On Saturday, Rafael Nadal will play his semi-final match at the Shanghai Masters against fourth seed Marin Cilic.
Our champ is chasing a seventh title in a brilliant season and a hat-trick of triumphs on the hard courts, having been crowned US Open and China Open champion in recent weeks.
Match time: 4.30 PM local time / 4.30 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 9.30 AM BST – United Kingdom / 10.30 AM CEST – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 7.30 PM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Cilic:
He always is very dangerous opponent, and I think this surface, this court helps him. It’s a very fast court. He’s able to go for the shots from the baseline. It will be a tough one. I know that I need to be very focused with my serve again, and I need to play aggressive and don’t let him play from comfortable positions. If not, I will be almost dead because he is going to go for the shots.
Rafa holds an 4-1 lead in his head-to-head series with Cilic, including victories in their past four meetings. Cilic beat our champ 6-1, 6-3 in Beijing way back in 2009.
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Acapulco Mexico |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal |
61 62
|
| 2015 | Basel Switzerland |
Indoor Hard | QF | Rafael Nadal |
46 63 63
|
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Rafael Nadal |
61 63
|
| 2011 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
62 64 63
|
| 2009 | Beijing China |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Marin Cilic |
61 63
|
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
1st set in the bag but not without some drama! Rafa relax now and end this match in straight sets. Rafans, he is looking a bit tired to me and a fresh Rafa is needed in finals since roger most probably will get a walkover
Hi Navdeep. I have to admit I don’ like watching Rafa play catchup game in the later/last set these days, except when he’s clearly dominating. Too much pressure on him and his nerves are not as strong as they used to be.
Hey Rainier , Rafa got the break man! looks like he will get the much needed rest now hopefully!
Hi navdeep – sky commentators just announced that del Potro is playing his semi against roger today.
Hi Susie, good to see you n really glad to hear Delpo is playing . That guy has suffered so much plz no more injuries to him .
I’m worrying for Delpo but respect his decision. Feeling so sorry for the gentle giant. Each time he’s back on track he picks up another injury and it happens again and again. 🙁
Looking like a Rafa/Roger final again tomorrow 😶
Fantastic – rafa has the 1st set!!! But cilic is playing like a man possessed at the moment. Please no more double faults
Agreed Suisie. Current Rafa is not exactly Beijing or first 2 round Rafa. I was a bit worried when watching him hitting a lot or weird misses and playing so tentative in the super important TB yesterday and didn’t expect a straightforward match today.
Whew! Thank God!
Boy Cilic is relentless. He’s tiring out by for sure.
Oh no. Another DF on 2SP. 🙁 But he takes the 3rd. Phew!
I have no doubt Rafa is tired already.
Sorry. “He’s tiring our boy”.
Dear God. Rafa DF in 10th game giving Cilic a 3rd SP but he finally survived after 3 deuces. Now momentum has changed and 2 BPs for Rafa!
And he breaks!
Now pls hold and take this set, Rafa.
YES Rafa, now finish this set off pronto😀
Goodness an ace and a double fault but rafa wins his service game and is still in the set. Exciting stuff. Cmon rafa you can do this..
He just hit the exact ace at 15-0 6-5. Hi Suisie and hopefully Raffy. 😽
Hi rainier. Yes raffy is here but has turned away from the tv and is fast asleep would you believe. Lol
😘 That’s good enough, Susie. He’s Rafa’s lucky charm. His presence alone should be positive enough. 😋
YES Rafa , first set in the bag.
Hi Susie , I thought you had gone AWOL , was going to send out a search party for you Lol.
Not gone awol Maria. Lol. Just been really busy and re-arranging my time this week to watch rafas matches. Its been a pleasure to watch him recently. Exciting like the old days
Be patient rafalein!!! Please win!!!!! Vamos!!!!
Be Calm! My nerves!!!
Cmon cmon cmon – pleeeeease!!
Cmon Rafa!!!!! Hold your nerves!!!!
High quality match so far. Rafa untroubled on serve so far but he alway missed the 1 point on his service which is a sign of nerves in my experience.
15-40
Rafa suddenly plays tentative on his serve and 2SPs for Cilic. 🙁
1st ace of the match on 2nd SP from Rafa! Duece now. Then ad with a sublime volley under pressure! GP! Vamos!
Hi everyone.
Lovely Saturday to all. 🌻🌿
Only 3 games in and Rafa has been swinging so fa which is a good sign but he missed 4BPs already, again, 2 wild FHDTL landed in the middle of the tramline. 🙁
Cilic is dead serious, heaving hitting and going for everything.
Good luck Rafa, great first game keep going like that and Cilic will be exhausted before the first set is over.😀
Hi Maria. Nice to see you here. 🙂 Pls kiss H&G for me. 😘🐶😽
Hi Rainer, Holly and Golam 😘🐕😘😾, what a match , that was a close shave for Rafa . Going to be a harder match than I thought.
Good luck Rafa!!!!!
Skip Basel Rafa…
Good luck Rafa on the next round.
Vamos Rafa. You can do it. You are fighting fit, but the road to Shanghai, although victorious, has been a tough n busy one. God bless you Rafa. Your Aussie Abuela Nan Shirley. 🐂🏆👑⛵️🎉😀😊
Rafael Nadal is the Beethoven and Mozart of tennis. Exciting .. Powerful… Brilliant… We are gifted to be able to watch him through all these years. A genius.
Vamos Rafa
Good luck and Vamos Rafa <3