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.
🎾 Help Keep Us Online
Your support helps cover hosting costs, domain renewal and ongoing improvements. We prefer to keep the site focused on tennis fans rather than filling it with intrusive advertising.
Thank you for your support.
1st set to Rafa 6-1
He’s totally, absolutely in control, taking everything on his racquet. This is 2013 Rafa. Great to watch. 🙂
5/5 at the net
13W/10UE compared to Dzumhur’s 3/5
He made more UEs than usual but it’s due to his aggressive and attacking play.
Still, his averaged winners/game was the highest so far at 1.86 (that’s very high).
Rafa has steamed through the first set. He really is looking good
Hi Susie. I haven’t seen you in ages but maybe because it’s just me. Hope you and Raffy are doing great. 😽😽
Hi rainier – loving your commentary. Been really busy relocating back to manchester from london so not been on the site for a while but always stop for a rafa match when i can. Raffy is in position but he is actually asleep. Have you heard from Maria england? Hope she’s watching and enjoying.
Sorry for the late reply, Susie. And thank you. 🙂
I haven’t seen Maria around since before the tourney. Hopefully everything is still good.
Hope you’re enjoying the new place. Pls send another kiss to Raffy for me. 😽😻🏡
The match seems to be picking up. A pistol BHDTL from Rafa took it to another BP on Dzumhur’s serve but he answered with a perfect FHDLT winner of his own.
5-1
Rafa held in a flash even though it’s at 30 due to his 2UEs, wasting no time to attack the net.
5-0
Dzumher is clearly overwhelmed and can’t play his game.
Another goat challenge from Rafa where the ball was only a few mm in.
4-0 now. Rafa is cruising, playing aggressively, taking the ball earlier and totally proactively taking charge as both hoped and expected.
🙂
Why There is Carlos for umpire ?
I call him Zoomer because I don’t know to pronounce his name, sorry!) but i know he had a pretty good run on the hard courts in the second half of last year, winning a 250. He’s never actually beaten Rafa though. Yes, this looks like a potential repeat of the Miami encounter (their only one) where Rafa retired because of the effects of the heat, and I can’t help but think that Rafa’s plea yesterday for the roof to be closed (since when does Rafa want to play indoors?) due to the high temperatures in Melbourne, meant he was remembering that occasion…
Hope Rafa takes care of himself in the heat (or whatever conditions happen) and doesn’t let the past or his opponent get in his way. Vamos!!
Hi jas.
In the extreme heat Rafa still prefers to play under a closed roof and air-conditioned as everyone else.
Btw Novak didn’t ask to play in the day yesterday like some commies said – no one would have asked.
Remember this? 🙂
Australian Open 2009 – Post-match interview after QF vs Simon
//youtu.be/dgNVJJJDn_A
youtu.be/dgNVJJJDn_A
(PlS do the mannual copy and paste as links and images are not allowed on here anymore).)
Best of luck Rafa Champ ❤️🍀
I don’t know if this will make everyone feel better, but we have a change forecast for late in the afternoon. The temperature is supposed to drop by about 15 degrees in 1 hour, so it might be around 29 by the time Rafa starts playing. Fingers crossed! We Melburnians need the change too!
Good news Elizabeth and thank you again for keeping us current on Melbbourne’s temperature.
RAFA ROCKS
Thank you Elizabeth. I hope it happens and Melb lives up to its reputation.… ”The temperature could drop away / like four seasons in one day”. Yes, I’m a huge Neil Finn fan 🙂
Rafa all the best for tonight in Melbourne.
I pray for cool, beautiful conditions,that are more comfortable than the heat we have been having,but usually by 7pm a slight cool breeze is usually happening.
All the best Rafa,
Love,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
Good luck for tomorrow. Vamos Rafa!
Best of luck Rafa!!! As rainier said, try to keep the points short and please be aggressive and attacking. Whatever it is know that you can do it no matter what!
Stay calm and collected.
Vamos
🍀🍀🍀🍀💕
Margo
Hi Rainier, I wasn’t troubled about Rafa’s first two matches but I am concerned about Dzumber. Just seeing his name caused me some unease. Once I looked him up I realized it was at the 2016 Miami Open that Rafa lost the first set to this opponent.
Dzumhur is playing very well but I am hoping he is no match for Rafa.
RAFA ROCKS
—
Hi Margo. You posted this comment on the Mayer match “thread” but I thought we should discuss about Dzumhur here.
Yes Rafa retired in their only encounter so far due to the heat. It’s co-incident that they’ll play again in the boiling heat tomorrow, except this time it’s in the evening.
Still, Novak said today heat was “right at the limit”, in the sense that it’s harmful for player’s health. Fed was clearly uncomfortable as well even though he played the 2nd night match.
Anyway, heat aside, I think Rafa definitely should avoid a grinding contest with him tomorrow. Keep it short and neat. Overwhelm him form the start and don’t let him get into any rhythm.
This super fast little guy (he’s only 175cm tall) is quite a serious talent with great touch and flair, even though he played defensive like Novak.
Think Fognini x Novak without power.
He will be a perfect preparation for R4 against Schwartzman, should that match materialise. (For what it’s worth, I prefer Rafa to play Dolgopolov in R4, even though he seems to be in good from atm.)
I hope Rafa will take the ball earlier in this match (no reason not to imo), continue to serve well and proactively play aggressive like he did in the 3rd set yesterday.
