA!!!!
He’s not trying hard enough unfortunately, the first set has come and gone! Get,on with it .Rafa, it’s as if he doesn’t want the Bronze
He is human. After such a physically and emotionally draining week, especially the past two days. Do you really think he has much left in the tank? He’s given his all and his best!!
Yes, welcome back Fan love. Ha ha.
Guys I am disappointed that he did not win yesterday but it’s okay we all know he fought until the end. It’s just so amazing how a person could bring so much……….I am super proud of him and wish him luck against Kei today.
Well let’s hope he kicks Kei’s butt. Ha ha ha. Just kidding!!!!!!!…………MAYBE. Ha Ha
RAFA fan forever
Welcome back Fan love you have been missed
have a lot of fun u 2 and good luck love u 2
Rafael Nadal! Bring home some bacon for Spain! Have some fun out there, because by any measure, you have had a successful outing at these Olympic games.
Coming back from Injury, winning doubles Gold? Good stuff! Proving you can hang in there with the best of them? Good stuff! Encouragement for the next blazing run in your career? Great stuff!!
Keep fighting Rafa.
On y va rafa pour cette médaille de bronze ! ! Vamos rafa et bonne chance de tout coeur derrière lui👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤💕❤
I like Kei but Rafa I love you so sorry Kei. GOOD LUCK RAFA!! VAMOS!!
He needs to make fewer errors in this match, and more tactics and Aces!!
I truly want and hope he wins this Bronze medal to go with his hard earned Doubles Gold! VAMOS por el ganar el.proxim a juego
Wish you all the best for the match. Vamos Rafa <3 <3
Rafa, all the best for your game against Kei,
You certainly have had an amazingly blessed week and played so strongly and with great gusto,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
OLA & VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Hope you are having a great evening and taking great pride in all your amazing matches!!!! Have a great time tonight & lots & lots of fun playing tomorrow!!!!! : ) We love you & follow ALL YOUR MATCHES LIVE!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Very happy for you!!!!!!!! AND…. very proud of everything you have done!!!!! You are by far the most precious, passionate classy Tennis player ever – THE GOAT !!!!!! KUDOS for being such a fantastic extraordinary Sportsman. VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) I am sorry today and also two days ago you had to deal with the unfriendly , unhelpful umpire with bias and miscalls. He was clearly none professional in his bias tactics and cold mannerism. At one point yesterday he snapped LOUDLY “OUT” for one of your out balls – that was way out of line and so foolishly loud that it strudel-ed you and gave your opponent a break psychologically……BUT DEAR RAFA YOU MANAGED BEAUTIFULLY to over look his awkward umpiring…. and moved ahead despite his attempt to distract your flow. Today too, I was mighty disappointed to see that poor umpire on the chair…..again, he was miscalling a couple of your for sure IN balls, and got away. He seemed to be bias in the way he announced the on going scores on both of the matches ….. but guess what…he is just another one of those no bodies who wishes to get attention for his poor macho cold behavior on that chair…..the chair is high but he is rather low in my humble opinion. You had such a fantastic Olympics run!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Congratulations on everything and God bless you sweetheart!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Have fun & know all of your fans are right there loving every point you play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Good night and all the best !!!!!! : )
The DOUBLES match was THE BEST DOUBLES I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Congratulations to you & Marc….. Very exciting and unbelievably bright with your amazing enthusiasm and drive and mighty original play. We were so happy for you dear Rafa and you deserve all good coming your way sweetheart!!!!! : ) You looked so great carrying the flag and then to see you give it all in each match winning in 2 sets….You are THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) I love seeing how good and graceful you are on Hard Court and your unbelievable speed and groove and fantastic movement is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) ….. the US OPEN is just around the corner!!!! : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Enjoy everything!!!!!! : )