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.
It seems that to continue to be great you need to have an excitement and nervousness, along with confidence. Like an actor before every live performance.
Novak can be brilliant, but also crude in manner. Rafael, ever the respectful person, is mesmerizing on court. It will feel like a final.
From one royal shindig to another. The King of clay will be OK – I’m hoping. Cmon Rafa – destroy him today – he will try to bring you down so do not let him!
Hi Susie thank god I was channel hoping , I was still waiting for the snooker to finish, didn’t realize it was on another channel, hope I don’t regret it
Hi Maria – you wont regret it – im sure. Having said that i thought novak was going to break him in the 1st game but Rafa saved a handful of break points. Phew
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OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND A BEAUTIFUL TIME FOR YOUR PRECIOUS BEAUTIFUL TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY YOUR DAY & HAVE LOTS OF FUN PLAYING YOUR MAGIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) IT IS ALL FOR FUN…………. POINT BY POINT………….. IT WILL BE A GREAT MATCH FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) : ) OH YES……CI……….CI……….CI………& WI………….WI…………….WI…………….ENJOY EVERYTHING SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE IT & IT IS ALL FOR GOOD TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) THE ROME CROWD LOVES YOU AND SO DO WE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WE WILL BE THERE ENJOYING YOUR MATCH LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART AND IT WILL BE AN EXCITING FUN MATCH FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) KEEP SMILING SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
the comments by rafa were stupid. I believe that the semifinal will be very close. Djokovic won a thirdsetter against nishikori. That can be a gamechanger because djokovic before lost a lot of three set matches. It could be that the win against nishikori gave djokovic confidence for the match against nadal. And remember djokovic doesnt have to win since nadal is the favourite. If djokovic can make it nadal as diffficult as possible it will give him a boost for the rest of the season. And for me personally if nadal loses i think i wouldnt be dissapointed at all. I like comeback stories
Rafa please be aggressive from the very start and don’t let up until you have won.
Wish you hadn’t once again expressed your fears aloud. You give Novak and roger a psychological and confidence boost and take away a lot from yourself.
Beat him. It is much needed for your confidence.
VAMOS
Rafa in 2 sets today. I also believe the comments by Rafa aren’t smart, but he’s been hitting the ball much better than Djoko this year. I don’t see Djoko turning into the 2015 version today. Not yet.
Djokovic is a shallow Brag. You are a gentleman Rafa. Go Rafa Go n kill em! Vamos Rafa. God bless you my boy. Vamos Rafa. Your Aussie Abuela Nan Shirley. 🐂🏆👑💥💥💥
It is reassuring that Rafa lost most of the matches to Nole in2015-16. Which of course was a hard period with injuries and lack of confidence. Hoping that the crowd supports both players. Rafa will have to go to the courts with the same mindset as against Thiem in Monty Carlo. There is no stopping after that. He must not give djokovic any chance to breathe. Vamos
Tennis at the level that these gentlemen are playing is a sport of confidence and expectations management. Rafa has spoken about all his opponents with the greatest respect, so this isn’t different for him.
To those who read this as Rafa being nervous and giving Nole too much credit, you are right. But, Rafa is nervous before every match, everyone who has played a competitive sport knows about the nerves. For either man to win tomorrow, he will have to play lights out. The loser will have to have left everything on the court despite the result.
What’s to complain as fans of the sport? Or RNFs? I would much rather that Rafa be pushed to the brink in Rome instead of Roland Garros. This is the test he needs; he will come out super strong after this test, regardless of outcome.
Rafa’s comment on facing Novak gives the impression that he’s not confident and fears the encounter. He makes the same comment about Roger and I wish Rafa wouldn’t talk like this. In contrast, Novak is excited about the semi final contest, so Rafa you need to squash him.
I’m with you Lorna. Soon as I saw Rafa’s comments, I had a mini breakdown. Same old Rafa, giving too much respect to Djokovic.
Rafa must come out swinging in this match. If he even gives Djoker the slightest quarter to think he might have a chance, Rafa’s Rome campaign is over.
