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!
OMG ! Poor Rafa !!! He needs to think better about his calendar like Fed. He can’t always give his max until it hurts him !!! Hope he has a real rest. We will be waiting ❤️
So gutted for you Rafa, you looked and sounded so sad at the press conference , just take time now to get yourself right again , all your fans will be here waiting your return when you are fit and ready
All things must be taken into consideration …….. mised our consideration
MY SYMPATHIES WITH YOU RAFA, I AM FEELING VERY SAD, FOR YOU.
YOU ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE A CHAMP FOR US. THE WHOLE WORLD COULD SEE THE PAIN IN YOUR EYES . IT MUST HAVE BEEN A TOUGH DECISION FOR YOU TO TAKE NOW, BUT WE RESPECT YOU FOR THAT.
TAKE GOOD REST, HEALTH IS MORE IMPORTANT, WE YOUR FANS NEED A HEALTHY RAFA.
PLEASE PLEASE TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF. LOADS OF HUGS FOR YOU. LOVE YOU ALWAYS. ❣💟💞💝💚💙💗💖💕💘💓❣💟💞💝💚💙💗💖💕💟💞💝💚💙💗💖💕😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙
Yes DMTNA I agree with you. In any case I was not so sure if Rafa was going to win. Of course there was hope but …… .
Now I’m gutted and it is really not fair!! Also regarding the goat – I don’t believe in it anyway. One if the greatest yes – cos all things have to taken into and compared and only then …..
Vamos Rafa!
Yes, i am gutted.
I still can’t believe that the grandslam race is locked in the most silly way.
I myself never admit that Federer is the greatest since he has won most free slams between 2004-2007. Rafa has to fight against prime Federer and prime Djokovic most of the time to EARN 16 slams. Not to mention his countless hiatus due to injury.
But this time, really… It could have been better if Rafa decided to retire after the match vs Hyeon Chung last Paris Master… We could have at least celebrating this moment if Rafa didn’t risk his body once again.
It’s clearly unfair for all of us.
Gutted 😥😳
Feel better soon Rafa and take good care of yourself 🍀😘
VAMOS RAFA CHAMP #1 ALWAYS!🥇🎾💪🏼💖
I don’t want to take away anything from cilic but I seriously think things were bothering Rafa even before the 4th set. Maybe rafa thought it’ll start being better from 3rd set on. Truly wish he hadn’t got injured.
Feeling so down and sad, but happy he didn’t play any more and retired.
Rafa I wish you a good solid recovery in EVERY way!🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
Love you! ❤️❤️😘😘😘
Now you guys can understand why my statement last year right.
I told it was his worst decision ever to play one match at ATP Final for no reason when he already secured his no.1 spot.
Risking the body for a 1500 point event and now he has to pull out of a 2000 point event.
Rafa clearly showed signs of injury at the beginning of the tournament. He doesn’t chase the ball like usual which is VERY STRANGE.
I am gutted but still hope Rafa could still catch Federer’s slam record.
Please god, Berdych or Hyeon Chung must stop him!! It’s unfair!
Nadal did the right thing in retiring. We can now say a couple of things:
– Game Set and Match Federer 20th grandslam title. He must be very happy
– I think that Nadal should skip australian open in the future. He may never win it again. Melbourne is for Rafa what the French Open is for Federer. Bad Luck, Bad Luck. He lost three times a final he should have won (2012,2014 and 2017). Retiring with a injury (2010 and 2018) playing with a injury (2011) and further. Mebourne has turn in a curse. Lets hope that Rafa will win a 11th title in Paris so the distance between him and federer will not be bigger. I am so dissapointed about this.
The bright side of this is that Rafa has an entire month+ to be ready for Alcapulco, if he decides to play.
Make no mistake about it, any winner of this AO, other than the No. 2, is my preference. I don’t talk much about Rafa being the greatest slam winner of all time but my heart is always there for him, Rafa.
It’s just the beginning of 2018 so all I can do is hope for him to be injury free.
RAFA IS STILL ROCKING
Margo,
Be realistic. Federer is having a big smile on his face knowing that Nadal is out. He cares very much about his record and knows that every year it will be difficult for Rafa to catch Roger. Federer is so lucky that rafa had many injuries otherwise he would have unseated federer record for most grandslam title.
I dont see anyone preventing federer from winning Melbourne. He will beat berdych tomorrow in 4 sets. And then I think the south korean guy will be overwelmed by the presence of Roger and will lose easily in three sets. Then in the final he will be superior
Let me go a step furhter. I am starting to accept that Nadal will not be able to catch up with Roger.
I’m devastated. Really wanted Rafa to win this. And so sad to see him in pain and still trying to play.
Like you, I hope anyone but no 2 will win. I don’t want to hear even more about the so called god.
Yes Rafafan, I’m really upset and I can only say Rafa must be in worse shape than I am, for his loss.
I hope it’s nothing serious. Cramping is debilitating so he had no choice but to retire.
Hoping for anyone above #2 to win the title. Then I can celebrate.
RAFA ROCKS
So true, I was exactly of the same opinion. Majors should be the 100% focus. Planning and strategy failed completely.
It’s a good decision. Was very tough to watch. Rafa at AO is quite unlucky , something disappointing happens almost everytime.
Take a good care of your body and get well soon.This open is over for me .
C u next time champ
Vamos forever
YAY… it’s mercifully over!
Oh please, Cilic needs to get over himself- he’ll probably tank against Federer like he did at Wimbledon and that will be that. Well played today against Rafa though- he won fair and square. He had the measure of Rafa even before Rafa got injured.
Mend your body Rafa. Take some much deserved rest and come back strong when you are fit and good to go! The year is just starting.
Stay safe everyone.
I sound like a serious hater. PS, I hope Cilic doesn’t tank against the Fed in the final though:)
Well you never know Mac – kyle may yet take cillic out so he may not be around for any match up with federer.
TAKE GOOD CARE SWEETHEART . JUST A MATCH……YOU PLAYED BEAUTIFUL TENNIS DEAR RAFA AND THIS IS NO BIG DEAL………..YOU WILL HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES………………WE LOVE YOU AND SENDING HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 : ) LOTS OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Rafa has done the right thing but i feel so so much sympathy for him. Get better rafa and stay away until youre fit. It just wasnt meant to be this year at the ao. Im very sad
Cmon rafa please give it up before you do any more damage. He looks in so much pain
Rafa needs to quit. This is not fun anymore, and it’s not the type of suffering he enjoys.
Rafa retire before you do any more damage!
Seems really injured. Soooo sad!!
He must look after himself.
Oh poor poor rafa. Injury is why he lost the 4th and if he plays a 5th risks further injury and risk of losing the match. Really feel for him. Cmon rafa. Do it if you can!!
Cilic doesn’t have to do much now. Rafa’s serve is going right into The strike zone of Cilic, so he’s just hitting back into the open space for a winner.
Ok this is my last comment for the day. 5th set, Rafa probably retiring soon in this match. I can only curse in shear frustration. What a deception.