On Friday, Rafael Nadal will face Russian world No. 47 Andrey Kuznetsov in the third round of the US Open.
Date: September 2, 2016
Match time: 7 PM EDT – New York, Montreal / midnight – United Kingdom / September 3 – 1 AM CEST – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / September 3 – 9 AM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa leads head-to-head series 3-0. Here are the matches our champ and Kuznetsov have played against each other:
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | R32 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2016 | Doha Qatar |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2015 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | R32 | Rafael Nadal |
- Rafa is looking to reach the 4R in a Grand Slam tournament for 1st time since 2015 Roland Garros (QF) and at US Open since winning title in 2013 (d. Djokovic) Rafa has won 10 straight matches vs. Russians since losing to Davydenko in SF at 2011 Doha
- Rafa has a 24-7 record vs. Russians since 2008 with 6 losses coming to Davydenko, who led 6-5 in H2H
- Kuznetsov has a 2-11 career record vs. Top 10 opponents with wins over No. 4 Wawrinka at ATP Masters 1000 Miami in March and over No. 7 Ferrer at 2014 Wimbledon 2R
- Kuznetsov is trying to reach the 4R in a Grand Slam for 2nd time in his career (2016 Australian Open)
Good luck & Vamos Rafa!
Source: ATP World Tour
j’adore ce rafa il me fait rêver monter au 7eme ciel c’est le plus grand joueur de tout les temps je l’aime !!!!!!!
It’s show time! Brilliant Tweener Rafa! Thought he was smashing… Yes a little glitch in the second set but my God look at the score 6 1 6 4 6 2… He did fabulous! All you fans remember, Rafa takes one game at a time…Yes it is nerve racking,nail biting, but what a thrill for his fans! I love Andy and I like Novak ( sorry but I do!) however to me they are boring…Perhaps it’s because they are not Rafa!!
Rafa……..absolutely thrilling awesome match! I had chills up and down my spine the entire match it was so fabulous. You are out of this world the best of tlhe best. Loved every moment and loved your winning smile!!! xoxoxo
Congrats RAFA, unto the next one.
Time to start your CHOMPING practice again, Rio is behind you it’s time for the US open Trophy 2016.
Chomp, chomp.
RAFA fan forever.
Three matches, not one set lost. Almost at the halfway line.
YES YOU CAN (That’s coming from the US president and it is a command!) LOL
RAFA MAKES ME HAPPY TO BE A FAN
Maybe I’m being too harsh but I thought that Rafa, especially from 2nd set on as I didn’t get to see 1st set, was playing too passive. Letting opponent dictate. It might not hurt him against these players as they force too much and make errors but this is not the way forward. Rafa is capable of dictating himself but it seems there were too many ups and downs shaking his confidence.
But what a LOVELY tweener lob to end it. My god. This is my point. Rafa is more talented in terms of pure skill than Nole or Andy but he needs to believe in those abilities and not go back to his old habits by putting the ball in the middle of the court letting opponents hit easy balls and hope for an error. Whenever Rafa won US Open he was the one who was dictating. Despite 3 easy wins, it didn’t feel easy to me. Hopefully he improves each round.
Very much my thoughts. Had mixed feelings, but now overall rules happiness because he did this amazing points… wont’t be enough against Nole or Andy, though.
Not at all, I’ve been hearing from tennis professionals and the agree that Rafa had to pick up his game. I just would not have been able to be as diplomatic as you so I left it alone.
There is a consensus that he looks in great form and that he is showing some of his brilliance. The matches will get tougher and he knows that so maybe he’s saving the best for last…who knows.
In any event, there is a lot of buzz about how well Andy is doing. Andy won gold at Rio and is looking for a double-hitter by winning the US Open. Last but not least, there’s DelPotro. His comeback is remarkable. I’m done…
It was a match worth watching eapecially on a day off sitting on the couch. Congrats Rafa. Please keep the momentum going. VAMOS
This point at the end of the third set… I cannot believe this. This is paradise😆😂👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼.
I know right. Only 2 players can hit that shot with consistency and it takes pure skill. One Federer other Rafa. Both did it against Nole too lol.
RAFA ROCKS A ZILLION TIMES
OMG YAAAYYYYE!!
Three matches, not one set lost. Almost halfway there.
CONGRATS RAFA