Rafael Nadal continues his bid for a 12th French Open title on Friday when he takes on Belgium’s David Goffin in the third round.
Date: May 31, 2019
Match time: Rafa is third match on Court Philippe Chatrier. Around 2 PM local time / 8 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 1 PM BST – United Kingdom / 2 PM CEST – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 10 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa leads their head-to-head 3-1, including all three of their clay-court matches. He has not dropped a set against Goffin on clay.
Goffin beat our champ during group play at the 2017 ATP Finals in London. The most recent match between these two players was last year in Barcelona where Rafa won in straight sets.
Rafa on playing Goffin:
He’s a very complex player. He has all the shots. He’s a player who have an amazing career, and we practised a lot of times. We know each other well. He’s an opponent that you need to play very well to have success against him.
He is quick. He has very good angles. Gonna be, being honest, a big challenge to be in the third round. Here we are. I gonna try my best to be ready for it.
Goffin on playing Rafa:
We know that he’s at home at the French Open. He’s the king.
I need to use angles. I need to play early. If he plays short shots, I will have to do it. But if I have to run a lot, it will be to his favour. And when he starts dictating the match, it becomes very difficult.
So I need to make use of his strength as an advantage to dictate the match myself. I need to have good serves as well. It is important. I need to be aggressive, but his defense is so good. He knows how to move around the court. It will be a big court, so it’s extremely difficult to challenge him on clay.
Of course for such a match I hope that the atmosphere will be great on a good court, and I will need to play as good as possible.
Rafa is the leading performer in Roland Garros history. He has an 88-2 win-loss record at Roland Garros, ahead of Roger Federer (67-16), Djokovic (64-13) and Guillermo Vilas (58-17). This is Rafa’s 15th successive Roland Garros and his 56th appearance at a major.
Rafa is looking to become the 4th man in the Open Era to win 4 or more Grand Slam titles after turning 30. Federer, Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall are the only men to have won 4 or more Grand Slam titles after turning 30.
Rafa l is bidding to win his 59th career clay court title at Roland Garros. By winning his 50th clay court title at 2017 Monte Carlo-1000, he set an Open Era record for the most career clay court titles ahead of Guillermo Vilas (49).
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP Tour
Rafa’s looking deadly and very calm. Great to see a packed stadium even though Rafa would play the same way regardless. Keep your foot on the pedal champ!
Keep that concentration, rhythm and competitive spirit going Rafa. Best of luck against Goffin.
RAFA ROCKS
Roll on, Rafael. Best of luck against Goffin. Enjoying those flashes of neon yellow across the screen. Bright and intense. 💪👏🤛👍🎾🥰🍀❤️
BEAUTIFUL PRECIOUS PHOTO OF YOU GETTING READY TO SERVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ALL YOURE MATCHES PHOTOS ARE GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXX
OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA AND OLA AGAIN SWEETHEART AND VAMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENJOY YOUR LOVELY EVENING AND HAVE A BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) IT WILL BE A GREAT MATCH FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART AND ENJOY EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU AND SENDING LOTS OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS AND VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KEEP SMILING SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENJOY LOTS OF FUN AND ENJOY YOUR BEAUTIFUL POWERFUL POINT BY POINT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU AND ADMIRE ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND GORGEOUS PASSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE WILL BE ENJOYING IT ALL WITH YOU SWEETHEART ALONG WITH ALL YOUR ADORING FANS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART AND VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Wish You Good luck RAFA! Vamos Rafa….
Full or empty stadium, go get him Rafa! Smother him and get it done quick!
Poor David had a terrible tournament 2 years ago when he injured his ankle quite badly after he got tripped by some tarpaulin during a match… He’s about to run into a different sort of problem tomorrow.
Rafa will play at HIS home, the Chatrier court, and will win in straight sets.
A different perspective. If Rafa is going to fret about empty seats or which court he is assigned, he can do that AFTER he raises #12. I want him going into each match concentrating on how to beat his opponent and carry that trophy home.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Margo… I know you’re very knowledgeable.. i loved the article you made reference to from ATP regarding the interview with Carlos Moya. Great read … Thanks…
Can you please tell me where you read or heard that Rafa Nadal or his team complained about playing on Suzanne Lenglen or that he’s fretting about empty seats? I have not heard a thing coming from Rafa’s camp… I can’t imagine him saying or doing anything like that when there are only 4 matches a day on Chatrier – 2 of which are Womens … With Novak, Roger, and Rafa along with Delpo and all the others, there has to some sort of rotation onto Lenglen… and they’re all playing there… My understanding is this whole hullabaloo was started from Rafa’s FAN BASE …Not Rafa himself… It’s the fans that want him on center court to accommodate more ticket holders.
