Defending champion Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro face off in the semifinals of Roland Garros 2018 on Friday. The Argentine reached the semis in Paris for the first time since 2009 by beating Marin Cilic in four sets.
Our champ has never lost once advancing to the semi-finals at Roland Garros, lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires on all 10 occasions.
Date: June 8, 2018
Match time: Not before 3.30 PM local time / 9.30 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 2.30 PM BST – United Kingdom / 3.30 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 11.30 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Delpo:
He has fantastic potential. Aggressive game from the end of the court, the baseline.
And I have to play aggressively. If I play defensively and I don’t take intensity, I will lose.
Delpo on facing Rafa:
Tomorrow I will try to play a match as I did in a different surface against Rafa, but he’s lefty and what I say before my match against Ramos, a lefty player has advantage with me because he can find easily my backhand, and he knows what my backhand is at the moment.
But anyways, I will try to do my best, to play my best tennis, and see if I can do a good match.
While Rafa has a 9-5 lead against Del Potro in their ATP Head2Head series, the pair has met only twice before on clay courts. In their two completed red dirt matches, Rafa beat Del Potro 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 at the Paris major in 2007 and 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6(0) in the 2011 Davis Cup final. Rafa also won their last clash in the 2017 US Open semi-finals 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2.
Good luck and Vamos Rafa!
Source: ATP World Tour
One set up and breakpoint to lead a break in the second. Vamos Rafaluna!
OK! Rafa, Thiem is waiting for his annual RG beatdown:) Please do not disappoint.
Delpo striking the ball very nicely though. Rafa needs to take control of his service games from the first point!
Get it done champ!
Vamos champion! Just play like real Rafa, no one can stop you then. 💪💪💪
Rafa sweetie, remember, be aggressive from the very start! Dictate the points!
All the very best to you for today!!!
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
VAMOS
High tower, very dangerous opponent. He punished Rafa hard already several times. If he plays like Soderling used to, he can really mean trouble, given Rafa’s suboptimal form.
Jean Sober,
Look at H2H. Rafa has punished your “high tower” many times. Remember the last set against him at the US Open when Rafa beat Del Potro 6-0?
BTW only Rafa haters reheat and serve the notorious Soderling defeat. As such I think with your evil predictions hidden as a warning, you have no place here among Rafa fans.
Wamos Rafa, you are the best.
Well PUMA, for sure I am a bigger ‘fan’ than you are. Nobody on this forum knows more about Nadal’s career than I do, without a shade of doubt. The fact that any comment by me that does not contain Take That fans-style blabbering, does not mean that I hope that his opponent will win. Good luck with your life PUMA. You can do it!
Jean, don’t waste your time on him/her. He/she had the gall; the temerity, the impudence, the impertinence, and the effrontery to accuse me of not being a Rafa fan too. DISGUSTING.
The match is almost over. DelPo playing like crap. Had hoped for a competitive and scintillating semi-final. Rafa has demolished him. OFF TO THE FINAL. YIPPEEEE
RAFA ROCKS IN 3 SETS
Wamos Rafa, win in 3 sets
Wamos Rafa You are the best
Vamos Rafa my boy. You can do it. I hope good luck is also with you. You are the King of Clay, whatever! God bless you. Your Aussie Abuela Nan Shirley. xx🐂👑🏆🎉🎉
God bless you Rafa. Vamos and have a successful semi match. Love you. Marylynn
Will be a tough match. All the best! Vamos Rafa <3
Good luck sweet Rafa ❤️🍀😘🤞🏻
VAMOS! 🎾💪🏼😍☀️