On Sunday, Rafael Nadal will face 24th seed Diego Schwartzman in the fourth round of the Australian Open.
Date: 21 January 2018
Match time: Rafa is third on Rod Laver Arena. Not before 2.30 PM local time (AEST) / Saturday 10.30 PM EST – New York, Montreal / 3.30 AM GMT – United Kingdom /4.30 AM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Schwartzman:
He’s a player that last year had an amazing year, and this year start again playing so well. So already won three matches here, playing again at very high level. He’s a very complete player.
Being honest, he’s a player that if I don’t play my best, probably I don’t going to win. He’s a player that have all the shots, big control from the baseline, don’t miss much.
He’s able to change directions easy. He’s a player that already played the quarterfinals in the US Open. He’s already in the fourth round.
Tough one, and I need to play my best.
Rafa has won all three of their previous encounters without dropping a set.
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2015 | US Open NY, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R64 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2013 | Acapulco Mexico |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Rafael Nadal |
Rafa is bidding to become the first man in the Open Era (since 1968) and only the third in history – after Australians Roy Emerson and Rod Laver – to win each of the four Grand Slam championship trophies twice.
Good luck & Vamos Rafa!
Ooh it seems somehow I’ve gotten through to Rafa! What does he do first point after being broken? A drop shot winner 🙂
Great shot but it’s more like he’s fed ip trading baseline blows with Schwartzman, who’s outplaying in a considerable amount of rallies, and needed to take risk imo.
Sorry, “fed up with”.
Rafa breaks early but fails to consolidate. He’s really in trouble returning Schwartzman’s serve and still drawn into those grinding contests which he has been no longer the best off clay for years. His 1st%W is too low and he gave up initiative in neutral rallies too easily.
Rafa faces another break point. And he’s been broken. It was brilliant how he saved those 3BPs in the first set though!
I think he should try to mix it up a bit, throw in some drop shots somewhere. But hey what do I know… I’m in bed, he’s on the court:)
No need for panic.
1st set to Rafa 6-4. No hipcup serving it out.
Some stats:
Ace: Schwartzman 7 Rafa 2
Winner: Schwartzman 11 Rafa 4
UE: Schwartzman 17 Rafa 11
1st%/win: Schwartzman 62/89 Rafa 64/67
BP: Schwartzman 0/4 Rafa 1/3
Hi Rainier. Yep, Rafa seems to playing somewhat between 70-80 percent but it’s looking like that’s enough for now. Some great points between the two though.
Hi Mac. This is shade of Rafa 2015 I have to say. He gets rattled too easily and is still too vulnerable when serving for the set/match and regularly fails to consolidate unfortunately.
He’s not trailing in this match more because of Schwartzman than himself imo.
Still, it’s only shade. He’ll come through this match one way or another. Pre-autumn 2015 Rafa would likely lost this match. Not this time.
Rafa breaks after a lengthy game with 4 deuces and 3BPs and again, a goay challenge 😅. He started to play better and is now doing more with the ball, which is essential to beat Schwartzwall.
Another 0-30 game
then 0-40
But Rafa holds in the end with a marvellous BH smash and a sweet spotted ace down the T. Hope that will give him more confidence from now on.
4-3 1st set
Rafa is really off today. Only 2 service games in and he already made 2DFs, 5UEs (that’s 7 free points/2 games for
Schwartzman and just over all seems off.
Schwartzman on the other hand is serving brilliantly and smartly and simply breezing through his serves.
Come one, Rafa.
Rafa you are such a great sportsman to never complain that Federer gets all the favoritism,
and is only ever given night matches here in Australia.
I wish you all the best for your game this afternoon,
Here in Sydney it is VERY hot again,
love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
I just looked at the tentative schedule for the AO men’s final and was surprised to see that it may be at 7:30 pm local time. I cannot recall another major tournament with a Sunday night final. If there is another, let me know.
I agree about Maria Sharapova. While it was true that Angelique Kerber was in Sydney at the time of the draw, both Simona Halep & Caroline Wozniacki were already in Melbourne practising. It was only the obstinacy of the organizers to have a former winner at the draw that explains the use of Sharapova, unless they were deliberately courting controversy, which is possible. About today, the forecast is 31 degrees, so not too hot. However, we have some humidity, with the possibility of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Fingers crossed it’s not during Rafa’s match!