I understand that the event put Rafa over at Lenglen first…Novak played there today but tomorrow Roger plays there… and as far as the empty seats? Courtside seats are bought by the corporations… If the executives don’t go during the week or give them away to their clients…then the seats remain empty. That’s it… Not everybody can take off on a Tuesday or Wednesday from work… Friday, Sat, and Sunday the seats will be filled. I cannot imagine Rafa ever in a million years complaining over empty courtside seats…
Please enlighten me… where did you hear or read that Rafa was complaining over the seats and the court?
Because honestly, i think he IS focused on his tennis… He’s feeling comfortable and in control. He’s looking strong and so far he is playing great! Tomorrow…bring on Goffin!! .
VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!
Marileena, I was referring to a different perspective [my perspective] from those fans here stating which court Rafa should be assigned and empty seats. Sorry you went through all that writing—you can always ask me for my source if I don’t supply one. I agree with you 100% that Rafa would never complain about which court he is assigned. I was simply stating my wish for Rafa.
So glad you enjoyed Moyá’s interview. So many of my questions were addressed by Carlos and to me it’s just beautiful how well he [and the team] know Rafa and how to redirect him on the right path. There is so much love and understanding that goes into the relationship between Rafa and his team; that’s how I see it after reading the article. I know his uncle Toni loves Rafa but he just has a different way of doing things. Carlos is more of a doucement kind of guy.
RAFA’S TEAM ROCKS
I’m sorry Margo…I guess I don’t get it… It sounds to me like you are calling Rafa out for something that is so far from the truth… Anyone who knows Rafael knows he’s not fretting about seats or courts…
Today he studied his opponent and strategized with the team the best way to approach tomorrow.. That’s what’s on his mind…nothing else……just the task at hand.
Marileena,
First and foremost there are no quotation marks indicating Rafa said any such thing.
I also used the word if, which is conditional.
No source is included. Unlike others I include my sources.
I wrote “a different perspective.” My perspective is that fans are complaining about empty seats and court assignments but happily Rafa isn’t BUT IF he were to complain [which he would NEVER do as we all are well aware] he could always do it after raising #12.
My concern is the same as Rafa’s: beating his opponents. And that’s what he and his team are focused on: not seats, not courts.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Vamos Rafa make it count 💕💞
….Suzanne Lenglen.
Yes, I totally agree. So many empty seats is not a good look. Not only is it disgraceful, it is disrespectful to the players, many of whom thrive on atmosphere. I was at RG during the first week last year and i never saw as many vacant seats – mind you, it was hotter then. A tv commentator mentioned the problem yesterday and said that Roger always gets a full stadium. Well, considering all that Rafa has achieved in Paris, I hope the crowd will give him the same respect tomorrow.
Incidentally, it would be interesting to see exactly when they intend to put Roger on Suzanne Longlen. After all, fair is fair.
Tomorrow, Roger is scheduled on Longlen
Suzanne Lenglen
Yes. Thank you Marileena. I saw the schedule for Friday just after i posted my comment.
Yes, I can t understand it. 😯 I was there Tuesday, Central Court to see the first match Zverev Millman and couldn t believe the number of empty seats in Cat. 2 and Cat. 3 , the cheapest. All around. I could not believe that so many people had wandered off to the annexe courts which are covered by our ticket when a top player is there to see. When we réserve on the day in March the cheapest tickets go quickly but I usually get them for the first week.☺ No hope for the final 😕I have no expérience of the resales which start in April. Even then there are not that many coming up. 😐 They told me in the ticket office there that they put 1000 extra tickets on sale on Internet and had 15000 connections ! On TV tomorrow we shall see the the Central Court full if it is a Nadal match I thInk.😁 Fiona in Paris
When we reserve and ask for Central Court it is accordéd for that day but if you hear the evening before the match is scheduled for S Lenglen you cannot exchange your ticket when you get there. 😕 Fiona in Paris
Third on Chatrier tomorrow. Hopefully people will actually have finished eating by then – it was disgraceful how empty it was for Dominic’s match and Serena’s match today. Vamos Rafa!
Be aggressive right from the beginning Rafa; it is all about gaining …..
Guadalupe
Sent from my iPhone
Could be a tough match for a third round. Go for it champ. Vamos Rafa <3
Incredible champion!
Rafa congratulations in your win vamossssssssss champ this is your ,the king of Clay ,all the way to the finals love your fans for ever,💪💪💪💪🎾🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍👍😘😘😘😘❤️❤️❤️❤️😘💪🏆