Rome Masters SF: What time does Rafael Nadal play against Novak Djokovic?
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will meet for the 51st time on Saturday, with a spot in the Rome Masters final on the line.
Date: May 19, 2018
Match time: 2.30 PM local time / 8.30 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 1.30 PM BST – United Kingdom / 2.30 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 10.30 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time,use this website.
Michael Dodge/Getty Images
Rafa:
To be honest, I prefer not to play against Djokovic. He is one of the best in history, no doubt.
I am not like those players who say ‘yes, I want to measure myself with him’.
If I have to face him, then I give my best to win as I have always done in my career, but obviously, you prefer to have easier opponents than a great player like Novak.
Nole on facing Rafa:
I have to embrace it and have to give everything I’ve got.
This is what I work for, to get to the later stages of events. I haven’t had this kind of feeling for a while.
It’s been a year since I’ve played the semi-finals, the last one was here so I like the conditions and I get a nice support here, so hopefully I’ll be able to play my best tennis.
With his three triumphs this week Rafa is now 17-1 on clay in 2018 and 21-2 overall.
Nole holds a 26-24 record against Rafa, with the pair locked at 3-3 in Rome. Our champ won their last encounter, snapping a seven-match losing streak against the Serb to reach the 2017 Mutua Madrid Open final.
Rafa is the best clay-courter of the Open Era with a 406-36 record (.919). However, he’s 15-7 with three losses in his last four matches against Djokovic on clay (.682). No other man owns more than three clay-court wins over Rafa. Gaston Gaudio beat him three times on clay before the Spaniard turned 19. Dominic Thiem earned his third clay-court victory over Rafa in Madrid on 11 May.
The No. 1 and No. 11 seeds have split six prior match-ups at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and Rafa owns a 9-8 advantage in semi-finals. They have met at all four Grand Slams, the ATP Finals, Davis Cup, the Olympic Games and eight of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events (all but Shanghai). Djokovic is 16-10 with five wins in his last six matches against Rafa at ATP Masters 1000 events.
Rafa began their rivalry with a 14-4 lead, but Djokovic has claimed 11 of their last 13 meetings since losing the 2013 US Open final. Should Rafa win his eighth Rome title, he will return to No. 1 in the ATP Rankings on 21 May. If Rafa loses to the four-time champion Djokovic or in the championship match on Sunday, Roger Federer will remain World No. 1 through at least 24 June.
Best 2-setter of the clay season so far. Best match from Novak since quite a while. Good signs for his fan. Serve and BH seem to be on their way back. Also good signs for tennis. Competition on tour is always good for the game, no matter who our favourite is.
Good match for Rafa also. Should have won it more straightforwardly but again, the good thing is he was able to fix his mistakes during the match and raise his game when needed.
Looking forward to see how he will deal with Zverev’s improved bomb serves and clay game, should the young gun beat Cilic in the next few hours. Also hoping to see he goes DTL off both wings; attacks the net much more and run his opponent, either it’s Zverev or Cilic, around ruthlessly.
Congratulations, Rafa and the team. Rest well and good luck in the final.