Thank you Elizabeth. It could be a lot worse so I am grateful at this point.
I’ve been tracking Melbourne’s weather periodically and hoping for a more favorable report. We’ll know in about four hours.
RAFA ROCKS
I have to agree with you, Margo. We’ll know for sure in about 4 hours! Melbourne’s weather is notoriously difficult to predict because of the many influences on it (at the moment the heat is coming from the Northern Territory apparently), so our weather bureau prides itself on getting the temperature right within 2 degrees & is really reluctant to give out long-term forecasts! All I can tell you is we had a very humid night and it’s still a bit sticky, unfortunately.
😤😤I read about that Northern Territory business the other day.
Thanks so much for those updates. I think Rafa will be fine.
RAFA ROCKS
I am now getting humidity at 50%. Earlier it was 83%. It seems to be fluctuating but you would know better than me.
RAFA ROCKS
My fingers 🤞🏼and good luck ! 💪💪💪
🤗❤️Good luck sweet Rafa 🍀😘
🎾💪🏼VAMOS❣️Champ #1🥇😍
Hi Rafantastic, in addition to Rafa you’ve got a lot to cheer. I’ve been reading about your compatriot Wozniacki’s “miracle comeback” from a 5-1, 40-15, double match point down in the third set vs. Jana Fett. Good for her.
RAFA ROCKS
Vamos Rafa!
Good luck our hero’’ we will all be watching…….we love you,,,
OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 😉 😉 have a beautiful day & enjoy everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Lots of love & happiess sweetheart & have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) XOXOXOXO
all the very best for your next match,will be watching you again,try not to miss any matches,vamos rafa.
Good luck Rafa the best for you,this Year is going to be 2018 the BEST.love your fans for ever VAMOSSSS/sSSS🎾🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍😍🏆🇺🇸
Why is Rafa playing in the middle of the day again?! Roger gets to play the night session every match. Same crap as last year…
It’s obvious the directors of this Slam have no scruples. They chose a convicted doper for the opening ceremony, the excuse being that they wanted a past AO female winner for the ceremony. I wish that Fed had refused to open the AO with her.
RAFA ROCKS
I think the best explanation to all favouritisms for RF is given by McEnroe who called RF the golden goose of tournament directors.
I just hope all this reverance to RF does not affect Rafa negatively.
WAMOS RAFA
I don’t mind Rafa playing in the PM when the weather is not so hot. Rafa normally prefers to play in sunshine. I can understand why they want Kyrgios v Dimitrov at night. Rafa would understand that too. Rafa never under estimates any opponent and a win today secures his number one ranking for a little longer. That is huge!
Roger asked specifically to be put on night matches and we all know, as far as the organisers are concerned, whatever Roger wants Roger gets! Yes, it stinks, but unless the players object strongly to the scheduling nothing is going to change. As for the opening ceremony, Angelique Kerber (the most recent AO winner in the draw) would have been a more appropriate choice, so why didn’t they choose her?
Kerber was playing the Sydney International at the time.
RAFA ROCKS
Angelique Kerber demolished her in R3 [6-1, 6-3].
RAFA ROCKS
Roger is probably at his most popular right now, but Rafa is the second most popular. Rafa does not look ahead, but unlike last year, Roger’s section does not have the extra day of rest before the final. I still believe that might have been the difference last year. As far as playing at night, remember that the finals are played in the afternoons. This is less an issue when there is a day of rest, but it can be a small factor too.
Thanks for the answer Margo.
You’re welcome Lorna.
Personally, I think she was a disrespectful choice.
RAFA ROCKS
the obvious outcome of all bias favoritism is princess r will never ever be considerate a true sportsman upon his retirement. True Tennis fans know better…and have high regard for true competition.
The Tennis lovers focal attention is aimed at our most important player ever: RAFA NADAL!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
VAMOS DEAR RAFA & GOD BLESS YOU SWEETHEART FOR ALL YOU DO and CONTRIBUTE TO TENNIS & TENNIS FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 😉 VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Good luck and Vamos Rafa <3