World No. 6 Rafael Nadal begins his campaign for a fourth Indian Wells Masters 1000 Series title against left-hander Guido Pella on Sunday. They have never played before.
Date: March 12, 2017
Match time: Around 12.30 PM local time / 3.30 PM EST – New York, Montreal / 7.30 PM GMT – United Kingdom / 8.30 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / Monday 6.30 AM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa is coming off a runner-up in Acapulco (l. to Querrey) on March 4 and he’s trying to capture his first title on hard courts since 2014 Doha. He’s played in 30 hard court tournaments since then. Pella is looking to reach the 3R for the second straight year. He is 1-4 lifetime against Top 10 foes.
• Tournament Note: Three-time champion (48-9 record) is making his 12th straight appearance and 13 overall. Has reached QFs-better in 10 of 12 visits, except 2004 debut and 2014 (l. in 3R both times). Also runner-up in 2011 (l to Djokovic) and SF five times, including last year (l. to No. 1 Djokovic). Won doubles titles in 2010 & 2012 (w/M. Lopez).
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP World Tour
Oh no!
Thanks maria – I’ve seen it now. Catch you tomorrow perhaps
Yep he’s definitely there now Susie playing against whoever I put below . Have a good night and enjoy Rafas’s match tomorrow 😀
Hi maria I still can’t find rafa listed for tomorrow for his doubles but ive found novak and I found nick. I’ll check again tomorrow but I’m sure he will be playing, especially if you’ve found him listed.
Thanks maria you got further than I did with it.
Congratulations to Rafa on his win against Pella today.
I read in a pre-match interview with Pella that he had never played against Rafa but he had practiced with him quite a few times. He said that Rafa had some shots that he had never seen anyone else do.
I hope Rafa pulls some of these shots out of the bag as the tournament progresses and he plays some of the “big guys”.
Nadal R./Tomic B.
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Klaasen R./Ram R
Susie, I have just checked the website again and now his doubles match has appeared, have you tried again and got a different result . VafavreVa4favre no Rafa hasn’t pulled out , his match wasn’t showing but now it’s up there for tomorrow night.
Hi Maria, I was not clear on my comment. I meant to say that Rafa was still playing doubles. I have mixed feelings about his doubles win, however. I hate it when he loses any match, but I worry about his getting too tired. It is supposed to be very hot all week.
I think Souix lives in California. I would try asking her also.
I live in NY and all accounts of doomsday weather was absent this morning when I ventured outside.
RAFA ROCKS
OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) Solid 2 SET hold and A fantastic VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Congratulations dear Rafa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Your competitive edge is THE SHARPEST and STRONGER THAN ANY PLAYER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Your hard work and brilliant practices are yielding you beautiful wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Keep smiling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Love you and love watching your powerful, feisty Tennis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) You are so creative & focused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Beautiful stuff right there on hard court!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) VAMOS Champion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Enjoy your evening & have great time celebrating with THE TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Very happy for you dear Rafa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) You have earned all of this ten times folds and as Tennis fans, much like all your other million fans globally, we are enormously proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Lots of love & happiness !!!!!!!!!!!! : )
I am happy and relieved that Rafa won in SS. I did not hear what his illness was, but he said it was two days and drained him of his energy. My guess would be the flu. He was not so sharp today, but not bad either. I don’t think we can underestimate the heat today. The heat plus his illness might have contributed to that. Rafa’s hair does look thinner when he sweats so much. It looked better at the doubles which were at night. The hair transplant takes at least six months to see the full effect. I did not hear that he pulled out of his doubles.
Will the real va4favre please stand up. I hope va4favreVa4favre has not stolen his identity.
I don’t give a ratz arse about Rafa’s hair but I had to burst out laughing after reading va4favreVa4favre’s, “It [his hair] looked better at the doubles which were at night.”
It is dark at night. Night hides most of our perceived physical imperfections. Need I elaborate?
As far as I can tell, Rafa still has said nothing about a most personal matter made public by somebody or “somebodies.” I am waiting to hear from the man, himself.
