World No. 1 Rafael Nadal begins his bid for the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals title on Monday night when he faces defending champion Alexander Zverev in the opening match of the tournament.
Match time: Not before 8 PM local time / 3 PM EDT – New York, Montreal / 8 PM GMT – United Kingdom / 9 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 7 AM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
The series stands at 2-0 in favor Rafa, who is 12-4 in total sets against Zverev.
| Year | Event | Surface | RND | Winner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ATP Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2018 | ESP vs. GER WG QF Spain |
Outdoor Clay | RR | Rafael Nadal |
61 64 64
|
| 2017 | ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2017 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2016 | ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
Rafa has skipped two of the last three editions of the year-end Finals (2016 and 2018), while he pulled out of the 2017 edition after losing to David Goffin in his opening match.
Our champ is seeking a fifth year-end No. 1 finish, which will move him level with Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
THE ONLY REASON N WON TODAY IS BECAUSE N KEEPS FILLING UP HIS HEAD WITH VICTORY TALK WHICH HIS COACH KEEPS PUMPING HIM UP WITH. THAT’S ALL IT IS. CLEARLY BY FAR N GAME IS NOT THE BEST ….RAFA AD WELL AS MANY YOUNGER UPRISING STARS ARE BETTER, STRONGER AND MORE FIT PLAYERS THAN HIM. N KEEPS TELLING HIMSELF THAT NO ONE CAN TAKE HIM OR BEAT HIM. HE SHOWS UP TO THE COURT WITH A MIND FILLED WITH AIR WORDS AND A LOT OF SELF VALUE …..YOU CAN TELL HE SHOWS UP TO A MATCH WITH THIS ATTITUDE SINCE HE WAS TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN IT CAN ONLY HELP HIM…. BY FILLING HIS HEAD….WHEN INFACT HE LOOSES, HE SEEMS NOT SURPRISE. THIS VICTORY ATTITUDE DOES NOT COST HIM ANYTHING…..AND SO HE KEEPS THE SELF TALK. SO SO SO TIME EVERYONE REALIZES THAT HE HAS HIGH SELF TALK BUT HE CAN LOOSE MATCHES TO ANY TOP PLAYER. N CAN BE BEATEN AND FOLKS MUST RECOGNIZE THAT, AND STOP BELIEVING HIS AIR WORDS…..ANY TOP PLAYER CAN BEAT HIS GAME.
Federer is out, beaten by Thiem 7-5, 7-5.
Correction: Federer lost his first match but he’s not yet “out” of the WTF.
As we all know, a lot of things are usually against Rafa at this time of the year. And this also explains why he has largely been unsuccessful at the YE ATP finals though mostly attributed to injuries. But curiously he has nevertheless managed to make a success of the GS (a total haul of 19), and it is unarguable that were it not for his injury-plagued career, Rafa should at least be on the leader board with at least 23 Grand Slams Trophies, Without a doubt, Rafa has really suffered and continues to suffer.
Like Uncle Toni famously opined, ”Rafa is an injured person playing tennis” Uncle Toni should have added, ”Rafa is an injured person playing good tennis” But let’s leave Uncle Toni for now and focus on the subject of this discourse, which is the difficulties in Rafa’s game at the time and the implications on the No 1 title,
1, ATP is an indoor event – This is another reason why Rafa performs poorly here, Rafa is an outdoor, sun-loving guy and so being indoors is like giving Kyrptonite to Superman or giving glutten to Djokovic!
2. The slams have been able to give him that latitude, that freedom he craves to take matches one at a time starting (usually) with the easiest of players to the most complex, However, with the ATP format he has not been able to do this, In the format, you immediately hit the ground running with a Djokovic or a Federer for instance and there in lies Rafa’s troubles and poor performance at the ATP.
Conclusively, we should expect more of the same poor performance as we look forward to ND reclaiming his mandate,
But as always, we go day by day………cheers
You make a valid argument but there’s also a thing called “hope.”
Yes, it’s true that indoors is not Rafa’s favoured surface, but let’s not forget that he’s been to the final of the WTF twice – both of which i had the pleasure in attending.
A fit Rafa is an awesome Rafa, so i’d rather think positive and hope his body is kind to him. Good luck champ.
Berrettini lost to Djokovic 6-2, 6-1.
Yeah, it couldn’t have been otherwise.
But, as always, we go day by day……..cheers!!!!
Hopefully Rafa ready and fine to go <3
Any news about Rafa? He is always saying that’s a day by day decision…
Luiz Fernando, you can watch a video of his practice posted on YouTube by sLlorca “Rafael Nadal World Tour Finals Preparation Practice Sessions”
He looks really good.
On Twitter there are a few tweets by Rafael Plaza:
he was observed practicing without a compression shirt.
Moyá supposedly said his serve was 80% on Saturday
Today he is close to 100%
I can’t find any quotes saying he will play. Please keep in mind his team is waiting for the last minute to announce his participation.
I hope practices today continue to be positive.
Thanks!!!
You’re welcome.
Moya is quoted as saying Rafa is 100% and ready to play matches.
2-0 in the series? I see 5-0 in the h2h?
Good Luck & Vamos RAFA!
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)KEEP SMILING!!!!!!!:)XOXOXOXOX
Rafa good luck vamossssss champ you ca n do it all the way 💪🇺🇸🎾😘🙏🇺🇸🎾😘❤️👍💪🇺🇸🎾😘❤️👍😘🎾🚒🇺🇸❤️😘👍