Rafael Nadal will play Gael Monfils in the fourth round on Monday – an opponent he holds a 12-2 record against.
Rafa has won the last four meetings, including a 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 victory at the Australian Open in 2014.
Date: January 23, 2017
Match time: It’s the second match of the evening session on Rod Laver Arena and follow the conclusion of the women’s singles clash between Karolina Pliskova and Daria Gavrilova. Approximately 8.30 PM local time / 4.30 AM EST – New York, Montreal / 9.30 AM GMT – United Kingdom / 10.30 AM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Gael Monfils:
He’s the No. 6 in the world, no? He’s playing great. He had an amazing year last year. He started the season again playing very well.
Going to be a big, big match. Very tough one. I need to play my best.
A win would give Rafa his 30th appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Monfils on playing Rafa:
It’s always a pleasure to play against Rafa. We had a big battle in Monte-Carlo – he won this one, but I’m going to recover good tonight and I’ll be ready for the next day.
Here are the matches our champ and the often- acrobatic Monfils have played against each other:
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2015 | Stuttgart Germany |
Outdoor Grass | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2014 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2014 | Doha Qatar |
Outdoor Hard | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2012 | Doha Qatar |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Gael Monfils | |
| 2011 | Barcelona Spain |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2010 | Tokyo Japan |
Outdoor Hard | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2010 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2009 | US Open NY, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2009 | Rotterdam Netherlands |
Indoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2009 | Doha Qatar |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Gael Monfils | |
| 2008 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Paris France |
Indoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2006 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2005 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | R64 | Rafael Nadal |
The winner will meet either third seed Milos Raonic or 13th seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarter-finals.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
CONGRATULATIONS RAFA!
Very happy for you with another won match. 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘🎾🎾🎾🎾👏👏👍👍👍👍👍
Au revoir Monfils…..
RAFA ROCKS
YES, YES, YES!!!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🍀🍀🍀🍀🎾🎾🎾🎾
RAFA ROCKS
Nadal is sooooooooo slow, it gets on my nerves ….. specially after watching Roger yesterday..
Is there an “off” switch?
RAFA ROCKS
If watching him gets on your nerves why bother watching him? You can just sit and watch Roger in his matches. Rafa and Roger are two completely different players but fortunately there are those who accept their differences and enjoy watching them both for the terrific champions they are.
Ha ha. I’ll be in work so will be checking live scores and watching highlights . Cross fingers and get yourself out of the naughty corner!
This tournament has been very unpredictable Susie , but Rafa should be able to win this match without much trouble, although the Frenchmen have upped their game . At least it’s on at a reasonable hour although I will have to record it and watch later. Oh and A+ on putting your apostrophe in the right place,I’m off to stand in the corner with my hands on my head ( hehe)
A word of caution here to all Rafa fans here.
I’d advise that we exercise some restraint and not be too excited about Rafa winning the AO just because Novak, Andy and Nishikori are all out! Everybody left in the race now has a 50-50 chance of winning.
Personally, and because I speak nothing but the truth like Deep Thinker, Dr. Who, The Prophet Speaks and Nostradamus (may God bless these guys aplenty wherever they are now), I really dont see Rafa winning the AO. He’s still not in top form which explains why he had to go the distance to prevail against an average teenage sensation like Alexander Zverev. For Pete’s sake, Dominic Thiem would have ”buried” shasha in straights!!! Afterall, Mischa, a wild card entry to wits and Shasha’s elder sibling, sent Andy home in 4 sets!!! So, why should Rafa (of all people) have to literally ‘battle’ to overcome an inexperienced player like Shasha?
Based on the foregoing, here is my much awaited prediction for the remainder of the tournament and eventual winner:
So far, I must say i’ve been impressed by the following players in this descending order: Grigor Dimitrov, Stan ”the man” Wawrinka, Roger Federer, Milos Raonic, Gael Monfils, David Goffin, Mischa Zverev and the giant slayer, Dennis ”the menace” Istomin. One of these 8 musketeers will win the AO 2017, but who? Hmmmmn…..
