Rafael Nadal will continue his Rome campaign on Friday afternoon when he goes up against Dominic Thiem.
Date: May 19, 2017
Match time: 4 PM local time / 10 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 3 PM BST – United Kingdom / 4 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / midnight AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Thiem for a third time in three weeks:
I am here to try my best. I know (it) is a tough tournament. I don’t have an easy draw here, a tough one. Dominic is the player that is having probably more success now on clay, no? So will be another tough battle tomorrow.
I think I can play a little bit more aggressive than what I did tonight. I think I have to do it.
Our champ is leading the head-to-head series 4-1 (all on clay) after beating the 23-year-old Austrian 7-6(8), 6-4 last week to lift the Madrid trophy.
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2017 | Barcelona Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2016 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2016 | Buenos Aires Argentina |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Dominic Thiem | |
| 2014 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | R64 | Rafael Nadal |
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
AMAZING Rafa. What an amazing 2017 thus far. 👏👍
Wishing you the best for your DIXIÈME at Roland Garros. Ten is now your lucky number.🤗👏🎾
RAFA WILL ROCK ROLAND GARROS
Yes Rafa, I thought you could do it too. Sorry for your loss against Dominic and I am not offering any excuses. I am certain that now you will be getting prepared for your big event of the year, the French Open.
See you very soon on the courts of Roland Garros.
RAFA ROCKS
The optimism is great here among the fans and of course, good ol’ Jason got his bag of crap when pointing out that Thiem is a clear favourite for RG. Right now he’s playing the first set against Rafa in Rome, and he’s absolutely killing him (unfortunately). RG is by far not in the bag, and Rafa’s run on clay this year has been a good one, but he’s absolutely not unbeatable. He has a chance at RG, but he’s definitely not as clearly the favourite to me as he was in the years that he won it (plus 2009). Today he’s losing to Thiem in Rome, if this match plays out like it does right now.
I have to question if you get a charge out of ATTEMPTING to dampen the optimism on this site for Rafa at Roland Garros.
Has anyone said Roland Garros is in the bag for Rafa? Of course there are going to be strong challengers for the only clay grand slam but that won’t keep me from cheering Rafa on and hoping he wins his 10th Coupe des Mousquetaires.
RAFA IS ROCKIN THE CLAY SEASON
Fognini and wife are the proud parents of bambino figlio Federico. CONGRATULATIONS! And now you can enroll Federico in Rafa’s academy.
RAFA ROCKS
Good luck against Dominic Rafa. Try not to get broken or a set can run away from you very quickly. Djoker also played well in his match – it’ll be good to see you up against him again, and maybe we can get a streak going.
Crush Thiem’s spirit!
Good luck Rafa!!!! We will be watching you!!! Love you
Mi amor is perfect. I am not sure if I am prepared to see Rafa win his 10th Rolland Garros. I am going to freak out 🙂
Hubris, it’s really not a good thing.
If Rafa wins this match, he’ll climb to number 3 in the world next week, I think.
Great Rafa!! Congrats!
What beautiful shots!!!! Keep it up!
God bless you! Look after yourself and march on!!
VAMOS
All the very best to you always!!
Good luck and Vamos Rafa!!!
Fue un énorme placer verte ganar hoy en Roma!!! Estoy segura de que vas a ganar OTRA VEZ mañana!!! VAMOS RAFA!!!
Good luck tomorrow Rafa. You may have a battle on your hands. Wishing you the best.
RAFA ROCKS