On Thursday, top seed and ten-time champion Rafael Nadal will face Karen Khachanov in the third round of the 2018 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Date: April 19, 2018
Match time: Rafa is third match on Court Rainer III. Around 3 PM local time / 9 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 2 PM BST – United Kingdom / 3 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 11 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on plying Khachanov:
Karen is a tough opponent, of course. No doubt about that. He’s a player that serves big and has big shots from the baseline. I need to play aggressive. I can’t let him play in comfortable positions because then it will be impossible… I know it’s going to be an important test for me.
Rafa owns a 2-0 lifetime record against the Russian and has won all five sets they have contested.
| Year | Event | Surface | RND | Winner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Beijing China |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2017 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | R32 | Rafael Nadal |
Rafa has won 14 consecutive matches vs. Russians since falling to Nikolay Davydenko in the SFs at 2011 Doha. He has reached the Monte-Carlo QFs or better 13 years in a row since losing in the 3R in his 2003 debut (l. to Coria).
Rafa must retain the Monte-Carlo title, which would represent his 31st Masters 1000 crown, to remain at No. 1 in the ATP Rankings. Otherwise his Swiss rival, Roger Federer, will return to the top spot on 23 April. Rafa is in his 170th week at No. 1, tying John McEnroe for the sixth-most weeks in rankings history (since August 1973).
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP World Tour
Khach sails a BHDTL long and Rafa breaks the 1st game this 2nd set. Khach was looking quite good at the beginning actually.
Really want to see Rafa shorten the points more and wrap this match asap. Khach seems to be playing better actually. A good showing Thiem is waiting and I suspect it’s not gonna be too straightforward.
Welcome back Rainier.
I’m betting on Rafa in SS vs Thiem. I don’t think he is ready to beat a fresh, hungry and healthy Rafa although, yes, Thiem may put up a good battle.
RAFA ROCKS