Flat-hitting Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov is Rafael Nadal’s first-round opponent at the Brisbane International.
Date: January 3, 2017
Match time: Approximately 8.30 PM local time / 5.30 AM EST – New York, Montreal / 10.30 AM GMT – United Kingdom / 11.30 AM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 9.30 PM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa:
I’m looking forward to competing and to see the great centre court that everybody, all the players, say is so special. This year I decided to be here in Australia; I have a good connection with the people here in Australia.
I like to know different places. It’s true that Doha worked well for me in the past, but here in Brisbane is something that probably will help me to adapt quicker to the Australian conditions that are always a little bit tougher in terms of weather.
Rafa leads the pair’s head-to-head ledger 5-2 but Dolgopolov claimed their two most recent encounters – at Indian wells in 2014 and Queen’s Club in 2015.
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Rio de Janeiro Brazil |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Rafael Nadal |
W/O
|
| 2015 | London / Queen’s Club Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | R32 | Alexandr Dolgopolov | |
| 2014 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Alexandr Dolgopolov | |
| 2014 | Rio de Janeiro Brazil |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Shanghai China |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2012 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2010 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | R32 | Rafael Nadal |
Our champ appears to be healthy and hitting well; so let’s hope he will go far away Down Under.
Good luck & Vamos Rafa!
Source: ATP World Tour
A sold out roar and applause for Rafa walking on to the court….Love to see him enter and hear how popular he is! Such a positive start for 2017! He looks so good…think he shed a few pounds( that’s what the Commentator said) and he just looks healthy and happy! Lots of smiling! I did not see Carlos in his box…One article says he came others say he did not come. Whatever he has one trophy and one match down…not too shabby! VAMOS RAFA!
RAFA ROCKS 👍👍👍👍👍🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍🐨🐨🐨🐨🐨🐨🐨(your latest fan, koala Dian)🐨🐨🐨🐨🐨🐨🍾🍾🍾🍾♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️Get some 💤💤💤💤💤💤💤 for Thusday’s win.👍👍👍👍😘😘😘😘😘🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🇺🇸Cheering for you.🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
RAFA ROCKS
May need to take you up on that maria. Thank you so much