Two-time Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal aims for the fourth round at The Championships on Saturday when he squares off against Australian teenager Alex De Minaur. The pair have never played before.
Date: July 7, 2018
Match time: 1 PM local time / 8 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 1 PM BST – United Kingdom / 2 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 10 PM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Alex:
I know him. He’s good. He’s young. He’s dangerous. Good player. So let’s see. Is a good challenge for me.
Alex on playing Rafa:
It’s an experience I am really looking forward to, playing a legend like he is.
But once I get on court it is going to be just another match. I am going to go out there, compete have fun and leave it all out there.
I have watched him on lot of TV, just like I did with guys like Roger (Federer) and before that ‘Rusty’ (Lleyton Hewitt). It’s amazing that I am out here playing against these guys.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP World Tour
Congratulations Rafa , Sorry to see Halep has just been defeated
Lovely welcome from the Wimbledon crowd for Rafa as always, have a great match and and will look forward to seeing you play in the second week.
Oh the best umpire is chairing this match – hopefully this is a good omen. Cmon Rafa – get it done in 3!!
Best of luck for third round Rafa! Hoping for a quick and easy win for u. Vamos
RAFA SENDING YOU ALL OUR POSITIVE ENERGY. LOVE AND WARM HUGS, TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE LOVE YOU, AND APPRECIATE ALL THE LOVELY MATCHES WE GET TO WATCH, BECAUSE OF YOU.
STAY HEALTHY AND BE POSITIVE, MY PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY.🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🌷🌷💐💐🌷🌷💐🌷✌
ROCK SOLID FAN. 💟💜💛💚💓💞💚💛💜💟💙💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
MY LUCKY CHARM FOR YOU. 🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥
PS: JUST READ (FROM OTHER POSTING HERE) WHAT SOME OF YOUR COACH ROIG’S THOUGHTS ARE ……HE IS SO SMART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LIKE YOU! : ) ROIG’S KINDNESS AND INTELLIGENCE IS EVIDENT FROM THE VIDEO CLIPS OF THE SINCERE WAY HE WATCHES YOUR MATCHES, AND HIS HUMBLE, EFFECTIVE APPROACH DURING YOUR PRACTICE TOGETHER! I LOVED THE THREE PHOTOGRAPHS OF YOU AND HIM SIDE BY SIDE, WALKING TOGETHER …..(YOU AHEAD SLIGHTLY AND BOTH OF YOU HOLDING YOUR RACKETS)…… AT YOUR PRACTICE THREE DAYS AGO……. THANKS TO WHOEVER POSTED ALL YOUR GREAT PRACTICE AND MATCHES PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
GOOD NIGHT SWEETHEART & GOD BLESS YOU ! : )
OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL TIME PLAYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) IT WILL BE A GREAT MATCH FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU DEAR RAFA AND ENJOY SOME GREAT, BEAUTIFUL TIME ON THE TOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) AND YES, YOU LOOK SO HANDSOME IN YOUR PRACTICE OUTFIT …….WI……..WI……..WI……AND……. AS HANDSOME IN THE INTERVIEWS AND MATCH OUTFITS…..: ) SO FIT & GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) LOVE THE RAFA WHITE SHOES! : ) VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOUR FEISTY PRECIOUS MATCHES SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY A GREAT WEEKEND AND LOTS OF FUN WITH THE TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) I LOVED YOUR INTERVIEW AND YOUR GREAT, KIND, & HUMOROUS WAY WITH THE PRESS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE RIGHT…..ALWAYS GOOD TO COMPLETE YOUR THOUGHTS AND TAKE THE EXTRA SECOND TO ELABORATE ON YOUR OPINION. I FIND THE PRESS IS FRIENDLY & ON YOUR SIDE SWEETHEART!!!!!! : ) THOSE ASKING QUESTIONS ARE SHOWING INTEREST AND CARE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR