Rafael Nadal will meet Roger Federer in the final of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday.
Date: January 29, 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 Roger:
Is special play with Roger again in a final of a Grand Slam. I cannot lie. Is great. Is exciting for me and for both of us that we still there and we still fighting for important events. So that’s important for us, I think. That’s very special.
(The rivalry with Roger) was amazing for me, for me and I think for tennis, too. Is the combination of two different styles that makes the matches really special. Both of us, I think, having a lot of good success with these two different styles. I feel that this rivalry go not only in the tennis world. People from outside of our world talk about this, and that’s good for our sport. Is good that we are back there.
- 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.
- Rafa is projected to rise to No. 6 when the new ATP Rankings are released on Monday 30 January. If our champ wins the title, he will rise to No. 4.
- Rafa is looking to win his 15th Grand Slam title and close the gap on Federer in the list of all-time Grand Slam title holders. He is currently joint-2nd with Pete Sampras on the list behind Federer (17).
- Rafa is aiming to win his first hard court tournament in over 3 years. He has not won a hard court tournament since defeating Monfils to win the title at 2014 Doha. His total of 16 hard court titles is the 4th highest among active players (behind Federer, Djokovic and Murray). (Source: ITF)
Fedal will meet for the first time in a Grand Slam final since the 2011 French Open, and for the first time in a hard-court Grand Slam final since the 2009 Australian Open.
Rafa leads the overall head to head 23-11 and has won nine of the pair’s 11 grand slam matches. Here are all the matches Rafa and Roger have played against each other:
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
I’m surprised that Rafa’s mum and sister haven’t made an appearance , unless I just haven’t spotted them. COME ON RAFA x
For those of you who have small children or grandchildren (on a well known site) I have just come across a hardback book for children 7+ . It looks lovely and it’s due to be released on the 11th April. The book is called Rafa Nadal: What Really Matters Is Being Happy Along The Way, Not Waiting Until You Reach The Finish Line.It starts with Once upon a time, there was a little boy who loved tennis and soccer.It looks a gorgeous little book , I have pe-ordered it , for a relation but who knows I might end up keeping it myself .
Sounds like a good read. That’s what I was saying the other day about Rafa; the sheer joy of being able to compete, the love of the game, the actual process that goes on before the victory, the journey if you will, the “batailles extraordinaires.”
RAFA ROCKS
Best wishes, Rafa. I know Roger will throw everything he’s got at you from his wonderful arsenal. I remember in his interview with Jim Courier, he told him as much plus he doesn’t care if he can’t walk for 6 months after the match or something like that. He said he is going to leave everything he’s got out there and I know you will as well. Magic!
I know how much this final means to both of you. I look forward to this epic battle between 2 living legends. The contrast of styles, jockeying for court position, attacking and re-directing the ball and all the other weapons you both possess will be so much fun to watch.
Again, I look so forward to watching you compete on this very special day! Vamos!
I already set my alarm for 3:00 am.