🍀💪🏻
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FEISTY, SOLID VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) VAMOS SENIOR CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ; ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) IT WAS EXCITING AND VERY CLEAR YOU WILL BE WINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOUR MAGICAL TENNIS IS LOTS OF FUN & YOUR HARD WORK AND PASSION IS EXTRAORDINARY AND PRESENT WITH EACH BEAUTIFUL POINT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) : ): ) VAMOS SWEETHEART AND ENJOY CELEBRATING WITH YOUR WONDERFUL LOYAL LOVED ONES AND THE TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) I ALWAYS LOVE WHEN THE CAMERA TAKES CLOSE UP OF YOUR BELOVED GROUP……AND YOUR PLAYING TODAY WAS BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY EVERYTHING AND HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL AFTERNOON AND A BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ); ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE YOU DEAR RAFA AND VERY PROUD OF YOUR UNBELIEVABLE PERFORMANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU TOOK HIM TO THE CLEANERS IN TWO SETS AND THAT WAS SPUNKY FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) I ESPECIALLY LOVED YOUR ENTIRE SERVE GAME, YOUR SPIKY ACE, YOUR FH, YOUR BH, YOUR VOLLEYS, YOUR SPEED, YOUR COVERAGE OF EACH CENTIMETER IN THE COURT, YOUR FEISTY NET, AND……..YOUR SOLID ATTITUDE AND OBVIOUS GROOVE TAKING YOU ALL THE WAY TO A BRILLIANT PLAY AND A BRILLIANT VICTORY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) : ) GREAT WIN SWEETHEART AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) I LOVE THAT YOU PLAY YOUR BEAUTIFUL TENNIS NO MATTER WHO IS ON THE OTHER SIDE…..THAT IS YOUR STRENGTH ……YOU ARE WISE, INTELLIGENT, SKILLFUL AND PRACTICAL…….VAMOS SWEETHEART & KUDOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU ARE EASY ON THE EYES TOO : ) TRUTH BE TOLD, YOU ARE THE BEST, STRONGEST TOP BRILLIANT TENNIS PRO AND MOST ADORABLE HUNK OF A PLAYER IN TENNIS HISTORY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WI……..WI……..WI…….: ) VERY EXCITING TO WITNESS YOUR FABULOUS STRIDE AND AMAZING TALENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY IT ALL SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) AND EXTRA VAMOS FOR GOOD MEASURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) HAVE FUN TONIGHT AND KEEP SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOX
Rafa has slain the beast – i am overjoyed – especially as there is no cupping from novak nor any shirt ripping. Rafa’s in the Rome final. It’s been a while. Can’t wait
So happy you put Novak in his place , hope it makes your confidence soar for tomorrow, bad news is it won’t be long before he’s back to his best, hopefully that won’t be until Wimbledon and then he can give Roger a run for his money.
Congratulations on today’s performance king of clay and Congratulations prince Harry.
Anyone else notice that novak waits and then roars so everyone can hear it. We can’t miss it novak – only thing you haven’t done today is rip your shirt
Rafa clearly playing more aggressive and shortening the point right now. Good momentum from the TB.
1-1
Both players are dominating on serve but as long as Rafa keeps playing aggressive on serve, he’ll break Novak for sure.
Another half volley from Novak but this time Rafa made no mistake like he did twice in the 1st set, reading Novak’s intention and putting the ball way decisively.
Another exchange at the net with Novak shaking a FH volley long and Raga breaks at love.
Me too. For some people it spurs them on but when novak does it he usually goes under. Is rafa the only gentleman on the tour? Shapo is quite nice i hear
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Best 2-setter of the clay season so far. Best match from Novak since quite a while. Good signs for his fan. Serve and BH seem to be on their way back. Also good signs for tennis. Competition on tour is always good for the game, no matter who our favourite is.
Good match for Rafa also. Should have won it more straightforwardly but again, the good thing is he was able to fix his mistakes during the match and raise his game when needed.
Looking forward to see how he will deal with Zverev’s improved bomb serves and clay game, should the young gun beat Cilic in the next few hours. Also hoping to see he goes DTL off both wings; attacks the net much more and run his opponent, either it’s Zverev or Cilic, around ruthlessly.
Congratulations, Rafa and the team. Rest well and good luck in the final.
