Top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal continues his US Open campaign as he takes on 22-year-old Karen Khachanov for a place in the fourth round.
Date: Friday, 31 August 2018
Match time: Around 1.30 PM EDT – New York, Montreal / 6.30 PM BST – United Kingdom / 7.30 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / Saturday 3.30 AM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa holds a lifetime 4-0 advantage over the 6-foot-6 Russian. The pair played a tight match just weeks ago in Toronto, with our champ emerging the victor 7-6, 6-4.
| Year | Event | Surface | RND | Winner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Canada Canada |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2018 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2017 | Beijing China |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2017 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | R32 | Rafael Nadal |
Rafa on playing Khachanov:
He’s a great opponent. He’s a great player. Young, strong, I played against him in Toronto three weeks ago. It was a tough one.
I’m excited to play that match and I hope it will be a good one. I need to play well to try to be through and that’s what I’m looking for.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP World Tour
See see it’s working 💪💪💪😁😁😁
Dammit now the roof. Just when Rafa had some momentum he gets delayed. Stay strong Rafa!!!!
Umm… last time he had some momentum, he handed back the break. I think this will do him some good. Smell the roses, appreciate the little things in life, then go ahead and crush Khachanov:)
Totally agree with you. This time out is gonna help
😂😂😂
OK! Little break while they close the roof. Just as well, because last time Rafa broke KK, he got broken back immediately. Maybe this respite (gotta use a word other than ‘break’) will help him gather himself for the tough road ahead.
Our champ is not a quitter and he will fight till the end!
Finally luck showing some favors to our champ. I m exhausted too. Need a walk to clear my head. Vamos 💪💪💪
Back on serve. Yay
RAFA WILL ROCK THIS MATCH!
DEFEND YOUR TITLE RAFA.
i hope this time out helps Rafa regroup.
WOW. Rafa keeps fighting. Well done for the break back yet again!
Now again champ, please hold!!!
Phew!
HAHAHA I just have to laugh. Rafa is playing against bad luck here. 0-40 down and he saves 2 break points beautifully. A simple (easy for me to say) forehand to save the third break point? Why, he only sends it out of the court. Broken again.
Khachanov serving for the second set.
What’s happening here. I know Rafa u have done it before. You can do it now. Vamos💪💪💪
ugh… down 0-30 again. Some bad luck at play here, that’s all I can say.
And it does!! Now stay strong on serve champ!!! Don’t let your guard down!!
Break point. Will it happen??
Nice banana shot Rafa.
Zero aces from Rafa. Keep fighting champ!!
I think to win this, Rafa needs to make ZERO errors. Khachanov cannot be gifted any free points today. It’s just one of those days when everything seems to be going the opponent’s way.
There, another error. Stand steady champ!
Rafa is trying SO hard to break and he’s trying to contain his disappointment at not doing so. Please Rafa, don’t get desperate and start overplaying your shots. Keep calm, play smart and hope that khachanov has a let down. Holding your serve now is key. Remember you have the greater experience.
Goodness im exhausted just watching them both. Its reminds me of when rafa plays novak – long rallies and accurate shot making from both
Khachanov’s serve: 0-30, Khachanov wins the next 4 points and holds.
Rafa’s serve: 0-30, Khachanov wins the next 2 points and breaks Rafa.
I heard someone in the crowd yell RAFA SHUT HIM DOWN!
Did you hear that champ? SHUT HIM DOWN!!!
Arrrrghhhhhh – Rafa broken in the 2nd. But its early in the set and gives rafa a chance to break back as long as karen stops playing like a man possessed. He cant keep this up surely?
Susie he’s a young gun, he definitely can keep this up. It’s up to Rafa to sow some seeds of doubt in his head, that’s all.
Karen is in beast mode. Rafa can watch, or activate his own beast mode.
Those serves though…
Hmmmm. I just want one beast on court today. Lets hope he comes out