CAREER. SO IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE THE RELAXED EXCHANGE BETWEEN YOU & THE JOURNALISTS, AND HEAR YOUR INTELLIGENT REPLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) BY THE WAY, LOVE THE SPANISH SECTION OF THE INTERVIEW AS WELL EVEN THO I CAN ONLY PICK UP .0005% OF THE WORDS…….. BUT YOUR EXPRESSIONS AND THE SPEEDY WAY YOU SPEAK SPANISH IS FUN!!!!! : ) CI…….CI…….CI……AMIGO CHAMP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) THE PRESS OVER THE YEARS LOVE YOU & RESPECTS YOU DEAR RAFA, ALWAYS APPEAR TO BE HAVING GOOD TIME SPEAKING WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE SO HUMBLE AND ALWAYS STRAIGHT FORWARD……. YOUR ANSWERS ARE SHARP AND WISE & VERY KIND !!!!! : ) ENJOY EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
AS A SIDE NOTE, MY SON HAS HIS LAST FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT BEFORE COLLEGE THIS ENTIRE WEEKEND, AND SO I WILL BE AWAY FROM MY COMPUTER AND WILL NOT COMMENT DURING THE MATCH, BUT PLEASE KNOW I WILL BE WATCHING YOUR MATCH ON MY CELL AND BE THERE, CHEERING & ENJOYING EACH OF YOUR PRECIOUS POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) HAVE LOTS OF FUN & ENJOY YOUR TIME ON THE COURT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) TOMORROW’S TWO WORLD CUPS GAMES WILL HAVE TO BE VIEWED ON REPLAY : )
HAVE A VERY NICE NIGHT SWEETHEART, GOOD NIGHT & SWEET DREAMS, & ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU AND SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: )
KEEP SMILING ! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Vamos Rafa…All the very Best for your 3 Rd WIMBLDON Title with good health and performance
Rafa all the best for your next game against Alex,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
I’m will waching your much good luck Rafa I’m your biggest fan I love haw your play .the best tennis player.good luck champ we love you vamosssssssssssssss all the way.🎾🎾🎾😘❤️❤️👍👍👍😘😘😘❤️❤️❤️🎾🎾🎾👍👍😙🏆❤️
Francis Roig’s comments about Rafa’s forthcoming match vs de Minaur:
“Rafa and de Minaur have never played [an ATP Tour match] before and I don’t see de Minaur backing down. From what I can tell, he steps up to challenges. For what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in his dynamic and gutsy shotmaking, and he can move around the court very well. From my perspective, we’re going to see some really good exchanges from the baseline, and that intrigues us as a team.”
Roig divulged that the Kukushkin match “was taxing on Rafa’s body.” Rafa is practicing much less now [less than 1.5 hours] and is concentrating more on acclimating to surface rather than practicing hard. The team is already planning for future rounds, so we’re not just thinking about the next round; we’re looking toward what we will have to do in the later rounds. It’s a process and we can’t be slow to act.”
[Source: ATP Staff, 7/6/2018]
Best to Rafa in the 3rd.
18🏆 + 3rd W 🏆 + Channel Slam #3
Going to be tuf match…although I made harsh comments abt Rafa’s chances, I jus want him to prove me wrong and lift the trophy eventually..I am just a die hard fan who can’t take Rafa’s losses lightly..iam jus lowering my expectations to keep myself away from the agony of defeat.
Between June 4 and tomorrow, July 7, de Minaur will have played 16 matches. He lost 11 days ago vs Kukushkin at Eastbourne 6-1, 6-2 in R1. I see a Rafa win and it may not be as difficult as Roig and Rafa make it out to be.
This is only round three but there are many other players in addition to Rafa who are looking very good if you look at their match scores.
It is rare to hear from Roig so I am excited to see exactly what Rafa is working on in order to get ahead of the crowd.
RAFA=18🏆 + 3rd W🏆 + 3rd CHANNEL SLAM
Suerte Rafa…estamos contigo…
Go for it. Always with you. Vamos Rafa <3