Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov will be going head-to-head for the tenth time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of Shanghai Masters on Friday.
Date: 13 October 2017
Match time: Around 2.30 PM local time / 2.30 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 7.30 AM BST – United Kingdom / 8.30 AM CEST – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 5.30 PM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Grigor:
I gonna have a tough match against Grigor. I know I have to play my best if I want to keep having chances of success. I hope to be ready to do it, because I am playing well.
Rafa has won 9 of 10 meetings with Grigor, including a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 triumph in the Beijing semifinals last weekend. Grigor’s only career victory over Rafa came last year in Shanghai.
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Beijing China |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal |
63 46 61
|
| 2017 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal |
63 57 765 674 64
|
| 2016 | Beijing China |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Grigor Dimitrov |
62 64
|
| 2015 | Basel Switzerland |
Indoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
64 46 63
|
| 2015 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Rafael Nadal |
63 64
|
| 2014 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal |
62 62
|
| 2014 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Rafael Nadal |
36 763 767 62
|
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati OH, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
62 57 62
|
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Rafael Nadal |
62 26 64
|
| 2009 | Rotterdam Netherlands |
Indoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
75 36 62
|
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Great win, again he took out Baby Fed! Now let’s make sure to also beat Cilic. Rafa in this form should not fall against an (what I consider) uninspiring type of player like Marin.
jean sober,
Indeed great win but nadal is getting tired. Only two matches remaining then he really should skip Basel and rest. Basel is not important let federer win it and focus on winning Paris and ATF. Those are the important tournaments
Mjus, it looks indeed as if Rafa is tiring himself out. It is of course part of the job, the schedule is ambitious and not made under the assumption that he’d play back to back finals every week. I’d indeed skip Basel!
Agreed. Rafa looked tired to me today. It didn’t help that he had to play Dimitrov at this stage with so many long rallies and seesaw points.
Rainier, Rafa has to be tired. Reading your response to mjus brought to mind something Rafa said in his book, about the feeling he gets when he wins.
He was most likely referring to the pleasurable rush one gets from the brain’s release of dopamine scientists have written so much about. I can’t help but think Rafa may very well be addicted to that feeling and it could [partially] help explain why he insists on playing so many tournaments to the point of exhaustion.
Rafa has won so much this season and I am thrilled for him. I just wish he would rest his body. Too much at stake.
RAFA ROCKS SWEET 16
Finally, Rafa came through at 64 67 64 in 2.5hrs. Was not broken once. He looked so happy. Rightly so. 🙂
Well done, both players. I love this Dimitrov but only in a final. If Cilic pushes him tomorrow and he’s gassed in the final it would be an absolute shame. Best chance for him to win this event now, against a certain someone or not. 🙂
Rafa’s highest level in this match was still there, but it’s not as consistent as it was in the previous 3 matches. Of course it had a lot to do with Dimitrov, but that poor play in the 2nd part of the TB really shouldn’t happen at this stage (credits to Dimitrov though, he played bravely and beautifully).
All in all a very entertaining and high quality match. This matchup is nothing short of exciting despite the predictable outcome. 10-1 now for Rafa. Hoping for a quick recovery…
Vamos! 💪🏻💪🏻
CONGRATZ on you QF win. Grigor made you really work hard for this one won. Please go and REST, REST, REST for your SF.
RAFA IS ROCKING SHANGHAI
Hi Margo 😊
RAFA IS TOTALLY ROCKING AWESOME!! 🎾💪🏼😍😃
Hiya Rafantastic, your enthusiasm for Rafa permeates these pages. Your signature artwork is ROCKING!
RAFA ROCKS SHANGHAI
Thx. a lot Margo 😃🌸
Watching Nadal vs. Cilic right now – what a joy 😍 VAMOOS RAFA! YOU ROCK! 🎾💪🏼😘👏🏻🍀
Il n’y a pas de quoi.
I keep the RNF site out of the equation when I watch a Rafa match. Too many distracting/nutso comments during his matches🤔
I figured Cîlíc would be a handful and was VERY nervous about this match. So happy Rafa pulled through in SS. Now he needs to rest for tomorrow but you know Rafa. I just hope DelPo can pull an upset today but that depends on the condition of his wrist. I don’t know if it is true but Fed was quoted as saying he wants to avenge his loss at the US Open when he was booted out by Juan Martin.
RAFA ROCKS SHANGHAI
YES!! – Good job. Very exiting match. Congrats champ Rafa and the best of luck at the semis 😘🍀
VAMOOS!! 🎾💪🏼😍
Lovely little cat and mouse game at the net and Rafa wins it as usual.
5-2 15-0 3rd serve.
Dimitrov answered right away with a great volley of his own off a weak return from Rafa.
