On Friday Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will meet for the 39th time at the French Open.
Date: June 7, 2019
Match time: 12.50 PM local time / 6.30 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 11.50 AM BST – United Kingdom / 12.50 PM CEST – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 8.50 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
They have played each other 38 times in their careers, with our champ leading the series by 23-15, but they have not played since 2017 and have not played at Roland Garros since the 2011 final, which Rafa won in four sets.
Rafa on playing Roger:
We shared the most important moments of our careers together on court facing each other. So it’s another episode of this, and happy for that and excited, no? Will be special moment, and let’s try to be ready for it.
It’s always a big match against him. You know, the level of tennis that you need to play always is the highest. And I am playing well, but I need to play very well against him. So I hope to be ready to make that happen.
It’s going to be a very special match for him, for me, and so it’s always been special matches. But here it’s going to be even more specific, more particular, an important match, indeed. ‘He will be ready to give his best, and I will be there, too.
Roger jokes about playing Rafa:
My next opponent is pretty good. He knows how to play on clay, sadly.
You have to be fearless to some extent to take on the spinny balls, the sliding balls, the kicking balls, and that’s what I will do on Friday.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP Tour
Maria, Maria, Maria, thank goodness your crystal ball is OUT OF SERVICE. You may have to look for a different profession.
RAFAMAZING AMAZES
Two more hours IF the weather behaves.
I want to see Rafa give Federer the SPANISH AVALANCHE treatment. Suck the oxygen out of him, Rafa. Make him feel as if he were on Mt. Everest without an oxygen tank.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
CLAY TALK
Rafa and Roger have competed on clay FIFTEEN times; the last being at the Rome final in 2013 where Roger suffered a Rafa beatdown 6-1, 6-3.
Of the 15 on clay, 5 were at the French Open final, except for the SF in 2005; 2005-2008, 2011.
Of those 15 on clay, Roger won 2 matches; Hamburg in 2007, and Madrid in 2009.
Things are not looking rosy for Roger but I’ve got to give him credit for trying.
RAFA ROCKS
OOPS
[SOURCES: ATP; SteveGTennis]
The best of luck Rafa 🥰🍀 – You can do it! 😘🤞🏻🤗
VAMOS CHAMP! 🎾💪🏼👑
Good.Luck & Vamos RAFA!.12 th RG and nothing less .Be aggressive and don’t allow Roger to play his serve and volley ,net play.Go for long rallies croos court and side to side
It is now up to Thiem to take out Djokovic otherwise Rafa will have to do it in the final.
ROCK ON RAFA
Thiem can do it …But Novak is very determined to beat Tafa & Roger & prove he is the goat! Tsitsipas & Thiem ate both going to take over one day… but just not for a while !
Sorry Rafa not Tafa! Put your glasses on Sioux !
Yes Sioux, Thiem can do it and I sure hope today is the day he gives Novak another taste of what’s to come in the future from his racquet.
Rafa is up first today so I am praying he can finish his match in one day. Today’s weather may have other plans though, for his and for Thiem’s matches
RAFAMAZING ROCKS .
Best wishes to Andy Murray who is planning to return to competition at Queen’s Club Fever Tree and will partner with Feliciano Lopez in doubles. Andy said he has been pain free for a few months now and feels it’s time to get back to playing. How he does at Queen’s will dictate his next step.
[SOURCE: ESPN]
Sent from my iPhone
RG has cancelled today’s matches (Wednesday). Currently they are rescheduled for tomorrow (Thursday). Whatever else happens, O Weather Gods, PLEASE let the sun shine on Rafa!!!
A crumb of consolation for me in the USA. Tennis Channel has FINALLY gotten desperate enough to show Rafa v Kei in its entirety. I know it was a beatdown but I am starved for some Rafa tennis! It’s 11:30 eastern time as I post and match is just 2 games in.
Two more Epic battles to go Champ ! But your fit and healthy and you’re playing so great n aggressive which is exactly what you need to do to fulfill your destiny good luck Rafa stay calm n positive Vamos Rafa!