As I stated earlier, as long as he is not Hercules, he can go with or without the hair. (I can’t recall my exact words.)
RAFA ROCKS
Margo, not again pleeeeaaaasssssseeeeeeee!
What is your problem now?
I HOPE YOU HAVE NOT MISINTERPRETED ANOTHER OF MY COMMENTS.
I know a “va4favre,” who is one of the sweetest and Rafa-centric fans here. And Rafa knowledgeable.
I do not know a va4favreVa4favre. You know as well as I do that many of those who get kicked off find a way to sneak back. That is what I was thinking when I posted. Someone using va4favre’s screen name in a different way so that RNF does not notice.
If that is what you’re referring to, why not try asking me first instead of jumping to conclusions. va4favre is just so respectful, and fun to read…..geez Maria England.
RAFA ROCKS AND SO DOES va4favre
Now I am in a fit of laughter. I just saw your comment about Rafa’s hair made on this Indian Wells R2 RNF post. The first time I am reading it. Yes, the FIRST time I am reading it. I thought you meant the first comment made on RNF about Rafa’s hair back in November. I have been too busy lately to even look up news on Rafa.
If you read my comment to va4favreVa4favre, you will note that what was important to me was the hilarious “night” reference.
I then went on to repeat basically what I said in November, about “what does Rafa have to say.”
RAFA ROCKS
Margo I was referring to the comment I don’t give a rat’s arse about his hair and it being a personal matter made public . No surprise to know it was me who mentioned the hair , if you don’t care about what I have wrote don’t waste you time mentioning it like most people. I have tried to dpget on with you but it’s not worth the effort . Please I ask again do not read my comments then we we can keep it a happy site for everyone. Thank you
Sorry, Maria England. Wrong again. It was made public on the INTERNET. Not here on RNF. That’s where I first saw it. Was not referring to you and I have no idea who first repeated it here on RNF. I don’t remember it being you. You are hardly the individual who made it public; that Rafa had something done about his hair loss. Think about it.
I did tell you if I had a rebuttal of any of your comments I would address you directly. I keep my word.
Wish you would stop fighting with me. Surely my response to your “Margo, not again,” indicates my failure to ask you what you meant.
Believe it or not Maria England, you are not the center of attention here. Rafa is. No disrespect meant.
I gladly accepted your apology about your other faux pas, but heard nothing from you on that. Then to see “Margo, not again,” I thought you were defending va4favre, who is the sweetest.
I am sorry, but I have to ask, how could you think it was you who made it public? I knew about it way before it was mentioned here on RNF.
RAFA IS THE CENTER OF MY UNIVERSE ON RNF
Correction: …..a rebuttal “to” or a response to any of your comments I would….
RAFA ROCKS
Are you for real, don’t play dumb , I made a comment about Rafas’s hair so you had a dig hence I don’t give a ratz arse and then a dig about it being his private business , getting at I shouldn’t be commenting on it. As for the center of attention bit ,I think you have me mixed up with you , if I remember it’s you who tells the site who should be banned, out of date info ect . Dig away Margo I’m not playing into your playground mentality anymore.
I am sorry you feel that way, Maria England. I wish you would not accuse me of not telling the truth. I really thought you were beyond that.
When family members and friends want the truth about something, they come to me because they know if I have an answer it will be the truth. No sugar coating. No ambiguity.
For the last time, I was responding to va4favreVa4favre’s hilarious comment about Rafa playing at “night.” I thought it was the funniest. Akin to Sioux’ comment about her hair and cat. You can’t make that stuff up. Maybe you should laugh more often and stop being so mean.
When I think about Rafa, it is about his “awesomeness” as a human being, about his prodigious athleticism, about the many “firsts” he has accomplished, about his love of his birthplace, about how he learned to lose graciously, about the respect he shows to all of his opponents be they low-or-high ranked, his many charitable endeavors. His hair has nothing to do with all those things so it’s the furthest thing from my mind.
Most of the time I come here and just read comments. If I decide to respond, that is when I will note who the author is. IF you could read minds, it is you who would be making another apology.
