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!
Rafa is a wounded animal out there. Cilic has an answer for everything right now.
So upsetting that Rafa is injured.
Can Rafa play a 5th set to win? If not, he should just retire and not injure himself any further. But if he can continue, he should play to win. Cilic is so full of belief right now.
Believe in yourself Rafa! So long as you are standing, do not give up!!
It seems to be over soon. Rafa handing in the 4th now, 5-1 down and a painful knee. That’s it. What an anticlimax.
PRAYING YOU WILL GET RELIEF…………..
Dangerous times for Rafa as Cilic is hitting those cross court ball so well. Oh no the trainer is on for Rafa. Looks a like groin problem. Not good.
Cilic getting the upper hand on Rafa right now. Our man has to figure this out or else 5th set won’t be kind to Rafa.
COME ON RAFA BREAK THIS GUY THEN BREAK HIM AGAIN!
What’s this now? Trainer is out. This is not looking too good.
Oh no – rafa needs to break back quickly. If anyone can – he can. Cmon
I find it so frustrating to see that Cilic dares to go all out vs Rafa while at Wimbledon he played as if he was walking on thin ice. Be that same coward again please!!!
THAT’S WHAT YOU ARE GENIUS AT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENDURANCE AND LONG POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 🙂 🙂 GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO SWEETHEART GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 🙂 YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 🙂 🙂
I am not a sweater but right now I’m probably sweating more than the Rafa.
Just one more set Rafa. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
RAFA ROCKS
Margo, I am sweating even though its winter here lol.But man Rafa is a mental monster. Toughest nut ever to crack.
Vamos
Winter here also and my stomach is upside down.
Rafa is the only male who drives me crazy.
I hope he channels every atom of his body into showing Cîlíc he is No. 1.
RAFA ROCKS
Hi Margo. Stomach upside down here to 😳😜🙃
Poor Rafa, looks like he’s in pain 😣😢
Fingers crossed 🤞🏻❤️ C’mon champ – VAMOS! 🎾💪🏼😘🍀
Hi Rafantastic, I had to stop watching. Not something I’ve ever done. I hope it’s just cramping and not an injury. I don’t think I could withstand another one.
I just hope we get an honest assessment of what is going on. When Rafa doesn’t say much the media will make up their own version. Sick of their crap.
RAFA STILL ROCKS FOR ME
That was painfull to watch 😣😔😢 Feel better soon sweet Rafa 🍀❤️ – You sure are an incredible fighter 🥇🎾💪🏼😘
AO just isn’t the same without you champ#1 😳😧
RAFA TOTALLY ROCKS! 💪🏼😍
CI…………………………….CI…………………………………CI……………………………!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) BEAUTIFUL FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) BEAUTIFUL LEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) BEAUTIFUL RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 : ) : ) GREAT JOB ………….YOU ARE BRILLIANT AT TB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 🙂 😉 LOTS OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 🙂 🙂 : ) : ) : ) : ) XOXOXOXOXOXO
Ah Maronn’! That’s a 2-1 lead in sets for Rafa. Now folks, this tie break was text book ‘winning ugly’ tennis by Rafa. Cilic played this tiebreaker to win, going for the winners, hitting 3 but making 4 ue’s in the process. Rafa was all keeping the ball in play expect for at set point where he went to the net and nailed the smash. This should give the mental edge now to finish it off in 4. Remember, when it really comes to rallying, he should be able to outplay Marin County. Vamos!!
What a set – what a celebration? That set was too close for comfort. Cmon rafa – get it done in 4!!
YAY!! Whew!! That was intense!!!! My heart is racing… Great job by both in that set. Rafa finally did what was necessary to close it out.
There’s still not much separating these two guys. Stay strong Rafa and don’t get broken!
OMG! That tie break was sooooo tense! Now I can breathe again!
HAHA Lorna you have me thinking how can two words mean the same thing… but there you go! That tiebreak was both tense and intense:):)
Cilic going for his shots. Close it out Rafa!!
YOU ARE SO GOOD AT TB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 2:1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Rafa’s got to hope that Cilic gets nervous in the tie break!