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU HAVE YOUR GOODS AND FOR SURE MAKES NO DIFFERENCE ALL THE EXTERNAL THINGS…………..NO MATTER WHO YOU PLAY OR WHEN YOU PLAY….. IF IT IS DURING RAIN…….. OR DURING SHINE ……..OR WHATEVER CONDITIONS, NOTHING IS IMPORTANT SWEETHEART EXCEPT YOUR PRECIOUS NEXT POINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) CI………CI………..CI………..YOUR PRECIOUS ENTIRE FOCUS ON YOUR NEXT BLESSED RETURN…………..YOUR PRECIOUS NEXT EFFECTIVE SERVE…………..AND YOUR BLESSED SPEED…………AND ……………AND YOUR RAFA NADAL SPECIALTY FIGHTING FOR EACH POINT WITH YOUR BLESSED OUTSTANDING ENDURANCE AND PASSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) OUTSTANDING FITNESS YOU HAVE YOUR BEAUTIFUL SELF AND A GLADIATOR HEROIC STYLE ………..YOU ARE EQUIPPED WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY YOU HAVE YOUR PRECIOUS SELF………BEAUTIFUL FEISTY SOLID AND CLASSY TENNIS AND YOUR POINT BY POINT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU AND WILL BE ENJOYING EACH POINT YOU PLAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART AND TRUST EVERYTHING YOU NEED YOU HAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENJOY EVERYTHING AND HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) SENDING LOTS OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS AND VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX KEEP SMILING SEETHEART! : ) XOXOXOXOX
I am not liking this weather one bit! Rafa loves to play in the sun, and this sort of weather might affect his performance.
Anyhow, rain or shine, Rafa needs to go out there with evil intent to stop anyone who wants his crown!
Get it done quick champ!
Thiem vs Khachanov and Djokovic vs Zverev were to play their QF today but it’s raining and may not stop. Will they play tomorrow and their respective semis on Friday. Whoop-DEE-Do. But then, it’s supposed to rain on Friday, too.
Anyone have the latest from TV as I am out and about?
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Commentators are saying no play today. Sure hope that favors Le Roi de Terre Battue.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
I am just so excited with anticipation as I have been hoping for this battle between Rafa and Roger for the longest time and now it’s about to happen.
Rafa has been playing better and better with every match as he comes on court with purpose as he is laser focused with confidence and strength taking on each opponent. When playing Roger he will have to unleash the beast as he knows that Roger is no pushover and a lot of the crowd will be pulling for him as the other half will be pulling for our boy… The world will be watching this one for sure and at the end of the day Rafa will be smiling with arms raised and so will we!
VAMOS RAFA!!!
Rafa i am so glad you are feeling well and playing great tennis the way you have so many times in the past, keep up the good work so you will lift the winning Trophy at RG. Vamoos.
HUH WHAT?? I thought Rafa’s match got postponed till today, only to find out that they went out and finished it yesterday. Oh well…
Time to turn the tables on Federer! Bring it home champ!!
Sorry you missed it but I don’t recall it being postponed until today. I also keep track of the weather wherever and whenever he plays but at times that’s not always “up to the minute” accurate. Just glad you did get the good news that he trounced Kei as was expected.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Rafa you are the king of clay and you are serving so well and your win against Nishikori which I was able to witness was amazing tennis! You will play well against Federer and win !! Vamos Rafa! I am here from Palm Springs CA and so thankful to see you play !!
Go go go rafa
Thank you Margo … I get bumped off and it’s very little that I get to post …
Sioux, really sorry to hear that. I had no idea. In any event glad you’re back. Especially now that Rafa is healthy and playing so well.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Good, old Sioux!
I’m sure you still remember the Deep Thinker who upholds the truth at no matter the cost. Oh, how I wish the likes of MIROMO (‘’Move In Or Move Out’’) were here with me on this site to bring the best again out of Rafa.
It’s a tough ask for Rafa to beat Fed, i’m only been realistic, not sarcastic, Margo.
You see, the difference btw Rafa and the other 2 greats (that is, Novak and RF) is simple: Rafa sat on his laurels while those 2 greats went to arduous work to demystify him.
No use crying over split milk now and it is already late in day for an aged person to be complaining of toothache.
Again, i say RF for the win in 4.
But as always, we’d see…….cheers
Vamosssssssss Rafa!!!!! Allez!!!!!!
Rafamazing rocks!!!!
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) WE LOVE YOU SENIOR CHAMP AND VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!:) ENJOY EVERYTHING SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Yes..cannot wait for Friday.
I am anxious and nervous at the
same time.
Go Rafa.. Go.. Vamos..
You can do it..12th final coming soon.
Will be praying for Rafa…Haven’t. been able to see him play as the always put Roger before Rafa. He has won RG A historical 11X you would think he would have priority .
Yeah, it’s like Rafa’s in a witness protection program. They keep saying he’s playing RG, but you don’t see him. 🙁
OMG WECOME BACK SIOUX
I’m so happy you remembered me!
How could I forget you? A great Rafa fan and a positive force here on RNF. Glad you’re back and hope all is ok. As you may have noticed most of the meanies have gone. And thank goodness for that.
Here’s to joining you in wishing Rafa a great win in his semifinal vs Fed.
RAFA ROCKS
Can’t wait till friday. This will be epic. Go for it champ!
Vamos Rafa <3
Can’t wait friday. This will be epic. Go for it champ!
Vamos Rafa <3