Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will meet for the 40th time on Friday – and for the fourth time at Wimbledon. Our champ leads their head-to-head series 24-15. The two have not met on grass since 2008 Wimbledon final when Rafa won 9-7 in the fifth set to capture his first title at the grass-court major.
Date: July 12, 2019
Match time: Rafa is second match on Center Court. Around 4 PM local time / 11 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 4 PM BST – United Kingdom / 5 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / Saturday 1 AM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
It is the pair’s 5th meeting in a Grand Slam semifinal. Rafa has won all 4 of their previous Grand Slam semifinals – at Roland Garros in 2005 and this year, and at the Australian Open in 2012 and 2014. They have contested a total of 10 previous semifinals at Tour-level overall, with Rafa leading the head-to-head in their Tour-level semifinal meetings 7-3.
Rafa ended a 5-match losing streak against Federer in the semifinals at Roland Garros this year – he had not previously defeated Federer since the 2014 Australian Open, when he won their semifinal match in straight sets. Their other 2019 Wimbledon day men’s singles semifinal match notes scheduled match in 2019 never made it to court after Rafa gave a walkover due to a knee injury in the semifinals at Indian Wells-1000 earlier this year.
He is bidding to defeat Federer for the 11th time at a Grand Slam. If he wins today, our champ will guarantee that he remains at No. 2 when the new rankings are released on Monday 15 July. Federer must win the title here to rise above Rafa and become world No. 2.
Federer is bidding to reach his 31st Grand Slam final, while Rafa is bidding to reach his 27th Grand Slam final.
Rafa on playing Roger:
Now to play against Roger always is a unique situation. I’m xcited to be back on this court against him after 11 years. It means a lot for me and probably for him, too. I’m excited about this match, excited about this opportunity.
I just expect to play against probably the best player of the history in this surface and know that I have to play my best if I want to have chances to try to be in that final.
Roger on playing Rafa:
He has improved so much over the years on this surface. He’s also playing very different than he used to. We haven’t played each other in a long, long time on this surface. He’s serving way different.
I remember back in the day how he used to serve, and now how much bigger he’s serving, how much faster he finishes points. It’s nice to play each other again.
I hope it goes my way. It’s going to be tough. Rafa is not just a clay court specialist. He can really can hurt anybody on any surface. He’s that good.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Sources: ATP Tour, Wimbledon
Enjoy your bachelor party RBA. Sorry you lost. Off to partying with your friends.
When Carlos was asked if there is a favorite, his response was:
“There is no favorite. When he plays like this, Nadal is not inferior to anyone. The outcome is wide open. When he’s at full strength, Rafa is almost always the favorite, regardless of the surface. I don’t feel he is inferior to anyone, honestly.”
RAFA ROCKS
Carlos Moya’s thoughts on Rafa’s second round draw: “It was the worst possible draw. A player [Kyrios] who has won under the same circumstances in 2014, and also the last time in Acapulco. He is a very dangerous player against anyone, the match that everyone wants to avoid. The good part [about playing Kyrgios]? If Rafa wins, which did happen, Rafa started playing at a VERY HIGH level. Winning gives you confidence [for the following matches]. To pass this test against Kyrgios has given Rafa the confidence to play this level of confidence.”
[SOURCE: Rafael Plaza, July 11, 2019 -Carlos at home in Palma de Mallorca]
FEDAL XL
YES YOU CAN RAFA
YES YOU WILL