The heat wasn’t a factor for Rafael Nadal this time against Damir Dzumhur, despite the searing temperature causing trouble for players earlier Friday at the Australian Open.
Rafa reached the fourth round in Australia for the 11th time with the 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 win, and levelled his career head-to-head record with Dzumhur.
After the match, Rafa said:
Was a good match, of course. When you win 6-1 6-3 6-1 in the third round, is always a great result, no? Without playing well, is impossible to have these kind of results.
So happy for that. Happy to be through, yeah, fourth round. Already is good news.
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates beatign Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur in their men’s singles third round match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 19, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / SAEED KHAN / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates beatign Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur in their men’s singles third round match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 19, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / SAEED KHAN / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates beating Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur in their men’s singles third round match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 19, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Greg Wood / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo credit should read GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images)
EPA5914. MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA), 19/01/2018.- El tenista español Rafael Nadal celebra tras vencer al bosnio Damir Dzumhur en su partido de tercera ronda del Abierto de Australia de tenis en Melbourne (Australia) 19 de enero de 2018. EFE/ TRACEY NEARMY PROHIBIDO SU USO EN AUSTRALIA Y NUEVA ZELANDA
Spain’s Rafael Nadal signs an autograph on a cameraman’s screen after beating Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur in their men’s singles third round match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 19, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / SAEED KHAN / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd after beating Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur in their men’s singles third round match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 19, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / SAEED KHAN / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal signs autographs after beating Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur in their men’s singles third round match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 19, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / SAEED KHAN / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Michael Dodge/Getty Images
Luke Hemer/Tennis Australia
EPA5914. MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA), 19/01/2018.- El tenista español Rafael Nadal se cubre la cabeza con una toalla tras un juego contra el bosnio Damir Dzumhur durante su partido de tercera ronda del Abierto de Australia de tenis en Melbourne (Australia) 19 de enero de 2018. EFE/NARENDRA SHRESTHA
EPA5914. MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA), 19/01/2018.- El tenista español Rafael Nadal descansa tras un juego contra el bosnio Damir Dzumhur durante su partido de tercera ronda del Abierto de Australia de tenis en Melbourne (Australia) 19 de enero de 2018. EFE/Tracey Nearmy PROHIBIDO SU USO EN AUSTRALIA Y NUEVA ZELANDA
EPA5914. MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA), 19/01/2018.- El tenista español Rafael Nadal se refresca el rostro con agua durante un descanso de su partido de tercera ronda del Abierto de Australia de tenis contra el bosnio Damir Dzumhur en Melbourne (Australia) 19 de enero de 2018. EFE/NARENDRA SHRESTHA
Scott Barbour/Getty Images
EPA5914. MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA), 19/01/2018.- El tenista español Rafael Nadal se enfrenta al bosnio Damir Dzumhur durante su partido de tercera ronda del Abierto de Australia de tenis en Melbourne (Australia) 19 de enero de 2018. EFE/NARENDRA SHRESTHA
Scott Barbour/Getty Images
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning a point in his third round match against Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzogovina on day five of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain prepares to serve in his third round match against Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzogovina on day five of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, VIC – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain challenges a decision in his third round match during the 2018 Australian Open on January 19, 2018, at Melbourne Park Tennis Centre in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jason Heidrich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 19: Sweat beads drip off Rafael Nadal of Spain as he prepares to serve in his third round match against Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzogovina on day five of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Spain’s Rafael Nadal hits the ball back between his legs to Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Scott Barbour/Getty Images
MELBOURNE, VIC – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain has sweat drip off his forehead in his third round match during the 2018 Australian Open on January 19, 2018, at Melbourne Park Tennis Centre in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jason Heidrich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Tennis – Australian Open – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 19, 2018. Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates during his match against Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
Luke Hemer/Tennis Australia
MELBOURNE, VIC – JANUARY 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain chooses which ball to keep in his third round match during the 2018 Australian Open on January 19, 2018, at Melbourne Park Tennis Centre in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jason Heidrich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Luke Hemer/Tennis Australia
EPA5914. MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA), 19/01/2018.- El tenista español Rafael Nadal (izq) y el bosnio Damir Dzumhur posan antes de enfrentarse en un partido de tercera ronda del Abierto de Australia de tenis en Melbourne (Australia) 19 de enero de 2018. EFE/ Tracey Nearmy PROHIBIDO SU USO EN AUSTRALIA Y NUEVA ZELANDA
Rafa is yet to drop a set so far in the tournament and will face Argentine Diego Schwartzman next. Our champ has won all three of his previous matches against the world number 26.
Source: AP
Great game Rafa hope you go all the way !!!
Happy that Rafa won the match but what happened after that. Rafa didn’t seem himself. Everyone has an “off” day so I am hoping that’s all it was. If his knee is hurting I want him to pull out of the tournament. I hope that is not the case.
RAFA ROCKS
Off day with that result ! Don’t think so . Heat was intense and he playing on a secondary court was an insult to the Number 1. Tournament director should have more respect .
A solid win. The first set was sublime! But for some reason, I thought Rafa was a bit subdued in the second and third set (no fist-pumping at all). Hope his knee wasn’t bothering him. He did seem happy at the on-court interview after the match. Rest well, and best of luck in the next round!
Good match today. Vamos Rafa <3
Well don Rafa.is amazing you are playing tennis so good .vamosssssssssssssss champ congrats in you win.love 🎾🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️🇺🇸🏆🏆🏆🏆
Well done Champ ….Keep you healthy & Vamos Rafa all the way up Good luck <3
Good job Rafa I saw the match it was great stay aggressive , congratulation