Come on champ, show him that his days of Supreme dominance are well and truly gone. Crush him. Extinguish his spirit. Sow all sorts of doubt inside his mind Rafa. Take away his self belief. And please stop voicing so much respect for him. You are the best. Go out and prove it Rafa!
YES RAFA STOP BEING INTIMIDATED BY DJOK. HE CERTAINLY DOES NOT NEED THIS KIND OF TALK. HITTING HIS GORILLA STYLE THUMPING HIS CHEST AT EACH VICTORIOUS POINT.
YOU JUST DEFEATED THE CROWD FAVOURITE PET FOGNINI, SO DO NOT EXPECT THEIR SUPPORT. GIVE BOTH WHO BECAUSE OF HIS LACK OF CONFIDENCE KEEPS QUARELLING EVEN WITH HIS OWN SUPPORT TEAM AND THE ROME HOOLIGAN CROWD A LESSON, LIKE YOU DID AGAINST FOGNINI
PLAY LIKE YOU DID AT MONTE CARLO, BARCELLONA, DAVIS CUP AGAINST ALL OPPONENTS
WAMOS RAFA REMEMBER YOU ARE THE BEST AGAINST ALL OPPONENTS.
Commentators on Sky have just announced that rafas semi final is now starting at 2pm UK time not 1.30pm as apparently novak has kicked off with the tourament director as he came off court late and little recovery time.
I can understand Novak’s frustration as I find the scheduling of the men’s semi finals strange. I’m glad Rafa played early because he will need as much energy as possible for his encounter against an improving Novak. The serve will be key.
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It seems that to continue to be great you need to have an excitement and nervousness, along with confidence. Like an actor before every live performance.
Novak can be brilliant, but also crude in manner. Rafael, ever the respectful person, is mesmerizing on court. It will feel like a final.
Very well said CanaDiana
Oh joy of joys. Just let Rafa hold now
YAY, Rafa gets the break! Now consolidate Rafa!
Please Lord let the break hold
Oh dear, joker playing really good 😟
He’s cranked it up to play Rafa. Novak hates losing to Rafa. Typical – just hope Rafa stays calm and focused
15-40 on Rafa’s first serve game. Come on Rafa! And he holds. Great start champ. Keep this up.
Where is Moya?
Didn’t see him in Madrid either Mac
From one royal shindig to another. The King of clay will be OK – I’m hoping. Cmon Rafa – destroy him today – he will try to bring you down so do not let him!
Hi Susie thank god I was channel hoping , I was still waiting for the snooker to finish, didn’t realize it was on another channel, hope I don’t regret it
Hi Maria – you wont regret it – im sure. Having said that i thought novak was going to break him in the 1st game but Rafa saved a handful of break points. Phew
OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND A BEAUTIFUL TIME FOR YOUR PRECIOUS BEAUTIFUL TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY YOUR DAY & HAVE LOTS OF FUN PLAYING YOUR MAGIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) IT IS ALL FOR FUN…………. POINT BY POINT………….. IT WILL BE A GREAT MATCH FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) : ) OH YES……CI……….CI……….CI………& WI………….WI…………….WI…………….ENJOY EVERYTHING SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE IT & IT IS ALL FOR GOOD TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) THE ROME CROWD LOVES YOU AND SO DO WE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WE WILL BE THERE ENJOYING YOUR MATCH LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART AND IT WILL BE AN EXCITING FUN MATCH FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) KEEP SMILING SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
the comments by rafa were stupid. I believe that the semifinal will be very close. Djokovic won a thirdsetter against nishikori. That can be a gamechanger because djokovic before lost a lot of three set matches. It could be that the win against nishikori gave djokovic confidence for the match against nadal. And remember djokovic doesnt have to win since nadal is the favourite. If djokovic can make it nadal as diffficult as possible it will give him a boost for the rest of the season. And for me personally if nadal loses i think i wouldnt be dissapointed at all. I like comeback stories
Rafa please be aggressive from the very start and don’t let up until you have won.
Wish you hadn’t once again expressed your fears aloud. You give Novak and roger a psychological and confidence boost and take away a lot from yourself.
Beat him. It is much needed for your confidence.
VAMOS
Good luck today Rafa , you can do this, don’t let Novak’s arrogance put you off your stride , remember you are the master of the clay court.
