Rafael Nadal will face 21-year-old Karen Khachanov in the third round of Wimbledon on Friday. This is their first meeting, although the pair have practiced together in the past.
Date: July 7, 2017
Match time: Rafa is second on Center Court. Around 2:30 PM local time / 9:30 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 3:30 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 11:30 PM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Khachanov:
He’s a great player in all aspects; good serve, good forehand, good backhand, a lot of power.
He’s very strong, as all the young players. And he’s a good worker.
So yeah, he like this sport, so he has a great future. Hopefully not after tomorrow.
- Rafa is bidding to reach the round of 16 here for just the 2nd time since he finished runner-up in 2011.
- Rafa has a 45-6 win-loss record at Tour-level in 2017, putting him in first place on the list for most Tour-level matchwins this year – ahead of Dominic Thiem (37-15) and Alexander Zverev (35-12).
- Rafa is bidding to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year for the 3rd time and equal Bjorn Borg’s all-time record of 3 back-to-back titles in Paris and London. Borg achieved the feat in 3 consecutive years (1978-80), while Rafa won Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back in 2008 and 2010.
- Rafa is looking to win his 16th Grand Slam title and, at 31 years 43 days, become the 2nd oldest player in the Open Era to win 16 Grand Slam titles after Serena Williams, who was 31 years 255 days when she won her 16th
title at 2013 Roland Garros.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
CONGRATULATIONS RAFA! Second week here we come.Now Andy give Mr Fognini the same treatment.
Come on Rafa , we don’t want a fourth set as much as I enjoy watching you. Remember the animal in Khachanov is no match for the demon in you , now pull out your best shot
WOW! Just give him the trophy now guys.
all the very best today vamos rafa.
Not long now before you are due out on court Rafa, Good luck today , go out there and enjoy your game ,the Wimbledon crowd will be right behind you . The 6ft 6inch Russian is no match for you, and nothing and no-one will stop your advancement into the next round. Someone should tell Khachanov that you just can’t beat a person who never gives up . The telegraph’s prediction for today’s match – Nadal safely into round four before you’ve even left the office.
Good luck sweet Rafa ❤️🍀
VAMOS!! 🎾💪🏼😘 Go out there and do your thing champ 🌟👍🏻😃👏🏻
Rafa I wish you every good wish and success – physical, mentall and emotional – be a tiger – pounce on your ‘prey’ and don’t let go!!
Best wishes and prayers – 🍀🍀💪💪👍👍🙏🙏
VAMOS!!!!!
Rafa you are the very best. You won the French now win the English and show what
a good Spaniard you are. All the best of Luck for all he matches and hoping to see
you carry of the Wimbledon Cup. Vera.
I do like Carlos Moyas quote to Rafa from Luigi Gatto on “always competeting” so go Rafa go,
as someone else said you are getting “better and better”
so all the best for your game for tomorrow and I can imagine that Carlos is phoning you many times from Mallorca, with great joy after each match.
Love and prayers to you and your team,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX,
Carlos was also asked by Luigi if this is the best Rafa. Carlos explained that he didn’t know, that Rafa is a 14-time [at that time] grand slam winner. He explained that Rafa has always wanted to improve.
For fans, that is the Rafa we saw yesterday, and that is who we see today. A Rafa who is constantly vigilant about what he can do to improve. All he needed was the tools.
RAFA ROCKS 150%
all the best RAFA9
Keep improving Rafa. The real test starts from here first khachanov then probably Muller then cilic so stay positive champ and play your best. But then again, one match at a time.
Vamos
As usual my best wishes and prayers will always be with you until the day you no longer wish to play. May all the powers you excel all throughout the beginning of this year bring good vibes and a winning hit.
VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Rafa, you were not tested at Roland Garros and I hope the same for Wimbledon, at least not so early in the tournament.
Play your heart out champ because I’ll be cheering with all my heart. Great match to you.
RAFA ROCKS 150%
Rafa good luck tomorrow VAMOSSSSS/sSS.champ.🎾🎾🎾❤️❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍👍👍🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🌹🌹🌹🌹🏆🏆🏆
Perhaps the following statements by Carlos is a good response to some fans’ concerns about how Rafa is being coached.
“The coach needs to make sure that there isn’t any issue, but the genius is always the player. We are here to bring a view from outside. The only thing that has to be there is the player’s respect towards the coach’s opinion and in this case we are very lucky with Rafa, who trusts in his team.”
“The team made him notice that he has to be aggressive, there are days where he manages to do it and others where he doesn’t, but he always tries to do it. He is using variety on serve and the most important thing for me is that he is competing.”
[Carlos Moyá to Luigi Gatto, 5/15/2017]
RAFA ROCKS 150%
I like Khachanov a lot and have been watching his matches since last year. He is always improving, but Rafa will be ready for him. This is Karen’s first Wimbledon and playing on Centre Court will be daunting. I hope for a straight set victory for Rafa. He is looking better every day. The heat is drying up the grass and making it more like clay. We all know who the king of clay is!
He likes tennis Rafa, but you love it. Show him the champion that you are and then send him back to training camp.
Wishing you more winners and few unforced errors on Friday against this heavy-hitting opponent.
RAFA ROCKS 150% AS ALWAYS
“So yeah, he like this sport, so he has a great future. Hopefully not after tomorrow.”
HAHA… very funny Rafa. Why don’t you send him home tomorrow then- it’s all in your hands sweetheart. Make it happen!
Vamos!
Good luck and Vamos Rafa <3