A careful analysis and with the benefit of history hindsight will reveal that a new star is about to emerge hence the early take-out of obstacles like Andy and Novak. Between these 3 men, one of them will EMERGE the AO 2017 Champion and in descending order too: Grigor Dimitrov, Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka.
But as always, we’ll see…………………………hmmmmn
Lol. Rafa will be ok against Monfils unless he starts his trickery when he can become very unpredictable. Think rafa has his number though. It should be a delightful match – just like the Monte Carlo final
Susie, many Rafa fans have told her this but she doesn’t seem to take it on board. Still never mind,whatever makes her happy.
RAFA ROCS.. ooooops sorry my mistake
RAFA ROCKS
She’s just rude Maria. Ignore her. Note I put my apostrophe in the correct place!
It’s a shame your not as good at picking up sarcasm
Au contraire. You didn’t get it.
It’s not your spelling or punctuation, it’s your grammar. Do you know the difference?
RAFA ROCKS
You’re very welcome. So glad you appreciate the correction to this consistent error. BTW , it’s “too much.”
Really Margo , correcting my mistake✔,you obviously have to much time on your hands ,but thank you anyway👍
Rafa usually wins against Monfils . In all their meetings Rafa has only been defeated by him twice. Although I like Monfils naturally I want Rafa to win. I hope he has recovered from that 4+ hour match against Zverev yesterday.
The problem is that Monfils is so unpredictable. Hopefully, since Rafa has played him so many times, he will get the job done.
GOOD LUCK RAFA👏👏👏👏🎾🎾😀😀🐨🐨♥️♥️
Listen,
If nadal beats monfils tonight then it think he has a good chance of reaching the final. Frankly this is his best chance to win a second grandslam. No murray, djokovic or nishikori. You can easily compare nadal run at this grandslam with the run that federer had at the french open in 2009 in order to complete his grandslam. what a achievement will that be winning a second grandslam. I know rafa is not thinking about it and he is right
What’s tinder?
Anyway, it’s very confusing when reading your=possessive instead of you’re=you are or vice versa.
Margo, It is a online dating site. His comment is inappropriate.
I see. I thought it may have been something like Instagram. LOL
When you consider the source, well…
RAFA ROCKS
Only five of the top ten are still standing and the possibility of a Rafa-Roger match is very much alive.
Rafa, you told Moyà what your goals are…I would love to see them realized.
RAFA ROCKS
Fed is through as well and has a great chance now to reach the final.
Rafa is the only player left in the other part of the draw who is a major winner.
Would Rafa be strong enough to beat Fed in a possible dream final, where the stakes for their places in tennis history would be on the line (18-14 or 17-15, and Rafa’s best chance to become the first open era player with two career grand slams). It’s 9-2 in major meetings and 3-0 at the Aussie Open….
I agree, that would be the nightmare scenario (“Roger is the GOAT!” nonsense returning at full force) or the perfect outcome (Roger is in fact the King of the Weak Era).
Rafa and Roger you are the greatest and have shown this in the last couple of days , many wrote you both off last year ,they really should have known better. Rafa you can do this , get Milos out the way and your there.
Learn the difference between you’re and your
Margo, what a positive comment once more. No luck on Tinder lately?
Did you buy a dictionary?
You can never underrate the opposition and Rafa never does. Frankly, I would be surprised if Gael defeats him. Rafa is in a good place and confident in his game.
Andy out against Mischa Zverev who served and volleyed so well. Andy looked tired. The AO has opened up. Let us take one match at a time and support out great champion. Vamos Rafaaaa
Good luck Rafa.
Rafa what a great match you played with Sasha.
All the best for tomorrow night,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXX
Rafa, it looks as if your path to the final is becoming a little less strenuous. KNOW YOUR OPPONENT.
Best of luck to the final.
RAFA ROCKS
Good luck and Vamos Rafa <3
Did you read that Andy also lost?
RAFA ROCKS