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!
I’m the one lying in bed but it seems Rafa is the one who has gone to sleep!
One set all. How did this happen? Wake up Rafa! Or else there’s going to be a lot of brooding on these forums!
DF to open the set. Come one, Rafa.
Schwartzman took the TB as “expected”. Now after 2 hours everything is back to scratch.
If Rafa still stubbornly keeps trading those baseline slugfests, Schwartzman might very well win the 3rd set and the match.
One of the worst sets nadal has ever played. Missed so many bread and butter shots . Need to raise his level but schtwartzman is not going away.
3807RPM return winner from Rafa off Schwartzman’s 2nd serve.
But little man is still too brilliant and Rafa is still too off.
Set point for him.
3-2
If Rafa keeps looping his return again and again and grinding his way out he’s gonna lose this TB unfortunately.
O mannnn!
Man! Rafa got broken when serving for the set and practically the match again.
My dear lord! Another BP. Come one Rafa. Pls get the job done.
Yes! That’s more like it. 1st strike tennis.
FHDTL winner from Rafa and it’s 30all.
Not too good approach from Rafa and Schwartzman passes him easily.
15all
Now 15-30
Schwartzman can’t handle Rafa’s slice or when Rafa hits it really flat.
BP for Rafa now.
An overcooked BH return took it back to duece. Then an accurate ISOFH winner got it back to ad.
But Rafa missed a FH long and 2UEs from Schwartzman finally got him the break. That’s lucky.
He will serve for the set now. With all that is going on, nothing is a given yet.
Schwartzman gave Rafa a taste of his own medicine when he chased down Rafa’s dropshot and hit a perfectly angled volley. Credit to little man for playing quite many beautiful points and simply outserving, outreturning Rafa in this match – so far.
Hasn’t shown his best in this match so far.He is not looking comfortable out there.
Come on champ
Hi Navdeep. 🙂
2BPs again and Rafa got broken again, just like what I was afraid.
He just doesn’t feel the ball today.
Come on, Rafa…
BRUTAL ISOFH winner from Rafa which left Schwartzman frozen on his feet.
But the brave little man served brilliantly and held quickly.
Now I would like to see the sense of hurry in Rafa game, otherwise drama may happen again at this stage of the set.
Another pistol FHDTL at 15all 4-2 from Rafa.
Vamos! 💪🏻
YES! Banana FHDTL winner to take it to ad.
Rafa finally holds after a gruelling rally. Schwartzman is such a wall.
Rafa too passive again and now facing another BP.
Rafa breaks again. Now to consolidate and put this set away. Cilic is waiting…
Schwartzman will not go quietly that’s for sure.