On Saturday, Rafael Nadal will play his third round match at the French Open in Paris. His opponent will be world No. 32 Richard Gasquet.
Date: June 2, 2018
Match time: Rafa is fourth match on Court Philippe-Chatrier, meaning that he should be in action sometime around 4 PM local time / 10 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 3 PM BST – United Kingdom / 4 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / midnight AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Richard:
I have a great relationship with him always. Since we were kids. We met each other first time when we were 12. First thing is he’s a very good person, no?
He’s a very normal guy. We practiced hundreds of times together. He came to Mallorca. Yeah, he is one of the guys on the tour that creates good atmosphere. He always has a positive attitude. Not creating no one problem and being a normal person, no? I like him a lot.
And, yes, will be a good match against a good friend in the most important place in my career, and for him a very special place, too.
Richard:
A lot of people were expecting this match, third round, 33 degrees.
He was not the same player as in Monaco, he was playing very fast. So when I left the match, I was with my father at this time, I said, ‘He’s going to win and he might win a lot of Grand Slams behind that, because he was incredible’.
I didn’t think he would win 10 times, but I knew he would win five or six.
I have known him for a long time. I have known him since he and I were young. I appreciate him a lot. Well, we all know what kind of champion he is, but I want to go there and to do my best. It’s a great draw for me. It will be on the centre court. There will be people. I intend to have a good match.
The numbers do not look good for Gasquet because Rafa has won 15 straight matches against the Frenchman and has not lost a set to him since 2008.
| Year | Event | Surface | RND | Winner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati OH, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2015 | Basel Switzerland |
Indoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2014 | Beijing China |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Paris France |
Indoor Hard | QF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2013 | US Open NY, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2011 | ESP vs. FRA WG SF Spain |
RR | Rafael Nadal |
63 60 61
|
|
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2009 | US Open NY, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R128 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2008 | ATP Masters Series Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2008 | ATP Masters Series Canada Canada |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2007 | Tennis Masters Cup China |
Indoor Hard | RR | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2005 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | R32 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2005 | ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2004 | Estoril Portugal |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
If Rafa he wins the opening two sets against Gasquet, he will have won his past 33 sets in Paris and will have broken his previous longest streak of 32, set in 2007-09. Only Bjorn Borg owns a longer streak at Roland Garros: 41 consecutive sets from 1979-81.
Good luck and Vamos Rafa!
Source: ATP World Tour
SOLID LEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 3RD SET 3:NADA……..l ) GREAT NATCH SWEETHEART ……: ) XOXOXOXOOXOX
SOLID 2ND SET LEAD 3:0 ……CI……CI…..CI…..VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOVE YOUR MAGICAL NET GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE THE STRONGER BETTER PLAYER BY FAR AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL TENNIS IS A HUGE JOY IN OUR LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) MUCHAS GRACIAS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) KEEP SMILING SWEETHEART & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
BEAUTIFUL RETURNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOVE YOUR EAGERNESS TO RETURN…….BEAUTIFUL FH & BH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOUR SERVE IS IMPECCABLE SWEETHEART AND SO WELL AIMED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) SO WAS THE LOVELY SHARP DECISIVE ACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WI………WI…….WI……… HAVE FUN SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL TO WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
WI………WI…….WI…..SENIOR CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GREAT 1ST SET AND BEAUTIFUL LEAD 6 ; 3 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
WE LOVE YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : )
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Rafa all the very best for your match today against Richard.
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
All the best for tomorrow. Go for it. Vamos Rafa <3
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL EVENING AND A BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW 🙂 🙂 WE LOVE YOU AND VERY HAPPY FOR YOU DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 🙂 : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 ENJOY YOUR PRECIOUS, FABULOUS PLAYING AND ALL YOUR GOODNESS SWEETHEART AND FINE SPORTSMANSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) 🙂 : ) : ) IT WILL BE A GREAT FUN MATCH FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WI…….WI…….WI……. AND BY THE WAY, WE LOVE ALL YOUR SLEEVELESS PRACTICE PHOTOS AND YOUR ADORABLE HUNKY LIGHT BLUE MATCH PHOTOS, AND ALL INTERVIEWS CLIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) HAVE A NICE EVENING & ENJOY EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Best of luck tomorrow sweet Rafa ❤️🍀🤗
VAMOOS CHAMP! 🎾💪🏼😘
Rafa good luck tomorrow the best ,this year is all yours vamosssssssssssssssss CHAMP the KING ON CLAY the best all time love 🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️
BUena suerte para manana no hay que minimizar nunca al contendor, VAMOS RAFA para mi eres ya el ganador, VAMOS RAFA
What a lovely picture of a young Rafa and a Richard I’m sure it brings back some special and fun memories of their childhood and teenage years on tour.
I hope you both have a great match tomorrow , but of course Rafa can be the only winner.
I just love Gasquet, but I love Rafa more! Turn on the heat Rafa!
You have Rafa’s match listed as second in the intro, but then correctly have it as third on Chatrier. Rafa never takes any match for granted and neither should his fans.