Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal will face Kyle Edmund for the first time when the pair clash in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Wednesday.
Date: April 19, 2017
Match time: Around 2 PM local time / 8 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 1 PM BST – United Kingdom / 2 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 10 PM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa is still in search of his first title this season. He is 58-4 lifetime in Monte-Carlo with nine titles. He is the defending champion having beaten Gael Monfils to claim the Monte Carlo title for a ninth time last year.
Edmund on playing Rafa:
I’ve always known him. But he’s probably not known me. I played Novak Djokovic three times, Andy Murray twice, Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic. It’s another top-10 opportunity for me.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
The biggest issue that I have noticed over the last few matches is Rafa’s insistence on hitting almost all balls back cross-court. He seems to lack the confidence to drive the ball down the line, which used to be his signature shot. He needs to bring this back if he is to win another tournament this year.
If this is clear to me, it has to be clear to Rafa and his team. It remains to be seen if they can translate what they (and all of us) know into actions on the tennis court.
Can’t disagree – a worryingly passive performance. But it’s his first clay court match of the year, and he usually improves as a tournament progresses. So I’m fingers-crossed for tomorrow.
Rafa played a poor second set, but he did improve in the third. I am very worried about tomorrow’s match. If Rafa can win, he will not have to face Dimitrov again. Edmund played as the youngster with nothing to lose. Rafa as the older player had to struggle with nerves and confidence. Tomorrow will be no different.
I think Fan Love is a little over exuberant but Maria Siberia, I do sense your frustration with Rafa. However, we must remember that this was the first meeting between Rafa and Kyle. I know Rafa (as well as Kyle) will certainly learn from this meeting. If Rafa’s team are doing their job, they will tell him to be more aggressive and mix up his game. Rafa will play the same old game if he is allowed to, but he is good at changing up his game and going to plan B when he’s forced to do so. The key to Rafa winning the tournament is to serve well and hit balls with depth so that he can get on the front foot. I’m sure that we will see him going from strength to strength as the tournament progresses.
I do know that Fan love has always been exhuberant in her support for Rafa!!!
RAFA ROCKS
RAFA ROCKS
RAFA ROCKS
RAFA ROCKS
RAFA ROCKS
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Congratulations on your solid victory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) BEAUTIFUL FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) It was an exciting match and all along it seemed you knew with your play and your trust in your solid competitive game that you could take the lead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) That was a great match dear Rafa & KUDOS FOR YOUR 1st WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ): ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Enjoy your sweet victory & have fun celebrating with your loved ones and THE TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) Have a great evening & a beautiful tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Enjoy everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) It will be another great day for Tennis and a great match for you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) You are on a groove sweetheart and I love how sharp and determined your point by point game is placed forward. FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 Loved your beautifully placed serve !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) So great and so mighty effective!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Your endurance is special…….everyone playing you turns red faced and hard of breathing by the end of 1st set while you look as if you are ready to begin another FIVE SET MATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) That tiger spunk in you always magnificently separates you from other players!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Clay is your home ground and your speedy movement and court coverage is spectacular!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Have a great night & enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Lots of love & happiness & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
With the singular exception of Fan Love, I think it should be clear to everybody else on this site that Rafa will certainly not successfully defend his Monte Carlo title at the end of the day.
We have said this time and time again- you cannot be doing the same things the same way and just sit back and expects things to change. Change just doesn’t and will never ever come that way.
At the end of the day, Rafa may not even win any clay court title this year. The fact that Kyle Edmund could come back from the dead shows that that 1st set was more of what Kyle wasn’t doing than what ever Rafa did.
Please brace up for tomorrow’s game as Alexandefr Zverev finally gets the chance to nail Rafa in 3 sets: 1 – 6, 6-4, 4-6
But as always, we’ll see……………….hnnnm
Wow, bold prediction. Rafa being served breadstick right off the bat?
I know he didn’t looking good today and Zverev definitely has a shot now like he has always had. But really, what makes you think that?
Phew! So happy that Rafa survived this one. He had to work hard. I was holding my breath from the second set!! All credit to Kyle Edmund as he took it to Rafa, with nothing to lose, ripping forehands. Rafa seems to be more aggressive when his back is against the wall but he has to be sharp and very aggressive from the start against Alex Zerev if he is to come through.
Most important – service and good length shots. Whether flat or high or whatever must be of good length!!!
Finally!!! Thank God!!!!!!
Congratulations Rafa!
That was Rafa’s lucky pigeon!
Jeeezuz Rafa I don’t need that 1rst thing in the morning.
Disaster averted but he will have to play better for Zverev.
Thank the lord😰
Well done rafa – my happy place is achieved
Even the pigeon has good taste. Come on Rafa you have this now.
Hurry up Rafa ! I need to go back to study !!
That’s more like it Rafa ❤️👏🏻 Plz keep it going champ 🍀🤞🏻 VAMOOS!! 🎾💪🏼
VAMOOOS RAFA!! 🎾💪🏼😅
Congratulations 🤗😘
OMG – what at match 😜 Pheww! That must’ve been a bird of good luck 🐦🍀😉
All the best next champ. – Sure hope it’ll come a bit easier 🤞🏻💖
Rafa must hold.
R9idiculous.
But Ed has been playing incredible tennis, and Rafa way less so.
Whew! Rafa breaks!
Still should not be so close. Edmund is playing well now, I’m only dismaye3d by Nadal hitting short balls. It’s his undoing. They have mianly been corrected.
He still has to hold a few times.
This won’t be good enough against Zverev.
WTF ? This is 2nd round ! This is Kyle ! This is clay ! This is Monte Carlo ! :O Hope he survives !
Lily – that made me laugh. Rafa will be ok. I’ve found my peaceful place and hopefully I will find my happy place when he wins!