🍀💪🏻
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FEISTY, SOLID VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) VAMOS SENIOR CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ; ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) IT WAS EXCITING AND VERY CLEAR YOU WILL BE WINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOUR MAGICAL TENNIS IS LOTS OF FUN & YOUR HARD WORK AND PASSION IS EXTRAORDINARY AND PRESENT WITH EACH BEAUTIFUL POINT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) : ): ) VAMOS SWEETHEART AND ENJOY CELEBRATING WITH YOUR WONDERFUL LOYAL LOVED ONES AND THE TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) I ALWAYS LOVE WHEN THE CAMERA TAKES CLOSE UP OF YOUR BELOVED GROUP……AND YOUR PLAYING TODAY WAS BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY EVERYTHING AND HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL AFTERNOON AND A BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ); ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE YOU DEAR RAFA AND VERY PROUD OF YOUR UNBELIEVABLE PERFORMANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU TOOK HIM TO THE CLEANERS IN TWO SETS AND THAT WAS SPUNKY FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) I ESPECIALLY LOVED YOUR ENTIRE SERVE GAME, YOUR SPIKY ACE, YOUR FH, YOUR BH, YOUR VOLLEYS, YOUR SPEED, YOUR COVERAGE OF EACH CENTIMETER IN THE COURT, YOUR FEISTY NET, AND……..YOUR SOLID ATTITUDE AND OBVIOUS GROOVE TAKING YOU ALL THE WAY TO A BRILLIANT PLAY AND A BRILLIANT VICTORY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) : ) GREAT WIN SWEETHEART AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) I LOVE THAT YOU PLAY YOUR BEAUTIFUL TENNIS NO MATTER WHO IS ON THE OTHER SIDE…..THAT IS YOUR STRENGTH ……YOU ARE WISE, INTELLIGENT, SKILLFUL AND PRACTICAL…….VAMOS SWEETHEART & KUDOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU ARE EASY ON THE EYES TOO : ) TRUTH BE TOLD, YOU ARE THE BEST, STRONGEST TOP BRILLIANT TENNIS PRO AND MOST ADORABLE HUNK OF A PLAYER IN TENNIS HISTORY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WI……..WI……..WI…….: ) VERY EXCITING TO WITNESS YOUR FABULOUS STRIDE AND AMAZING TALENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY IT ALL SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) AND EXTRA VAMOS FOR GOOD MEASURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) HAVE FUN TONIGHT AND KEEP SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOX
What a treat it was!! Vamos
The stronger Nadal backhand making the difference today!
Rafa has slain the beast – i am overjoyed – especially as there is no cupping from novak nor any shirt ripping. Rafa’s in the Rome final. It’s been a while. Can’t wait
So happy you put Novak in his place , hope it makes your confidence soar for tomorrow, bad news is it won’t be long before he’s back to his best, hopefully that won’t be until Wimbledon and then he can give Roger a run for his money.
Congratulations on today’s performance king of clay and Congratulations prince Harry.
Well done, two sets, as predicted!
YAY, our champ done did it! Well done Rafa.
Woohoo congrats all😃
Come on Rafa close it out! Very entertaining match though.
Anyone else notice that novak waits and then roars so everyone can hear it. We can’t miss it novak – only thing you haven’t done today is rip your shirt
There’s still time Susie
Lol
Double fault😲
Great score Rafa, keep it up your nearly there
Rafa holds at 30 to go up 3-1.
Novak looking tired but serve and groundies hit from comfortable position are still very dangerous.
Even more so, he still reading Rafa’s shots very well.
But that can only take him so far.
Rafa should have played like this early in the 1st set – running him around and bullying him off court.
Both giving everything they got
Loving it
Rafa clearly playing more aggressive and shortening the point right now. Good momentum from the TB.
1-1
Both players are dominating on serve but as long as Rafa keeps playing aggressive on serve, he’ll break Novak for sure.
Another half volley from Novak but this time Rafa made no mistake like he did twice in the 1st set, reading Novak’s intention and putting the ball way decisively.
Another exchange at the net with Novak shaking a FH volley long and Raga breaks at love.
Now please hold quickly, Rafa. No more drama.
Loving the sight of frustrated joker😊
Me too. For some people it spurs them on but when novak does it he usually goes under. Is rafa the only gentleman on the tour? Shapo is quite nice i hear