Rafa in 2 sets today. I also believe the comments by Rafa aren’t smart, but he’s been hitting the ball much better than Djoko this year. I don’t see Djoko turning into the 2015 version today. Not yet.
Djokovic is a shallow Brag. You are a gentleman Rafa. Go Rafa Go n kill em! Vamos Rafa. God bless you my boy. Vamos Rafa. Your Aussie Abuela Nan Shirley. 🐂🏆👑💥💥💥
Bless you Rafa and all the best for your game against Novak.
I am sure it will be great pratice for you before Roland Garros,
and that you will do VERY well.
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
It is reassuring that Rafa lost most of the matches to Nole in2015-16. Which of course was a hard period with injuries and lack of confidence. Hoping that the crowd supports both players. Rafa will have to go to the courts with the same mindset as against Thiem in Monty Carlo. There is no stopping after that. He must not give djokovic any chance to breathe. Vamos
Tennis at the level that these gentlemen are playing is a sport of confidence and expectations management. Rafa has spoken about all his opponents with the greatest respect, so this isn’t different for him.
To those who read this as Rafa being nervous and giving Nole too much credit, you are right. But, Rafa is nervous before every match, everyone who has played a competitive sport knows about the nerves. For either man to win tomorrow, he will have to play lights out. The loser will have to have left everything on the court despite the result.
What’s to complain as fans of the sport? Or RNFs? I would much rather that Rafa be pushed to the brink in Rome instead of Roland Garros. This is the test he needs; he will come out super strong after this test, regardless of outcome.
Always with Rafa.
Rafa’s comment on facing Novak gives the impression that he’s not confident and fears the encounter. He makes the same comment about Roger and I wish Rafa wouldn’t talk like this. In contrast, Novak is excited about the semi final contest, so Rafa you need to squash him.
I’m with you Lorna. Soon as I saw Rafa’s comments, I had a mini breakdown. Same old Rafa, giving too much respect to Djokovic.
Rafa must come out swinging in this match. If he even gives Djoker the slightest quarter to think he might have a chance, Rafa’s Rome campaign is over.
Come on champ, show him that his days of Supreme dominance are well and truly gone. Crush him. Extinguish his spirit. Sow all sorts of doubt inside his mind Rafa. Take away his self belief. And please stop voicing so much respect for him. You are the best. Go out and prove it Rafa!
Good luck, King!!
YES RAFA STOP BEING INTIMIDATED BY DJOK. HE CERTAINLY DOES NOT NEED THIS KIND OF TALK. HITTING HIS GORILLA STYLE THUMPING HIS CHEST AT EACH VICTORIOUS POINT.
YOU JUST DEFEATED THE CROWD FAVOURITE PET FOGNINI, SO DO NOT EXPECT THEIR SUPPORT. GIVE BOTH WHO BECAUSE OF HIS LACK OF CONFIDENCE KEEPS QUARELLING EVEN WITH HIS OWN SUPPORT TEAM AND THE ROME HOOLIGAN CROWD A LESSON, LIKE YOU DID AGAINST FOGNINI
PLAY LIKE YOU DID AT MONTE CARLO, BARCELLONA, DAVIS CUP AGAINST ALL OPPONENTS
WAMOS RAFA REMEMBER YOU ARE THE BEST AGAINST ALL OPPONENTS.
Go for it. Always with you. Vamos Rafa <3
Commentators on Sky have just announced that rafas semi final is now starting at 2pm UK time not 1.30pm as apparently novak has kicked off with the tourament director as he came off court late and little recovery time.
I can understand Novak’s frustration as I find the scheduling of the men’s semi finals strange. I’m glad Rafa played early because he will need as much energy as possible for his encounter against an improving Novak. The serve will be key.
….i find the scheduling of the men’s quarter
and semi finals strange.
Yes, Novak apparently complained about the scheduling of his matches. It will be 9am edt in the US.
Just saw a great show; the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan. Now I’d like to see an even better show; Rafa vs Nole.
Here’s hoping Rafa leaves his nerves in the locker room, that he plays with confidence and not to give away anything.
RAFA ROCKS
Who want to bet? I bet Rafa kicks Chokovic’s ass.