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!
What the hell is going on ? Rafa win it man because cilic is not giving it up.
Maria’s right. Rafa just needs to stay cool
Dig deep Rafa , come on
Cilic bullying Rafa with his power.
Oh my god. Just stop it cillic. And the match goes on
Can’t believe it!!!! What on earth is the matter!!!!
Cmooooooooooon Rafa!!!!!!
That’s more like it! Relentless pressure. Cilic was so impressive saving 3 straight BPs but he wilted on GP and vintage Rafa took the charge right away!
Now only one game left! Come on Rafa!
Oh no! Why does it always have to happen like this, Rafa? 🙁
Credit to Cilic though. He’s playing bravely.
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 🙂 😉 What a timely BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 😉 Leading 5:4 2nd SET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 wi…..wi……wi…..GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 WE LOVE YOU RAFA NADAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXO
Rafa breaks and is serving for the match. Cmon rafa you can get this
Oh dear God!! Vintage running FHDTL from Rafa!
Ad Rafa
Fantastic shot Rafa, now just one more game.
Crazy half volley from behind the baseline from Rafa! 😱
He’s back. A bit too late to my liking and I think his as well. But Cilic’s feeling the pressure already!
Rafa aimed for a 2nd serve return winner at 30-40 but he hit the net. Impatient from Rafa in this match. This happened in the 1st set as well.
Come on Rafa, keep your cool and don’t let the frustration kick in , finish it in two.
I just read that DelPo will play his match today against Fed.
RAFA ROCKS SHANGHAI
Cmon Rafa. Would be a great pity if you have to play a third set. Soo tiring. Please buck up and try to focus again. Let go of the lost game.
Vamos
Oh no. Rafa played some awful points and has lost his serve. Think he lost focus in that game. Back on serve now. Cmon Rafa
2 love service games from Rafa in this set so far. Hope for another one.
3-2 Rafa opens with an ace. 🙂
Oh no. 3UE from Rafa and a BP for Cilic.
Now a missvolley at the net. Just what I was afraid when he’s approaching the net like that. Too tense. Now it’s dangerous since Cilic has the ad of serving first.
Cilic with his aces on GPs but not now on BP. Rafa breaks with a little help from Cilic. No many players can volelt under pressure and Cilic is not one of them (along with Roger). 2-1 Rafa
Sorry, “volley under pressure”. 🙂
Rafa letting Cilic running around his BH too much with quite a lot of high, short balls on the ad court.