On Monday, Rafael Nadal will play a former world No. 13 Alexandr Dolgopolov for a place in the last eight at the US Open in New York City.
Date: 4 September 2017
Match time: Rafa is second on Ashe. Around 1 PM EDT – New York, Montreal / 6 PM BST – United Kingdom / 7 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / Monday 3 AM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
On playing Dolgopolov, Rafa said:
I need to play aggressive. I need to feel that when I‘m hitting the forehand, he’s not able to take advantage on the point. That’s going to be my goal.
Dolgopolov on facing Rafa:
I think people underestimate he’s an all-around player, you know. He serves solid. He gives you, like, 70% first serves normally. He’s a lefty. He volleys. If you play defensive, he can come in and volley.
He’s stronger than just the forehand. It’s not only the forehand that is the problem. For sure, the five-set problem is his physical condition. He’s really strong, and in a five-setter, it’s tougher to compete with him.
I’m not a young player anymore. I don’t think I’m going to get intimidated by the No. 1 player or the stadium or the occasion. If I’m comfortable, I’m healthy. I’ll just go there and try to win, because I beat him in three sets, but obviously a five-set match, only thing that worries me is staying mentally there and physically next to him, because he’s really strong physically, I think. Game-wise, you know, I’ll have a plan. Hopefully I can execute it and give him problems.
Rafa, who owns a tour-leading 52 match wins this year, leads head-to-head series 6-2.
Here are the matches Rafa and Dolgopolov have played against each other:
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Brisbane Australia |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2016 | Rio de Janeiro Brazil |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Rafael Nadal |
W/O
|
| 2015 | London / Queen’s Club Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | R32 | Alexandr Dolgopolov | |
| 2014 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Alexandr Dolgopolov | |
| 2014 | Rio de Janeiro Brazil |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Shanghai China |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2012 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2010 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | R32 | Rafael Nadal |
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
He gets the second set😄😄😀😀😀😀. Rafa your turning my bad day into a good one.Love you champ.
Vamos
Awesome play Rafa 🎾💪🏼😍👏🏻
Yay. This is what we want!!!
Serve out the second set Rafa . You are playing brilliantly. Vamosssss
Oh joy of joys. Rafa’s broken him in 2nd set. Keep your nerve rafa (and your serve) to take the 2nd set.
Return of serve position and court position is still bad far behind the baseline..i dont moya is trying to change or rafa not ready to accept it or Toni is teaching the same old tricks…Rafa switch to full on attacking mode…play more inside…dis the way beat dem all to the title..vamos Rafa
Great first set, Rafa. You looked like your old self. It’s better with the roof open, eh?
1⃣st set done and dusted 😀, your playing superbly Rafa . Send the Dolgopolov home with his tail between his legs .
Yes Maria and take note Roger!!
📝 indeed Susie , unless Kohlschreiber ☔rains on Roger’s parade tonight Lol
Wowzers – a double break. Im so happy.
A break already , keep up the good work Rafa, your doing a great job , you your team and Uncle Toni👍
Looks like rafa will be on early as previous match finished early. Best of luck to him and I’m hoping he’ll have a good start in this match.
WOW that previous match seriously finished super early! Pliskova realized she is the world number 1 and played like that today (6-1 6-0), after 3 set battles in her 2 previous rounds.
Hopefully Rafa can also unleash his world #1 powers and blitz Dolgopolov. That’ll be just great. Here we go!
Well it’s lovely that he’s broken early Mac – a better start than the last match. 14 break points came and went then – I couldn’t bear that today
Please Rafa, no slow start today.
Rafa’s hard-court record vs Dolgo, as his colleagues call him, is 4-1. A repeat of this year’s Brisbane score in three sets would be great.
Have a great match so you’re off to the QF.
RAFA ROCKS THE US OPEN
Interesting state of affairs when we think Dolgopolov will be a stern test for our Rafael Nadal. But that’s what things have come to these days:)
Rafa needs to increase the intensity from the start, and not wait for Dolgy to break him before he wakes up and starts playing like the 15 times GS champion that he is.
Get it done Rafa and send him home in straight sets!
Good luck Rafa;
Remember what the neuroscientists who analyzed your game said. One of them even used the word ‘mesmerising’ watching you play.
In addition Federer has implied that he would prefer to play with you at his side at the Laver cup than face you as an opponent elsewhere.
WAMOS WAMOS WAMOS
All the very best champ. Come out swinging and stay confident.We all know you’ll give your very best.Dolgo is tricky but you are the best.
Vamos
Rafa all the very best for your match and I trust you win,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
Good luck Rafa in your match tomorrow against the dog , just believe in yourself and a win will prevail. Your fellow Spaniard Carreno-Busta had a great match against Denis Shapovalov (Shapo as he’s been fondly named) and managed to knock him out out( a great competitor and future threat. )
Keeping my fingers crossed now for a win for the birthday girl , the lovely Carla
Suarez Navarro who is playing at this very moment , and hoping she can make it a double celebration for Spain today.
Yes I wrote to him that we are delighted for Carreno 😀pass it on to him please. Especially against Shapo who fid not please us in Montreal. Feli and Marc continue in the doubles. 😀 Pouille out, one less threat as he stopped Nadal last year. Fiona in Paris
Vamos Rafa buena suerte para el lunes
Will be a tough match but Rafa will win it. Vamos Rafa <3
For sure, Rafa will win it in straights – 6 -4, 6=4, 7-5
But as always, we’d see……..hmmmn
will be waiting to hear when you play rafa,your doing great,just come back from your lsland,will be going back in three weeks time again,l love mallorca,vamos rafa.
Yes, I too am going to Majorca next week. 😊I went in Sept. 2015, visited the Manacor Tennis Club, this year wish to visit the Academy, it was under construction then. When Rafa returns, could be this week or Monday next week. Hope to see him practising there. If you are going there write me a message and maybe we could meet up. Fiona in Paris