High quality match for sure but maybe I won’t say I like this matchup as often as I do anymore. Exhausting for both players.
It’s true Rainier that the matchup is quite exhausting but the way Dimi is finally showing his all round game we may see their matches time and again.
Hi Navdeep. Great to see you here.
Only 3 of their 10 meetings, now 11 were in straightset, including Dimitrov’s win at Beijing last year. So it has never been easy for Rafa. For some reason Dimitrov matches up with Rafa much better than with Fed.
But it’s also true they tend to bring out the best (and at times the worst in Rafa unfortunately) from each other. The AO SF still remains the best match of the year so far IMO.
Have a nice day, wherever you are. We live (happily) to fight for another day. 🙂
Thanks Rainier for such nice words. Here’ hoping you are also having a great day especially now seeing Rafa playing so well n creating history everyday. You always give your views on Rafa matches and it really helps us to understand how the matches went even if we fail to see it because of time issues.Kudos to you for that!
Thanks a lot for your kind words, Navdeep. 🙂 I actually don’t comment during Rafa’s matches very often. But it’s always nice to for some of us to “meet up” here during Rafa’s matches and comment away our excitement as well as worries. :p
Sorry, 3rd set. ☺️
Small window at 15-30 but he missed a 2nd serve return long.
Dimitrov DFs and it’s duece. Another chance for Rafa. But it’s all Dimitrov.
Too much pressure having to redlining for 2.5hrs and Dimitrov broke himself with another DF and UE. Shame but we take all what we’ve given.
Now Rafa please consolidates comfortably.
Rafa went for a BH CC winner to go up 40-0 but it’s long.
Just backed it up by a vintage FHDTL! Vamos!
But the exact BH UE happened again. 40-30 4-2 2nd set
A forced error and Dimitrov netted the ball. Rafa finally held. Phew.
Dimitrov played some inspiring tennis and a service game that looked pretty straightforward reached duece and BP in a flash. Rafa was nervy in his approach and Dimitrov made him pay.
Smart play and he survived the break.
The match is now in its 3rd hour. 🙁
No sign of Dimitrov letting up on anything. Quite dangerous here.
Rafa played a pretty terrible TB, squandering the 3-0 lead and lost 5 straight points to lose it 4-7.
Should have broken Dimitrov in the 6 game but he made a very rarely poor choice of shot selection with a tentative weak BH lob for Dimitrov to put away.
Ad for Rafa to serve first in the 2nd seg but inspired Dimitrov is still firing up. BP conversion still remains a weakness in Rafa’s game. It may be even lower than Fed’s.
1st DF early on in the 3rd set. Final set Rafa these days please show up.
Sorry, “to serve in the 3rd set”. Was redlining my typing speed during the match. ☺️
I find grigor playing Rafa in latter stages always a good sign because unlike some dimi always pushes Rafa and it helps Rafa to remain in his fighting mode which serves well for championship matches. Come on champ , you are playing awesome tennis n it’s been a pleasure watching you. Keep up the fireworks and enjoy.
VAMOSSSS
Very well put, Navdeep. Only that also tends to make Rafa tired for his next match. That’s why I only want them to either meet early or in the final.
But Rata should gain a lot of confidence with this win again. 🙂
OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 ;); ) 😉 : ) I like all your interviews! : ) AND THE HANDSOME, INTELLIGENT PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOVE HOW YOU ALWAYS FIGURE OUT YOUR COMPETITIVE FIGHTING & HOW YOUR ACES COME IN SUCH TIMELY & SHARP MANNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ); ) OH YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Lets point out here ….no matter what, YOUR SERVE IS EFFECTIVE & BEAUTIFUL WITH OR WITHOUT ACES ……IT IS WELL PLACED & HUGS THE LINES JUST RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) wi……wi…..wi.Senior Sweetheart……I noticed in China, like the US OPEN, YOUR RETURNS HAVE THAT FEISTY SOUNDING SOLID “PUCK SOUND” AS THE BALL HITS YOUR RACKET……SHARP, DECISIVE & SPEEDY…..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : );) 🙂 THAT IS YOUR GIFTED BRILLIANT WAY DEAR RAFA…….YOU TAKE ONE POINT AT A TIME AND GIVE YOUR HEART & PASSION ALL THE WAY and WE CAN HEAR IT ACROSS THE OCEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) wi…..wi…..wi……. ON ALL SURFACES, you are a bright, exceptional TENNIS HERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Enjoy your day sweetheart and have lots of fun dear Rafa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Keep smiling !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) The China spectators LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) You are respectful and tactful and that goes along way internationally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : );) 😉 🙂 We love you dear Rafa & sending lots of love & happiness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Dimitrov won last year in Beijing not in Shanghai 😉
Good luck and Vamos Rafa <3