RAFA ROCKS
I really dislike having to tell you that you are wrong AGAIN.
Yes, you, among others including me, made a comment about Rafa’s hair. However, susieq’s is the first mention of Rafa’s hair that I could find; 11/25/2016 @ 10:45pm. I knew about the hair rumor before 11/25 through a different source.
Your comment was posted a day later, 11/26/2016 @ 12:02pm. If I meant you in my comment about “night,” I would have mentioned “worried about his hair growing longer,” which is what you said. Go check it out.
About my banning comment; that was my opinion based on the constant barrage of Rafa insults. And I am PROUD of having said it. I never shied away from it. It was Jaybeer, who hasn’t been heard from in a while, about whom I made that comment. Obviously RNF felt that with so many complaints made against him in this comments section, it was incumbent upon them to give him the boot. RNF would NOT listen to me to make that decision.
About the “old news” comment, that was not called for on my part. Not an excuse, but I was getting frustrated that RNF posts were things I had already read. Shame on me for that one because I didn’t stop to think that many fans may not have the time to keep up with Rafa. It hasn’t happened again, and won’t.
Just ask me, Maria England, as I am very forthcoming.
If our Rafa can change, which he has demonstrated both with Moyà and taking better care of his body and thirdly, by holding cutiepie Dian the koala, so can you.
RAFA ROCKS AND IS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE HERE
Yes it is a sizzling heat wave in Southern California… I live by the beach so it has been foggy but inland it’s scorching, I heard that it was 120° on the court… Poor Rafa ( Who’s sweats easily anyway) was sweating buckets. I’m watching Rafa and Bernard right now… RAFA doesn’t seem to be sweating as bad today, maybe because with singles he works harder. Just checked the temperature and it’s 96° & they just lost! Good, now Rafa can Concentrate on singles!
Maria ( England) … It seems that you Maria (Siberia) & Susie gang up against Margo. Since my name was mentioned I feel like I can maybe play the mediator here. I have always enjoyed your posts and know how much you love Rafa… I love your British humor and appreciate all your astute knowledge on him. However You Susie & Maria (Siberia) attack Margo like a Wolverine going after prey… Just plain vicious! My goodness I would hate to cross any of your paths in a real life situation! I read Margo’s post and she was referring to Va4favre’s comment about Rafa’s hair looking thinner than in his Previous match, which was at night. I honestly think You are unintentionally taking her the wrong way or you are scouring her comments to find something to berate her on. I’ve been reading this site for much longer than I have been posting, because I am not good at it… I have always thought that Margo’s intentions were to bring us the latest information and facts on Rafa… The name calling here from you three is nothing more than shameful .Something you would expect from children. (Although I may wash my children’s mouth out with soap)not Intelligent adults. I’m sure that Margo doesn’t need me to protect her but I feel the need to when I see injustice before my eyes. Remember this is supposed to be a fun loving site!
I agree with you Sioux, and I do have fun here, otherwise I wouldn’t visit. I feel bad for the fans who have to wade through this nonsense.
RAFA ROCKS
Vamos Rafa! Well done!
Way to go Rafa, now you need to take your game up a notch if you have your eye on that trophy. Good luck in your next match
Well done rafael
Way to go Rafa serve it out now for the match! Vamos Rafa!
I noticed that maria but it’s so hot out there I think his hair is stuck to his head and we can see a bit more glistening of the skull due to the sweat. I hadn’t realised konta was out – shame. I saw Dan evans go out but he played well against nishikori without too much of the old dramatics. I’ve always liked Jo Wilfred so it’s a shame he’s not playing any more of Indian Wells. Relieved rafa got 1st set but he did go on to break 3 times so I wasn’t worried for long.
wo….wo…wo…..& CI……Ci……Ci…….VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) ; ) Love your 1st SET WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Closing it with a sharp feisty ACE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) GREAT MATCH SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) The crowd is amazing & the setting and views are beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Fantastic reach sweetheart & as the singing go: LETS O RAFA LETS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Great work Rafa, nice warm up for your next match.