Rafael Nadal and Marin Cilic will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers when they clash in the Australian Open quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Date: 23 January 2018
Match time: 7 PM local time (AEDT) / 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 on playing Marin:
All the matches are tough, and if you are in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam, you can’t expect an easy match. Against Marin will be a tough one, but at the same time, is a beautiful match to play against a great player. We know each other. We played a couple of times already.
And, yeah, I know I need to play well. That’s the real thing. I know I need to play well. That’s what I gonna try. I hope to be ready to make that happen.
Rafa holds an 5-1 lead in his head-to-head series with Cilic, including victories in their past four meetings. Their first meeting came back in Beijing in 2009 which is when Marin recorded his only career victory over Rafa.
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Shanghai China |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2017 | Acapulco Mexico |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2015 | Basel Switzerland |
Indoor Hard | QF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2011 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2009 | Beijing China |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Marin Cilic |
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
I will be watching n praying for you Rafa my boy. May your body stay strong n healthy. You are playing great so please don’t get nervous. I will always barrack for you win or lose. You are a true sportsman n gentleman. Vamos Rafa. God bless you. Your Aussie Abuela Nan Shirley. 🐂🏆👑⛴🎊🎊🎉🎉🎉
Well Rafa, win today and you will be playing Edmund’s in the semi final ( well done Kyle , keep this up and your be taking Andy’s number one spot in the uk) who has just knocked out number 3 seed Grigor Dimitrov. ( Lovely to see the Australian crowd getting behind him).
What a privilege it will be for Kyle to play against the world number one
Rafa on Kyle
Oh, he’s good,’ ‘He’s a good player, of course, and for me not a surprise. ‘But, no, I really believe on his potential. He has a huge serve, huge forehand, and he hit very strong the ball, no? ‘So I really think he’s gonna have a great year.’
Looks like you could be right Rafa.
A great achievement by Kyle, but I’m backing Rafa all the way.
Edmund into the semis!
Good luck today Rafa , it’s the second week now so you will need to take your game up a notch to take out Cilic, but take him out you will. Also good luck to Edmund’s who is out on court now and up a break , you need to take out Dimitrov as I feel you will be an easier opponent for Rafa to meet next ( sorry Kyle).
Take care of business, Rafa!
Rafa all the best for your match tonight against Cilic.
As reported it is cooler in Melbourne today,
and VERY humid in Sydney.
I go to Melbourne tomorrow for the Semis and Finals,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
I haven’t seen Cilic play this year, but I’ve seen some positive comments about his play in the earlier rounds. I think Rafa will need to raise his level from his previous matches. The second set against Zoomer was worrying. The result of the match v Schwartzman was what I expected – I like Diego and follow him as a player, so I knew he could get a set off Rafa, but at the same time I don’t think Rafa ever looked in any danger of losing, despite the unforced errors and lack of offensive play. However it doesn’t sound, from the presser, that Rafa was very happy with his performance, but proud of himself for overcoming an off day (or whatever it was). I think that’s the right attitude, because although Diego is a fighter and a great returner, any opponents that Rafa may meet from now on in this tourney will be more experienced and capable of better things, should they be in form on the day. As is Rafa himself. I know he can do it, and I really hope he can find a way to win tomorrow. Vamos Rafa!!
He needs to win ❤️🎾💪🏽
We’ve had a lovely cool change overnight in Melbourne, so by the time the match starts it should be quite cool. Only 23 forecast for today, hooray! The players in both women’s and men’s finals will have a hard time, though. We’ve had forecasts of close to 40 with high humidity for both days of the weekend! Really draining weather even at night! Vamps Rafa for tonight!
American Tennys Sandgren [97] has already caused two upsets: Wawrinka and Thiem. The journeyman plays Chung on Wednesday. I am keeping an eye on him as he seems to have appeared out of nowhere. Spooky.
RAFA ROCKS
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) I WAS JUST THINKING IT IS BEST TO PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLES AND KEEP THEM BESIDE YOUR BAG -OUT IN THE OPEN – IN CAMERA VIEW, WITH ICE BAG. (BUT NOT IN THE CLOSED COOLER CONTAINER BEHIND ….. TAKE CHARGE AND GREAT CARE OF YOUR WATER BOTTLES!!!!! : ) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) : ) I HOPE CHUNG DOES THE SAME……ESPECIALLY IF HE MEETS princess r…. and beat him to the cleaners……: ) : ) : ) POINT BEING: YOU ALL MUST BE PROTECTIVE OF YOUR BODIES. DO SO COMPLETELY.
