World No. 2 Rafael Nadal renews his rivalry with controversial Australian star Nick Kyrgios as the pair square off in the second round of Wimbledon on Thursday afternoon. They have a 3-3 match record against each other.
Date: July 4, 2019
Match time: Rafa is third match on Center Court. Around 5 PM local time / noon EDT – New York, Montreal / 5 PM BST – United Kingdom / 6 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 2 AM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa:
My thoughts are very clear, no? I play against a top talent player, very dangerous player when he wants to play tennis. Normally against the best players, he wants to play tennis. When that happens, he’s a very dangerous opponent. Of course, like second round is a super tough one. I know that. I need to be at my 100%. I going to fight for it.
Nick on playing Rafa:
Yeah, I can’t wait. As soon as the draw came out, I was super happy that I saw him in my section. ‘I mean, it’s more exciting. When you’re a kid, you want to play the best players in the world on I think it’s the best court in the world. This is something that I can’t take for granted. There’s no guarantee I’m going to be here again in this position. Could have an injury or something like that. ‘I’m going to grasp with both hands, go out there, give it my best shot.
Rafa is bidding to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year for the 3rd time and equal Bjorn Borg’s alltime record of 3 back-to-back men’s singles titles in Paris and London. Borg achieved the feat in 3 consecutive years (1978-80), while Rafa won Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back in 2008 and 2010. (see Preview page 3)
Our champ is a 2-time Wimbledon champion. He defeated Federer to win his first Wimbledon title in 2008 and won the title for a 2nd time in 2010 (d. Tomas Berdych). He also reached the final here in 2006-07, losing to Federer on both occasions, and 2011 (l. Djokovic).
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Vamos baby!!!
Amazing from our Rafa! I notice that usually, win or lose (I may be mistaken), Rafa allows the opponent to shake the umpire’s hand first. Not today:):) Rafa went first. Sublime dig at Nick no doubt!
Sincere felicitări Excelentă pentru frumoasele prezentări pe gazon…in meciul cu Kirgios!
Un adevărat vulcan de soare!
SUCCESE NENUMĂRATE și sănătate!
Step it up champ! Don’t even allow him a set. Break him back!
Unfortunately Kyrg has gotten the second set also pulling tricks like underarm service. My husband who is big fan of RF and therefore no Rafa fan found Kygios s…t as a player. Unfortunately Rafa is on the way out of Wimbledon 2019. Occasion for him to rest and prepare for USO.
Wamos Rafa, you are the best.
Rafa on the way out? I hope not! He’s won the third set tiebreak. Let’s hope our champ stays focused and gets it done.
HOW DARE YOU!!!!
And in the middle of Rafa’s match to say he is out of Wimbledon!!!!!!Why don’t you go to Kyrgios’s fan site. You will probably enjoy it a lot more. PATHETIC!!!!
Cilic is out, overcome by Sousa. Hhmmmm
Nishikori is still hanging in there.
Wawrinka lost his second match. Ggrrrr
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Margo or whoever you are how dare you comment on me? In case you have not been watching this match, I have and nothing short of a miracle will make Rafa win this match even if I as well as thousands of his fans want it. From now on shut your ad nauseum mouth to my comments. I ignore all your insincere comments of Rafarocks etc. because I believe you are the Trojan horse of this site pretending to be a Rafa fan while who knows what you harbour.
To have claimed that Rafa was out of Wimbledon during his match which he had a very good chance of winnin speaks volumes. Like I said, PATHETIC. Oh, and you’re a fan?
RAFA ROCKS
Vamos Rafa…!
Good luck Rafa! Just play your game and enjoy your moments on court, the results will follow! Vamos Rafa! 🎾🏆🎾🏆🎾🏆
Millions with Rafa, a champion person and player. Let us ignore ” nutty Nick ”
Go Rafa 🍀🌟
I don’t like Kyrgios being probably among the most disrespectful player in men’s tennis ,Rafa he is a gentleman on the court ,Rafa good luck tomorrow vamosssssssss champ we love you all the fans.👍🎾💪😘❤️👍🎾💪😘❤️🎈😚💪😘❤️👍🎾💪😘❤️👍🎾💪😘❤️🌎
Diane, I agree with everything you said. Rafa clearly isn’t going to be drawn into any negative discussions regarding Nick Kyrgios. As he said when asked about the attention surrounding their relationship “Being honest, I’m too old for all that stuff. What I said, I said. That’s all. I’m not a guy who will be in a fight with anybody”. A smart response, pointing to Nick’s immaturity. Much of the media have been hyping up their meeting like a boxing match, some calling it “the grudge match” and the organisers have given it prime time billing on centre court, moving Roger to court 1.
