On Thursday, four-time champion Rafael Nadal will face the big-serving Australian Nick Kyrgios (No. 20) in the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open.
Date: May 11, 2017
Match time: 8 PM local time / 2 PM EDT – New York, Montreal / 7 PM BST – United Kingdom / 8 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / Friday 4 AM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Kyrgios:
He’s a very difficult opponent. He’s one of the most difficult players you can play. It’s true that I think on clay he’s a very, very tough player… I have to play really well to be able to beat him. I think I’m ready to do that. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. I don’t know what’s going to happen.
Kyrgios beat Rafa at 2014 Wimbledon, but our champ got the better of Australian over three sets at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in May 2016.
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2014 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | R16 | Nick Kyrgios |
Rafa is 30-5 on the season, which includes his 10th title at both the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters and the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. He has won a record 51 clay-court crowns overall.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP World Tour
OMG!!! Rafa was so sharp, so intense, so focused, so confident. Nick had no answers and didn’t know how to play the king. His trusted serve didn’t come to the rescue either. Definitely a runaway victory for Rafa, contrary to most (including me) thinking that the match was going to be close (haha)! Nick looked as though he’d checked out of the match in the second set. i’m not sure why he was grimacing. Was it physical pain due to injury or the anguish he was feeling from Rafa’s pressure? I’m sure we’ll find out soon.
Interestingly, Nick was asked recently, what makes Rafa one of the greats and he said it was the fact that he played every point with the same high intensity. That was ceartainly evident tonight. Well done Rafa. All credit to you. Keep it up! 👍👌💪😘😀❤️
Firstly Respect to Nick , Who has become a man , yes a Man this year and has certainly grown up. Now Rafa, what can I say , wow! Just brilliant. Now if there’s one match I want you to win it’s your next against Goffin, go out and beat him hands down and prove to everyone and lay to rest the point and match scenario in Monte Carlo.
Commentator’s there is nothing wrong physically with Nick , he just got beaten by a better player .
Yes Rafa, more smiles for me.
CONGRATULATIONS! So happy you did it in SS.
MWAAAAHHHH
RAFA ROCKS
Who’d have thunk? That easy???
Tennis is a game of constant surprises, some of them very happy indeed.
Truly, a healing experience, this match.
Goffin will not be so easy.
Well done my Rafa!!!! Keep it up!!
Rafa en marche!
VAMOS! All the best against Goffin.
🍀🍀🍀👍👍👍
Just as I thought. Rafa is giving Nick a master class on la terre battue. YOU GO RAFA!
RAFA ROCKS
WAY 2 GO RAFA!! 🎾💪🏼😃
You’re playing brilliantly – Keep it up Champ – VAMOOS!! 🍀😘
OMG this is delicious.
Total destruction.
Like I said before about NK–not much fight in the guy. Either he’s blasts through someone, or he doesn’t. Again, a bit like RF.
Not at all like Rafa, or Thiem, who fought like a sonfoagun against Dimi.
This match so far has not been as worrying as I thought it may be. Rafa up a set and a break and playing well.
First set done n dusted. Rafa on fire ! Keep the intensity going champ
Come on Rafa, another set like that and your fans will be over the moon 🌜. God commentator’s are getting on my nerves . Praising Nick all the time is fine but in case the didn’t notice Rafa won the first set , so I guess he was playing pretty good as well .
Yes Maria – Barry cowen and mark petchy annoyed me too. Going on about nick just as they were about Roger (during other people’s matches) and forgetting that rafa is a 14 time grand slam winner and the king of clay. They certainly had to change their tune really quickly when nick started to bomb. It was comical. They then had the nerve to slag off our lovely umpire when he wasn’t enforcing rafa’s time violations. Tut tut
Oh My! 5/2 Rafa. It’s almost too easy.
NK looks all deflated, he’s like this when he doesn’t beleive, he has nothing in reserve.
Maybe he’s bummed about his grandfather, but I see it as he needs fire for his ego in order to play.
He made some remark this week about when he’s playing his best, he’s the best player in the world.
Better Rafa should set him straight.
So pleased.
Great work so far Rafa ,just hold your nerve. Come on Spanish crowd give Rafa a bit more support
NK just broke back serving 2/3. He’s very controlled, subdued in his emotions, he’s truly looked like a different player this year, all business.
Very interesting match thus far.
Rafa is playing way better than he did yesterday, thankfully.
Forgot to mention, of the four visiting French nationals. I asked them why Yannick is considered a hero in France. They burst out laughing, then said with a lot of sarcasm left for the whole of France, “Parce qu’il a gagné RG.”
RAFA ROCKS