Top seed and world No. 1 Rafael Nadal is back in action on Wednesday at the Australian Open and will face world No. 52 Leonardo Mayer.
Date: 17 January 2018
Match time: Rafa is third on Rod Laver Arena. Not before 2 PM local time (AEST) / Tuesday 10 PM EST – New York, Montreal / 3 AM GMT – United Kingdom /4 AM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa has won all four of his career meetings with Mayer, who won the opening set when the pair met at the US Open in September. The Argentine is 1-25 lifetime against opponents ranked in the top 10.
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | US Open NY, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2014 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | R32 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Rafael Nadal |
W/O
|
| 2013 | Acapulco Mexico |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2012 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R64 | Rafael Nadal |
Good luck & Vamos Rafa!
Source: ATP World Tour
Rafa only came to the net twice in the 1set and won 1. 🙁
Mayer played bravely and almost took it to duece. He just missed a could-heb-been scintillating BHDTL by several cms. As a tennis fan I would have loved that ball to land in.
Rafa looked relieved to win the set. Understandably.
Mayer survived all 4BPs. It’s a bit frustrating watching him exploiting Rafa’s court position but credit to him. He’s sticking to his crystal clear gameplan very well.
Rafa now has to serve our the set. I’m a bit nervous.
Finally, a pistol BH DTL from Rafa. Ad now. Vamos!
Great FHOTR from Rafa and he got 3BPs.
But Mayer utilising Rafa’s vulnerable court position and saved them all. Such a shame. 🙁
A bit worrying again. 15-30 on Rafa serve.
Mayer really came to play.
I would like to see Rafa vary his shots and attack the net more. Mayer had been anticipating very well and willing to redirect the ball.
30-0 3-1
Rafa started to try a little bit more on return. He needs to. He had been returning further back than yesterday even on 2nd serve.
Won only 1 point off return though and was made to scramble too much to my liking.
Looking like a good match. He needs to be tested and ease up his early rounds nerves.
Rafa breaks to lead 3-1 in the 1st set. Not too scintillating play and Mayer is serving and using the open court well, trying to keep the point short and give him no rhythm, which has worked pretty well so far, despite the break with a little help from himself.
Rafa now facing 2BPs while consolidating. He DFed on the 1st point and shanked a sitter volley to the open court.
Just survived now with yet again a goat challenge when the ball was only 3mm in.
Good luck Rafa i Well watch tonithg your much .vamosssssssssssssss champ.love your fans for ever.🎾🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️🇺🇸🏆
Good Luck to Rafa!! 🙂
Does anybody know if he practices a day before the match or the morning of the match? I plan to go to Melbourne this weekend and would love to see Rafa up close.
Rafa all the best for your game this afternoon,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
Good luck to you Rafa! Get out there and continue playing like the number one that you are.
Stay strong!
VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do someone know if the match will be aired on euros port 1 or euro sport 2 ?? Thanks 😊
wish you the best of luck Rafa!🔥🔥🔥looking forward to see u in the final…
VAMOSSSSS💪
Vamos Rafa
Always VAMOS RAFA good luck
Just to update people on Melbourne’s weather – unfortunately Friday’s forecast has been changed to 40, after 38 on Thursday. This is horrible for everyone, but particularly for the tennis players. I guess that the organizers will probably put Rafa on at night in an air-conditioned Rod Laver Arena, which he won’t like much, but is preferable to playing in the heat. This is assuming we have a win tomorrow, but I have a lot of faith in Rafa after seeing him yesterday.
Thanks for the weather update.
RAFA ROCKS
Best of luck sweet Rafa <3 🙂 <3
Good luck and Vamos Rafa <3