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!
Yes! You can’t outrun or outspend him but can certainly wrongfoot and outsmart him, Rafa. Enough is enough.
Sorry, “outspend”. Blame the autocorrect. :p
Again! Outspeed, I mean.
Yay!!!! An ace and BHDTL winner saved them both.
VAMOS!
What’s wrong, Rafa?
He DFed to give Schwartzman 2BPs again.
Man. Another 0-30
Come on, Rafa…..
Such a shame Rafa couldn’t break after 5 dueces and 2BPs so he would surely take this match and could save some energy.
2 games left to hold and anything can happen with how inspired Schwartzman still is.
Rafa’s slowly upping his game now. Still too much grinding but he’s hitting the ball more firmly and holding more comfortably.
4-2
Vintage Rafa running FHDTL but that slide looks hurtful.
Ad now.
And he breaks!!
Finally he survived after saving 5BPs. Extreme stuff. 23′ already into the 4th set and we’re only at 1-1. Incredible.
Rafa was too stubborn and nervous to go DTL with all that open court and he’s paying the price.
This is tough to watch. He’s struggling to hold in almost every game and his shot selection leaves a lot to be desire, besides his vulnerable court position.
Second game of fourth set, Rafa serving. What a tussle of will between these guys. Break point opportunities for Schwartzman. Rafa saves the latest. VAMOS!
Thank god! Stopped watching the match after 2nd set.Was very nervous at that time.Now just saw the score and Rafa has won the 3rd set.
Vamos
Schwartzman is still playing strong after a MTO to treat some issue about his left hand wrist. Rafa looking tired to me…
1-0
Perfect Rafaesque running PS from Schwartzman.
15-15 4-2
Phew! Rafa consolidated. But Schwartzman is still very much in this set.
2:55 has passed and we’re only at 4-1 3rd set.
Rafa breaks yet again. Yawn… Just consolidate and don’t get broken! Sounds easy enough. Hold and then break him again Rafa! Steady that ship. World number 1! Yes… A hear a VAMOS! That’s more like it!
Rafa forced Schwartzman into errors and earned 3BPs.
And he breaks!!
Now pls consolidate quickly, Rafa. 1st strike tennis.
Schwartzman is ahead of Rafa right now in terms of energy and intent. Rafa needs to make a statement somehow. Del Potro is waiting at the airport Diego…
😬
This match is even worse than the Muller match in that Rafa is playing too badly and Schwartzman though playing superbly in patches is still not consistent enough.
Hope Rafa will wake up before it’s too late.
Rafa holds finally with an ace. He’s now struggling to hold in almost very service game and still returning from the front row with very few success.
Another UE when he went for a winner. Still can’t put his 1st serve win.
Now an embarrassing missvolley which is unbelievable and he gave Schwartzman a BP.
Sorry, “1st serve in”.