Also I hope he won’t have to scramble too much for Dzumhur’s drop shots as I’m pretty sure he will try to spread the court and attack the net as much as possible.
Hoping for a lot of eye-catching exchanges at the net as well.
Unless Dzumhur doesn’t show up, which I doubt, I think this will be a good and entertaining match. Winning aside, I hope Rafa will try his best to reserve his knees and energy, especially in the 42oC++ heat.
Cheers.
I agree that Rafa should keep the exchanges short and not have to scramble too much.
Which brings us back to court position receiving serve.
Rafa stood way, way, back behind the baseline for a lot of his return of serves when he played Mayer. He did however mix it up a bit by coming forward every now and again.
But not enough I felt.
Poor Moya has his work cut out in trying to persuade Rafa to change his thinking re. court position to receive serve.!!
If he persists in staying back for most exchanges Dzumbar will capitalise on creating angles , drop shots and getting to the net before Rafa does.
Hi Rainier, In response to your comment here re the Mayer thread, I had earlier posted a comment here [plse see below] about Dzumhur.
My comment about Dzumhur in the Mayer thread was a reply to your comment about not seeing comments from some of us regulars about Rafa’s first two matches. Sorry for not explaining it better than “I wasn’t worried etc.”
My concerns are Dzumhur’s speed, his angled shots, and chasing every ball.
RAFA ROCKS
Margo, I get what you mean but the reason I post my reply here was simply because I only wanted to discuss about Dzumhur and it’s better to do it here. (Also because we had similar exchanges before, discussing Rafa’s next opponent and from your comment I got it that you didn’t remember Dzumher well.)
By doing so, I both replied to you and did it at the same time without having to comment twice/repeating what I had already said.
No need to overthink on both sides and let’s save space for more discussion about Rafa (especially that you are one of the most dedicated fans and maye the most active poster on here).
I mean, I don’t want to waste anyone’s time with my Rafa non-related comments, especially by explaining myself.
Hope you understand. 🙂
Cheers.
Gotcha. No need to explain.
I too hope that Rafa dictates from the start.
About Rafa’s power…I marvel at the incredibly loud sound when he strikes a ball. Amazing.
Your “exchanges at the net” comment are right on. Hoping for another Rafa win.
RAFA ROCKS
“My comment about Dzumhur in the Mayer thread was a reply to your comment about not seeing comments from some of us regulars about Rafa’s first two matches. Sorry for not explaining it better than “I wasn’t worried etc.”
No need to say sorry or explain at all, Margo. I didn’t even really think about “not seeing…” part. Everything happened very fast during the match, I only focused on it and some “commentating” I said. Not a single of thought of wondering or “complaining” why there weren’t more people commenting.
Believe me, I only focus on Rafa and tennis. I don’t really pay attention to other stuff.
Relax and let’s just take it simple from now on.
Thanks, Margo. With, let’s say, our little history on here, I had to kind of “go out of my way” a bit to say those which wasn’t too enjoyable but it’s great that you understood.
Your welcome Rainier. It is all too easy to be misunderstood when the only communication is in writing.
RAFA ROCKS
Correction: You’re welcome NOT your
Don’t get me wrong, Margo. Actually your comments were very positive and polite. I still decided to “reach out” a bit anyway for the reason I mentioned above.
Thanks again. So I guess we’ll be watching this match “together” here? 😬
All your supporters are behind you Rafa. All of the best!,,,,,,
Good luck and Vamos Rafa <3
Stan and Goffin lost their matches. Get better Stan.
RAFA ROCKS
Good luck Rafa! Stay hydrated and keep the points as short as possible… oh wait he’s playing later in the day, then never mind. Take as long as you wish, but still, 3 sets!
Only I can sey is good luck champ.you well delivered to win,vamosssssssssssss champ this year is your 2018 another good year for you.love from all your fans .i play tennis too my self.and l love the game.🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍❤️🇺🇸🏆
Rafa couldn’t have said it better. Dzumhur, who is 25, is playing like a younger Rafa running down every ball and hitting great angle shots.
Dzumhur won the first set at the 2016 Miami open before the heat started affecting them both in the second set which Rafa won [6-2, 4-6, 3-0]; Rafa retired in the third.
Wishing you the best Rafa.
RAFA ROCKS
Why is Rafa not on Rod Laver? Disrespectful! Go Rafa! You’re the best!
Because they put Kyrgios v Tsonga on the RLA in the same prime time slot, which is understandable since Kyrgios is the home boy and it’s a much more juicy matchup, especially after Tsonga’s dramatic 5setter win over Shapovalov yesterday.
It will be even hotter tomorrow. The organisers has still stubbornly refused to close the roof on the three main courts so far so I guess Rafa prefers to play the night session as well, no matter what court.
Personally I only feel for the other players who had and will have to play under the sizzling heat out there.
The level of tennis played today clearly dropped due to the heat. Even Novak was breathing through his mouth. And he has won there 6 times.
Now my only true resentment is that I won’t be able to watch the 2 matches live. Hopefully Rafa will get the job done quickly for all reasons. 😁
The reason Rafa is not on Rod Laver arena is because Rafa was given a choice. Play on Rod Laver during the day or Margaret Court in the evening, Rafa chose the latter. No question of disrespect quite the opposite.
I am praying hard it is still warm enough for the roof to be open as Rafa prefers an open court. I reckon I am one of his oldest fans at 73. Rafa rocks.