Rafael Nadal and Fabio Fognini will be facing each other for the 16th time in their careers when they meet in the quarterfinals of the Coupe Rogers on Friday night.
Date: August 9, 2019
Match time: Not before 6.30 PM local time / 6.30 PM EDT – New York / 11.30 PM BST – United Kingdom / Saturday 12.30 AM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / Saturday 8.30 AM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa leads their head-to-head 11-4, but Fabio won their lone meeting this year in the Monte Carlo semifinals.
Rafa on playing Fabio:
He’s having a great season, one of the best of his career, if not the best. I need to be playing well. I think today I played better than yesterday, so I hope tomorrow I continue with this improvement. That’s what I need if I want to keep having chances to be through.
Our champ is trying to defend a hard-court title for the first time in his career and become the first player this season to win two Masters 1000 titles (Rome).
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP World Tour
OMG, I could not believe it……Fognini broke Rafa twice and took the first set 6/2 and I was a nerve wrack😱
Thank goodness Rafa came back and won the last two 6/1 and 6/2!!! Fognini requested the trainer and the Dr after losing the second set, not sure what for? Injury is part of the sports and Rafa has had too many. I am glad he won and moved one step closer to the trophy👍👏
One semifinals is set, an all Russian affair between Khachanov and Medvedev not before 3PM tomorrow.
Rafa is waiting for either Monfils or RBA for the second one, their match will be resumed tomorrow at 1PM, winner will meet Rafa not before 8Pm.
I had neighbors asking me if I am a Rafa fan during all three of Rafa’s match and I proudly replied “YES”😁
All the best and all the way Rafa, can’t wait until you lift and bite on that trophy! Vamos💪❤️
Mimi you were not alone.
No matter how “good” Fognini is I feel he is no match for Rafa. My mind started wandering… what the heck is going on with Rafa. The bagel he served his opponent in the second set put a smile on my face. Our champion did it again. Forget about Rogers Cup, Rafa’s Cup is coming up.
RAFA ROCKS
Good Luck & Vamos RAFA!
Clearly something is bothering rafa
Rafa good luck tonight vamossssssssss champ you ca do it 🇺🇸💪🎾😘❤️😋💪🎾😘❤️🇺🇸💪🎾😘
Fognini is one of the maddest, rudest and most mysogenous creatures playing the game of tennis. He is not even liked in his own country. Unfortunately his game is dangerous not only because he does not play fair, but because he is also good at tennis, close to being in the top 10. I wish he had not been recruited to the Laver Cup 2019 team Europe, thus upgrading him.
Anyway, I hope Rafa beats him to a pulp.
Wamos Rafa, you are the best
Fognini is reportedly competing while he has two injuries; elbow and ankle. Has anyone else read those articles?
I didn’t see his first two matches but the scores seem to say he won them handily. However, none of his first two opponents were a Rafa.
Fognini said he wants to retire in the top ten. He also said he has to decide on surgery or not. I wonder if all of this is simply a smoke screen. I hope Rafa keeps him running back and forth, side to side, to give his “injured” ankle some exercise 😂😱🤗
Whichever the case may be, I expect Rafa to send him packing, hopefully in an ignominious manner.
Good luck to Rafa.
RAFA FOR THE WIN
Margo, I have read something Fognini says he might consider a surgery after the French Open but nothing happens yet, maybe he is delaying it because he is having a good season and can still manage the problem, who knows? I actually saw him by the elevator when I returned to the hotel last night. He was all smiling. No wonder, he is into the quarterfinals…… I didn’t watch his two matches either because they were not played on center court.
Sounds good to me, make him run and send him packing Rafa👍
Mimi, thanks kindly for sharing that. Sorry you didn’t mention he was limping. [OMG, did I really say that?] LOL
He stated that he is having “manageable” pain. All jokes aside, I hope he doesn’t cause more damage by playing. When I read things like that, it brings to my mind back to 2016 when Rafa admitted to playing despite a serious wrist injury. I was beside myself not because he had to retire, which was a shock to me, but because he kept on playing with such a serious injury.
RAFA ROCKS
He’s been carrying multiple injuries since at least the clay season, although it doesn’t seem to be affecting his play. I think it was the Monte Carlo final where he had some kind of implant in his elbow. I was wondering if Rafa could get one for his knee if it flares up again.
jas_uk, thanks. I sure hope he does not now have a bionic elbow😬 [chuckle]
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Fognini is a tricky opponent but I believe Rafa can handle him tonight!🍀💪❤️
Could be a tough and good match. Vamos Rafa <3
It will sure be a tough one for Rafa. Fabio is a serious threat as he’s capable of upsetting Rafa. His big win over Rafa on clay in Monte Carlo this year must have boosted his confidence for today’s night match.
Nevertheless, Rafa is Rafa and to ensure victory, he needs to do the following:
1. His court positioning must be 100% as Fabio is an excellent shot maker. His shot making was at its vintage best in Monte Carlo which greatly helped him to win. But then, Rafa just came back from injury and was not yet in aggressive mode.
2. He must unsettle Fabio by making run from pillar to post and force him to make errors.
3.Rafa’s serve must also be at its best to win free points
My Prediction:
I don’t want to make any prediction, but it will suffice to only say that whoever wins the 1st set WILL win the match.
Vamossssss Rafa.
But, as always, we’ll see……..cheers
Wrong again, fortunately 🙂
Touche!! 🙂
Stay healthy and tough. We are so tired of FF, and his disrespectful attitude. We have not forgotten his language or antics. Good luck, Rafael. The game of tennis deserves better representation than
Fognini. 👍👏💪🤛🍀❤️