In the infamous podcast, Nick took pride in saying that he was un-coachable and he surrounds himself with people who won’t challenge him. He’s very manipulative and this tells us that he’s used to getting his own way. I really hope that the umpire – with the support of the crowd – doesn’t stand for any nonsense from Nick and shuts down any efforts by him to disrupt the match. Where is Carlos Ramos when you need him?
Rafa is all about the tennis and he’ll be focused and determined to let his tennis do the talking.
Hi Lorna,
Thank you for your thoughtful response, I totally agree with you. I also chuckled when you wrote, “Where is Carlos Ramos when you need him?.” He wouldn’t stand for NK’s antics. Nobody should. Hopefully the umpire there will reign in NK. when and if needed. It’s such a pleasure though to watch all the other players at Wimby take their sport seriously and play their hearts out. All the best. Enjoy the match!
Vamos Rafael!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let’s not have a repeat of the debacle when NK wasn’t putting forth much effort umpire Muhamed Lahyani climbed down from his chair at the U.S. Open to give him a pep talk saying “I want to help you”. He was suspended for that so hoping whoever umpires will adhere to the ideal of impartiality and fair play.
Keep up the point by point, step by step, set by set, then moving to your 19 GS & the aspiring 3 back to back records. You have this destiny.
Good luck…
I honestly hope the court umpire does his job maintaining order and decorum during the match where NK is concerned. I hope the umpire doesn’t enable NK to engage in his usual obnoxious antics and shenanigans. He shouldn’t be allowed to use stall tactics to adjust the flow of the games to his terms such as talking nasty to the fans when his opponent is ready to serve. I see how he operates and always tries to take time away from his opponents before they are about to serve. He doesn’t play fair.
The opponent should never have to tolerate this. Umpire, do your job! I hope the umpire doesn’t allow NK to taunt his opponent, in this case, Rafa, and also taunt the crowd as well as the umpire, himself. Enough already with NK’s bad and often inappropriate behaviors and.I certainly don’t want to see NK faking injury for a couple of games and then you see him running around like a machine. I am not entertained by NK. I don’t care how talented he may be, there is never any excuse for his bad attitude and disrespect for the sport. I see through him every time he plays. He shouldn’t just show up when he is playing the champions.
Mr. or Ms. Umpire take a page out of Umpire Ramos’ book and enforce the rules the way Ramos did during the US Open 2018 final between Serena and Naomi. Every match I have watched so far at Wimbledon, I found all the players respectful of their opponents, fans and sport. NK shouldn’t be the exception to that rule. I want to see a compelling match tomorrow where the only drama is created by the tennis and not NK’s childish play.
Always with Rafa, Vamos!
Not only Kyrgios, also his fans we saw on his first round are a bunch of hooligans with chains all over their necks. A nightware player with nightmare fans. Given how Wimbledon has downgraded Nadal, they put him on center court to face a mass of hostile public. Hope Rafa will be angry enough.
Wamos Rafa, you are the best.
Vamosssssssssss Champ I don’t like Kyrgios at all he is bad personality I don’t like hem.good luck champ love your fans for ever.😘💪🎾👍❤️👍🎾💪😘❤️👍🎾💪😘👍🎾💪😘❤️👍🎾💪😘❤️
Rafael Nadal knows how to win. Regardless of hype, he is a professional. All the best-in the moment for each match, each set, and every game. His philosophy holds fast. All the best in round two-we are there👏👍🤛💪🍀❤️
Match is scheduled for 4pm (16.00 hrs) GMT
Kyrgios being probably among the most disrespectful players in men’s tennis, will probably pull the dirtiest tricks possible to defeat Rafa. I hope Rafa, who respects his opponents will not respect Kyrgios and play agressively. The 9 aces he served against Sugita would be quite useful against Kyrg… In fact T.Woodbridge said that the Krg… had made a big mistake by provoking Rafa. Hopefully he is right.
Wamos Rafa, you are the best.
Stay dialed in Rafa, get it done champ, Rooting for you from India!
Just a thought.
Maybe if Rafa requests the worst court assignment Kyrgios won’t show up because there will be NO ONE to watch his performance.😂😂😂
Go for it champ. We are all with you. Vamos Rafa <3