VAMOS SWEETHEART FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL TALENT AND DETERMINATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) THAT IS YOUR GIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ); ) : ) DIEGO IS RIGHT ABOUT YOUR BLESSED AGGRESSIVE PLAY FOR FOUR HOURS………….& KEEPING YOUR BLESSED ENDURANCE FOR LONGER WHEN NECESSARY…: ) AND THAT’S WHAT MADE ME THINK FOR YOU TO LINE UP , BESIDE YOU, IN CAMERA VIEW, PLENTY OF YOUR OWN WATER IN YOUR OWN ICE BAG. VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY LOTS OF FUN PLAYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) IT WILL BE A GREAT MATCH FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 🙂 WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART & WILL BE CHEERING YOU ALONG THE FABULOUS AO CROWD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOUR INTERVIEWS ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 AND WE LOVE WATCHING YOUR SPORTSMANSHIP GRACE TOWARDS YOUR OPPONENTS RIGHT AFTER YOU WIN… CLASSY RAFA NADAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY & ENJOY A GREAT TIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) . LOTS OF LOVE SWEETHEART & HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 KEEP SMILING SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ): ) : ) : ) IT IS ALL FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXO
“Beat him to the cleaners?” Now that’s funny. I like.
RAFA ROCKS
Rafa should stand closer to the baseline against Clicic and attempt to keep Clicic off balance on his service game . The idea is to make Clicic move side to side and to rush his service returns . Rafa should win this match and itscimportant to take the first set . Vamos Rafa forever !
Nadal faced 16 breakpoints against Schwartzman Cilic wont need too many chances so I wont underestimate cilic if i were you. He has a big serve and we all know nadal doesnt like playing big serves. And we also remember from the muller match at wimbeldon when a big server serves very well it makes nadal very nervous because it put a lot of pressure on his own service games
Nadal needs to serve very very well and return very well. Also dont waiste too many chances he will get. I hope he will take a page out of his own playbook he used against raonic last year in the quarterfinal of the AO. where the stood very close to the baseline and took the ball very early
Waiting for Rainier summary!!!!
Amberoxx, I asked Rainier for her take on the Cîlíc match in the thread just before this one. She may be busy or hasn’t seen my plea to share her expertise on Cîlíc vs. Rafa.
RAFA ROCKS
H. Chung: winner of the NextGen Championship, 21-years-old, just beat Djokovic, he is into the QF, ranked 58. What is going on?
The NextGen is knocking on the door. 🙂 Chung was very impressive, has improved a lot in the last couple of years. I’m betting him to be the first NextGen to win a GrandSlam.
Most thought it would be Alex Zverev but as Rainier was right on target when she recently said Alex is having trouble with Slams. Alex said he is feeling pressure from all sides including from himself. I hope he adjusts because it would be great for tennis. Chung, who is now causing much excitement, beat Alex to it. I believe Chung is the first Korean to reach the AO QF. Maybe any Slam QF.
I don’t mind the NextGen winning a 500 or a Masters but leave the Slams to Rafa, for now.
RAFA ROCKS
Having seen Chung’s smart performances at the Next Gen finals, it’s no surprise to me that he’s done so well at the AO so far. He’s a brick wall, getting everything back.
Youngster Chung showed Nole the exit door in SS: 7[7] – 6[4], 7-5, 7[7] – 6-3.
WOWOWEEEEEE
Rafa your life is already getting easier. PLEASE think of 2018 as your second AO title.
Although it’s exciting that a young player won (and that player is someone other than overrated Zverev), I was actually hoping Novak would be able to give Fed some competition…
you have this game covered rafa,all my thought will be with you on 23th vamos rafa.
Good luck and Vamos Rafa <3
I don’t want to be full of hubris but this match is surely one that Rafa can win and should win. Cilic hardly ever shows the tactical and mental strength that one would expect from a major winner. His performance against Federer at Wimbledon goes down in history as a mental no show. Rafa should win this in three and maybe four. Just grab that first and third set and will be fine.
jean sober,
I think you are too overconfident. Nadal faced 16 breakpoints against Schwartzman Cilic wont need too many chances so I wont underestimate cilic if i were you. He has a big serve and we all know nadal doesnt like playing big serves. And we also remember from the muller match at wimbeldon when a big server serves very well it makes nadal very nervous because it put a lot of pressure on his own service games
Nadal needs to serve very very well and return very well. Also dont waiste too many chances he will get. I hope he will take a page out of his own playbook he used against raonic last year in the quarterfinal of the AO. where the stood very close to the baseline and took the ball very early
OK I am not too sure of this match but we all know that horror scenario where a player like Cilic ends up into the final only to pull a no show against Roger who will then be called God again. We have always needed Rafa to stop that nonsense and we still do. Vamos Rafa!
The best of luck Rafa 🥇🍀❤️🤗
VAMOS!! 🎾💪🏼😅😘
Yes, he is pleasing us, last match good 😀 over Diego. Please continue. Up until now met 3 Spanish speaking players.😉 Fi in Paris
ci…….ci……..ci…….VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) That is great for Spanish and GLOBALTENNIS for sure!!! I also love how Rafa wins international crew of players…..the more countries, the more continents the merrier…. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) ; ) ; ): ) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) You are feisty and strong you will have a beautiful match today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) Lots of fun and fun………………GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) ; ) : ) 🙂 We love you and will be cheering with the AO crowd LIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 ; ) Have a great day sweetheart and enjoy everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ): ); ) Lots of love & happiness and VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) XOXOXOXOXO