Two-time Acapulco champion Rafael Nadal will play Sam Querrey (world No. 40) in Saturday’s final. The American defeated sixth seed Nick Kyrgios 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.
A win would gave Rafa his first hard-court title since the Qatar Open in January 2014.
Date: March 4, 2017
Match time: Not before 9 PM local time / 10 PM EST – New York, Montreal / Sunday 3 AM United Kingdom / Sunday 4 AM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / Sunday 2 PM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Querrey:
Sam is playing great, beating Goffin and Thiem. He’ll be coming into the match with a lot of confidence.
Querrey on playing Rafa:
It does not get any easier tomorrow, it will be the toughest test. I played great today, but I need to play even better tomorrow to beat Nadal.
Rafa has dominated his FedEx ATP Head2Head with Querrey 4-0, including a win last May at the Mutua Madrid Open.
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2008 | ESP vs. USA WG SF Spain |
RR | Rafael Nadal |
675 64 63 64
|
|
| 2008 | US Open NY, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2006 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati OH, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R64 | Rafael Nadal |
- Rafa is bidding to become 5th player with 70+ ATP World Tour titles (Connors 109, Lendl 94, Federer 89, McEnroe 77)
- He played 29 hard-court tournaments and 5 hard-court finals since last hard-court title at 2014 Doha
- He owns 59-8 lifetime record against American opponents with 16 straight wins since 2011 Cincinnati QF (l. to Fish)
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP World Tour
Rafa , it wasn’t to be today, but you have had such a great start to the year , in the final of both tournaments, we couldn’t ask for more. Who would have predicted such a great and quick comeback after 2016 ,when many had wrote you off or thought retirement was on the cards. One of Rafas’s quotes -If you don’t lose, you cannot enjoy the victories. So I have to accept both things.Always gracious in defeat Rafa ,you are one in a million.Go smash it in Indian Wells next week and hopefully it will be third time lucky , either way your time will come when the clay court season begins ,then there will be no stopping you. Good luck next week Rafa . Susie have a good week and now go and get some well deserved sleep and refresh yourself for Rafas’s next battle.😴😴😴😴
Disappointed for rafa. Sleep time now for me and rafa should get some rest. Congrats to Sam though – well played
I agree with you fan love – not much tennis pkayed on his serve. Maria I’m nervous
Aww Rafa… So sad that he didn’t win but what could he do…Sam was throwing A bombs left & right. Not the best match for our boy but at least he got to the final. Regroup and focus Rafa on Indian Wells..You love it there and I’m sure you’re going to win this one! Vamos Rafa … Love love you win or lose!
I agree that he will regroup and keep on fighting. Compared to 2016, I am very happy he is reaching finals, and I look forward to the rest of 2017.
RAFA ROCKS
Oh crikey!
This type of serving is rather BORING TENNIS …… KEEP GOING DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) very happy you are able to put in great serve game and your magical court coverage!!!!!! : ) LETS GO RAFA LETS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) He looks rather tired and if this goes to 3rd set RAFA WILL PREVAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Yes It is very boring!! However that’s the only way anyone is going to win Rafa, Andy, Novack or Roger! I am afraid that’s the future of tennis and if it is then I’m out! How boring is that to watch a player slam their way through a match with free points on their serve! Boring Boring boring!
Serving aces all the time seems to be the way the game is played these days. If that is the case I hope Carlos Moya can help Rafa to cope a little better as he always seems to have trouble with these hard hitting ace orientated players. It just seems that the main objective is to get the game over and done with as quickly as possible.
I fear as you do that this could be the future of tennis. Look at the Fast Tennis being favoured by some .As yet it is only played at exhibition matches or similar or for casual social games but the whole objective appears to get matches finished speedily.
I may be old fashioned but I like to see the construction of points and a variety of tactics even if it does take longer.
BEAUTIFUL ACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Great foot work dear Rafa and solid creative RETURNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
I’m not liking this
Keep going sweetheart you are playing great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) You are doing everything right!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Maria Siberia- you were right. SQ got 1st set. Let’s hope you were right and rafa wins in 3
Let’s hope Maia (Siberia) predictions are right , Rafa don’t get distracted you can still win this.
Oh no rafa’s been broken and he’s not had a sniff at breaking serve himself so far!
It’s 4-3 Querrey first set now. Rafa standing even behind the Acapulco sign! Not liking it! Querrey’s serving really well and holding serve with ease. Pls be more aggressive and put more pressure on him, Rafa.
Oh Rafa come on please
I’m knackered too but have a pint of Earl Grey tea next to me. And that’s doing the trick. Keep going it’s going to get interesting
Put the Earl Grey away and get the Jack Daniels out! This is not looking good at all!
Susie, I can clarify that is correct , my eyelids are just about open but it looks like a packed house ( no pants on fire ). Come on Rafa dispose of SAM -i- Am in two sets
Oh look maria – all the seats are taken today! Cmon rafa
BEST OF LUCK, RAFA!
RAFA ROCKS
OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS DEAR RAFA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Very happy for you !!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 : ) : ) Enjoy lots & lots & lots of fun playing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ci…..ci….ci…..Senior!!!!! : ) It will be a great match for you!!!! : ) Go out there with your beautiful strong and adorable presence and enjoy your beautiful Tennis sweetheart !!!!!!!!!!!! : ) We will be here enjoying everything and each point with you!!!!!!! : ) Very happy for you and for your fitness and solid TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Have a nice evening! : ) It is another match, no more no less, no big deal…..enjoy & have fun playing sweetheart your wise point by point game paying zero attention to anything else……just the next blessed point! : ) : ) : ) : ) Lots of love & happiness & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Still going strong helped along by Maria (Siberia,) first paragraph. Maybe it needs to be rephrased as I just had a vision of Rafa in his Tommy Hilfiger underwear and it made me chuckle 😉
Maria Siberia – does rafa really have to lose the 1st set in your prediction? That will be tense viewing but we will indeed see. At least he’s holding the trophy. Maria England – that’s the spirit – now get some hoovering done if the neighbours don’t mind. Lol. Just don’t pass out with exhaustion before 3am. Whatever happens I’m sure it’s going to be a good match.