Rafael Nadal’s bid for a 17th grand slam title will continue on Friday against the Bosnian 28th seed Damir Dzumhur.
Date: 19 January 2018
Match time: 7 PM local time (AEST) / 3 AM EST – New York, Montreal / 8 AM GMT – United Kingdom /9 AM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa and Damir played only once, which was in the 2016 Miami Masters, a match Dzumhur won in three sets before our champ retired with illness and dizziness.
Rafa on facing Damir:
“Damir has improved a lot [since we played at 2016 Miami]. He is a tough opponent… [and] he knows how to play tennis very well… The only way to win is play at a higher rhythm than him and try to play aggressive, try to play with the highest intensity possible out there. That’s what I going to try. I hope to be ready to make that happen.
Rafa played an up and down sort of game even although the scores look impressive. However scores don’t always tell the whole picture. Dzumbar kept Rafa on his toes well and truly. One thing that pleased me was that Rafa stood closer to the baseline for most of the time to receive serve. Perhaps Moya is making some inroads there.?
Incidently Rafa has played two night time games and one daytime game and it looks as though he is scheduled for a day time game on Sunday. On the other hand, Fed has had all night time games and is scheduled for night time next match also. Favouritism? It seems the officials bend over backwards to give him what he wants because they want him to win. It disgusts me. In interview Fed was asked if the organisers listened to his requests more and he said smugly “probably.”
How they fawn over him is sickening. He is certainly to be admired for his success at 36 years of age, he is an inspiring player, but granting him all games in the coolest times is unfair to the other players and gives him an advantage.
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ; ) : ) CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL SWIFT VICTORY SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) WE ARE VERY VERY HAPPY FOR YOU DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY EVERYTHING & HAVE FUN CELEBRATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT & SWEET DREAMS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY YOUR BEAUTIFUL SOLID TENNIS AND HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART & LOVE WATCHING YOU PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXO
Finally Rafa gets to get out of his uncomfortableness after missing 2MPs with a perfect ace.
61 63 61
The scoreline suggests nothing but dominance but it’s only true for the 1st set.
Rafa got a bit lucky in all of his 5 breaks in the last 2 sets I have to say. Dzumhur has the game but not the consistency and physique. A bit unlucky for him. Wish him a good run for the rest of the season. I will enjoy his great shots more when I watch the highlights. 🙂
Back to Rafa, I think he will learn from this match and be more consistent and confident in the next round(s). No reason not to.
For those who didn’t watch the match live, unless you watch the replay, the highlights, which I guess will look good, won’t tell the whole story about this match.
As for me, atm I’m concerned about Rafa’s knees more than anything. It doesn’t help that he will play Schwartzman next.
Hopefully Rafa will stick to his gameplan from start to finish Friday and play better than today.
Hi again to Susie and Rafa fan 1. See you in the next match. 🙂
Catch you Sunday Rainier
Yes, Sunday, not Friday, my bad. Thanks and see you, Susie. 🙂
Thanks for the update
VAMOS VAMOS VAMOS gorgeous Rafa! – Sublimely played 🎾💪🏼😍👏🏻 You are amazing sweet champ. Keep it going and good luck in next round 🍀❤️😘👍🏻
Another straight sets win although rafa was a little up and down towards the end but who cares. 3 down and 4 to go – he’s getting closer. Good luck for the next one!!
Rafa breaks again thanks partly to Dzumhur and now will serve for the match but I still don’t feel too confident.
This match is too messy to my liking. Hopefully it’s just the heat that got to Rafa but I doubt that.
Pls get the job done without drama, Rafa.
Rafa got passed again at 30all on his serve and it’s another uncomfortable service game.
This set is not better than the 2nd in terms of his play.
Don’t know what got to him. He’s playing with no confidence in his shot. Dzumhur is playing well but not that great or too consistent.
Dzumhur with his drop shots again. I hate watching Rafa have to scramble again and again like this. Shouldn’t be this taxing, this match.
A great rally at ad Rafa which Dzumhur won with a perfect lob. Rafa got outplayed again.
Dzumhur backed it up with an good volley to the open court and held his serve.
Feeling like they’ve been playing this set forever but it’s only 3-1.
1st break in the set to Rafa. Dzumhur is playing very well but simply can’t sustain his level in every shot. Rafa was a bit lucky to get this break tbh.
Can’t say I’m enjoying this match. Very inconsistent from both players and sine when Rafa got outplayed in those grinding contests? 🙁
Finally Rata holds after 5 dueces and 10′.
He got away with a bad approach off which Dzumhur missed a sitter passing shot to the whole court.
It’s not a vey wise decision to go to the net when you’re not feeling too comfortable. The Muller match tells us that.
Very uncomfortable 1st game for Rafa. He still can’t put his 1st serve in which is troublesome. Reaction is also a lot slower.
Come on, Rafa. Hold this thing.
Dzumhur varrying the pace and spin very well and Rafa mistimed a low FH.
Duece.
Another miss at the net which could be seem before he hit it but an ace took it back to duece.
It looks efforless but actually not too easy, the last volley winner from Rafa with a pefect control of the wrist.
30all
1st point of the set Dzumhur who displayed his great speed and defensive skills and made Rafa miss another volley.
1st point of the set to Dzumhur
Another one at 30-15 on Dzumhur’s serve! 💪🏻💪🏻
A viscous CCBH again which Dzumher participated well but could only put his racquet on it and Rafa got his double break!
Good to see Rafa getting his mojo back again.
61 63
Rafa serves first in the 3rd.
Rafa must be aggressive and relentless.
Cmon Rafa!!!!
Yes Rainier! Rafas Level has dropped and his strokes have become tentative. Hope he can keep his level of confidence rather higher than lower.
2 superb forehands down the line!!!
Keep it up Rafa!!! Yaaay
Vamos
Hi Rafa fan 1. Nice to see you here.
Commies saying this is the worst set Rafa has played in this tourney and I have to agree.
He just looks uncomfortable for some reason, can’t serve well and started grinnding again. 1st serve % dropped to 48% which is dismal.
Finally a good BHDTL winner to take it to 5-3, followed by a classic FHDTL winner in the next game. 🙂
Dzumhur feeling the ball really well now.
He holds to love after an embarrassing missed volley from Rafa.
I have the feel that Rafa started to get rattled after Dzumhur’s 1 dropshot. The quality in his hittin has clearly dropped since then and so has the aggressiveness and confidence.