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.