On Wednesday, Rafael Nadal will play his quarter-final match at the Australian Open against the big-serving Canadian third seed Milos Raonic, who won the pair’s last meeting in Brisbane earlier this month.
Date: January 25, 2017
Match time: 7.30 PM local time (Melbourne) / 3.30 AM EST – New York, Montreal / 8.30 AM GMT – United Kingdom / 9.30 AM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Milos Raonic:
I think going to be a tough match for me, for sure. Hopefully for him, too. In Brisbane he beat me. But at the same time is true that I have been close. A set up and important break point that I had passing shot, no?
Is tough. He’s an opponent that make you feel that you’re playing with a lot of pressure all the time because his serve is huge and he’s playing very aggressive from the baseline. So going to be a very tough match, no?
But I hope to be ready for it. I need to be very focused with my serve and play aggressive. If I am not playing aggressive, then I am dead, because he plays aggressive.
- Rafa is bidding to reach a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time since he won the title at 2014 Roland Garros.
- He is bidding to reach his 5th Australian Open semifinal and move into joint-7th position on the table for most appearances in the last 4 here in the Open Era.
- He is bidding to reach his 24th Grand Slam semifinal and close the gap on Andre Agassi in 5th place for the most Grand Slam semifinal appearances in the Open Era.
- Rafa is bidding to record his 50th Australian Open match-win and become the 4th man in the Open Era to record 50 Australian Open match-wins after Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Stefan Edberg.
- The Australian Open is Rafa’s 2nd most successful Grand Slam in terms of match-wins, but his least successful in terms of titles won and semifinals reached.
- Rafa is bidding to reach his 24th Grand Slam semifinal. He has a 23-6 win-loss record in quarterfinals at the majors – but 4 of his 6 losses in the last 8 have come at Melbourne Park. He has a 4-4 win-loss record in the last 8 here, compared to 9-1 at Roland Garros, 5-0 at Wimbledon and 5-1 at the US Open.
- If he wins on Wednesday Rafa is projected to rise to No. 6 in the ATP rankings – unless either David Goffin or Grigor Dimitrov go on to win the title here, when he would be No. 7. If Rafa wins the title in Melbourne, he will rise to No. 4. (Stats via ITF tennis)
This marks the ninth time that Rafa and Milos will meet on the professional tour. Overall our champ leads the head to head 6-2.
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Brisbane Australia |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Milos Raonic | |
| 2015 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Shanghai China |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2015 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Milos Raonic | |
| 2014 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Canada Canada |
Outdoor Hard | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2013 | Barcelona Spain |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2011 | Tokyo Japan |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2010 | Tokyo Japan |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
Rafa is bidding to win his 2nd Australian Open title and become the first man in the Open Era – and only the 3rd man in history – to win each of the 4 Grand Slam titles twice. Roy Emerson and Rod Laver are the only players to have won each Grand Slam on two or more occasions.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Rafa, straight-sets win.
CONGRATULATIONS RAFA!!!!👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍🎾🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍👏👏💪💪💪💪💪
Told ‘ya Mary is your good luck charm. I know she is very happy for you. Today was your day, again. Off to the semifinal.😘😘😘😘🎾🎾🎾
RAFA ROCKS
OLA OLA OLA OLA AND VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BRILLIANT MATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) A point at a time a match at a time and there , bright and strong you are winning with your fantastic determination and skill and effort and beauty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) Loved all your outstanding RETURNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Loved your sharp and clean SERVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Aces and ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) You directed and commanded the entire match!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KUDOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Side to side leading 3 wonderful SETS!!!!!!!! : ) Your classy play with such grace and all round fantastic TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) So much fun to see your return aim and focus and power and speed and serve …….God bless you sweetheart and enjoy your excellent victory!!!!!! : ) We are very happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Have a beautiful evening and enjoy everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Good night and sweet dreams !!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) I like the umpire! Naturally, she should have given R a warning as well. He took his sweet time preparing to serve a number of time way pass 20 seconds…..but over all , she was solid and professional and it was nice to see her doing a good job! : ) Lots of love & happiness dear Rafa and have extra massage and stretching and ample rest !!!!!! : ) You are grooving and gliding and sliding and that is brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Rafa you are pure magic. I think Maria is your lucky charm not a wild card. If only she had come to Australia with you more often ,who knows what the outcome would have been hehe 😀
Rafa, do a killer straight-sets WIN…
RAFA ROCKS
Wow Rafa! You are killing it , keep going . I’m still holding out for a Rafa/Roger final . John McEnroe is putting his money on Roger to win the AO , John ” you can not be serious man” it has to be Rafa😀
Wow!
We LOVE YOU RAFA NADAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 😉 : ) : ) : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ):) : ) You ARE something special!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS ON WINNING 2 OUTSTANDING SETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE SO INCREDIBLY GOOD AT TIE BREAKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE THE STRONGER PLAYER & THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KEEP GOING SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) PLEASE MOVE AROUND AND DISTRACT HIS SERVING …… GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
The USA has 3 females in the semifinals: the Williams sister with Serena vs Coco, and Venus vs Baroni, a Croat. WOMEN POWER
YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GREAT LADIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Keep going Rafa, you are playing great😀
BEAUTIFUL TENNIS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Great 1st SET and you are playing fantastic swift & sharp winning the 1st SET 6:4 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Keep going dear Rafa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) We love you and love your bright TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
wo…wo….wo….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Solid sweetheart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Another 40: 0 brilliant serve game and a fantastic FIRST BREAK beautifully leading 4:3 and ready to serve : ): ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Beautiful feisty RETURNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Sending R traveling Side to Side and playing winners AMAZINGLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) GO RAFA GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) : ) : ) : ) Great play sweetheart!!!! : ) Serving a beautiful 40:0 1st serve game : ) : ) : ) LETS GO RAFA LETS GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
OLA OLA OLA DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Very happy for you! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Have a great day and lots & lots of fun playing your groovy Tennis!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Your deep love for the game is so special and it will be another great match for you!!!!!!!!: ) Enjoy it all! : ) You are such a unique talent sweetheart!!!!!! : ) I love your genius Tennis !!!! : ) : ) !!!!!!! : ) You are ALL passion and magic !!!!!! : ) ci….ci… !!!!!!! : ) Have a great time sweetheart & enjoy playing playfully your brilliant Tennis. Your REACH and SPEEDY movement and FANTASTIC SERVE are all there!!!!!!! : ) ci…….ci…..ci……ci….. & A BIG CI : ) : ) : ) Enjoy everything & we will be there enjoying each point with you!!!!!! : ) VAMOS & LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : )
Good luck tomorrow Rafa, Milos have a good flight back to Monte Carlo 😀
I say Rafa should ‘normally’ win this one in 4 or maybe 5 sets. Why? This is the first time these 2 meet in major. Nadal is usually a nod better at slams, best of 5 on the big court with his experience (1). Raonic beat Rafa twice, the one in 2015 was by a margin of 2 points – point taken is: Raonic needs to move a mountain to win 2 sets from Nadal, a 2-0 lead seems unlikely for him, he never did that so tomorrow neither (2). The two met twice in the last 3 weeks. In the sets that Rafa won, his intensity was high, similar to in his last two matches. If he brings that intensity during 3 sets of the 4 or 5, he should roll, while Raonic basically has one trick at all times (3). The AO court is similar to the Abu D court, Brisbane court is different, seems slower. I actually think faster hard court works well for Nadal against a bad mover like Raonic (4), see also the August 2013 win.
This is my analysis. Apologies for going off topic. I should have stuck with “Rafa you rock” of course.