Author: Rafael Nadal Fans

Barcelona Open QF: What time does Rafael Nadal play against Martin Klizan?

On By Rafael Nadal FansIn Match Time & Live Stream3 Comments

On Friday, ten-time champion Rafael Nadal will play his quarter-final match at the Barcelona Open against Martin Klizan, who followed up his second-round win over Novak Djokovic by beating Feliciano Lopez 6-1, 6-4.

JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images

Date: April 27, 2018

Match time: Rafa is third match on Pista Rafa Nadal. Around 2.30 PM local time / 8.30 AM EDT –  New York, Montreal / 1.30 PM BST – United Kingdom / 2.30 PM  CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 10.30 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.

Klizan on playing Rafa:

Nadal seems to be in a great form, but he is also human, nobody is unbeatable.

He is a legend. Win or lose, to face him in a quarter-final is to feel proud.

Rafa leads head-to-head 2-1, but Klizan won their last recent meeting in Beijing four years ago. In their first two meetings, at the French Open in 2013 and Wimbledon in 2014, Klizan both times took the first set before losing in four.

Year Event Surface RND Winner Result
2014 Beijing 
China		 Outdoor Hard QF Martin Klizan
677 64 63
2014 Wimbledon 
Great Britain		 Outdoor Grass R128 Rafael Nadal
46 63 63 63
2013 Roland Garros 
France		 Outdoor Clay R64 Rafael Nadal
46 63 63 63

Good luck & Vamos Rafa!

Source: ATP World Tour

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Rafael Nadal beats Guillermo Garcia-Lopez to reach Barcelona Open quarterfinals

On By Rafael Nadal FansIn Articles, Photos6 Comments

(AFP) – Rafael Nadal cruised into the Barcelona Open quarterfinals by defeating fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-1, 6-3 on Thursday.

Rafa converted on his second match point to clinch his 16th straight victory on clay and set up an encounter with Martin Klizan, who eliminated Novak Djokovic in the second round.

“I came out with the conviction that I could play a lot better than I did yesterday (against Roberto Carballes Baena), and that’s what happened,” Rafa said.

Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Photo: Barcelona Open

Coming off his 11th Monte Carlo title, Nadal has won 11 of his 12 ATP Tour matches this season, with the only loss coming from an injury retirement in the Australian Open quarterfinals.

He has won 40 consecutive sets on clay to extend his own record, and has won 33 of his last 34 matches on the dirt.

“I had more options in the second set but a player like Rafa doesn’t give you many chances,” the 69th-ranked Garcia-Lopez said.

Rafa needs to win his 11th Barcelona title this week to retain his No. 1 ranking.

Klizan, the 140th-ranked Slovak who defeated Nadal in Beijing in 2014, reached the last eight by ousting veteran Feliciano Lopez 6-1, 6-4.

Source: AFP

VIDEO: Rafael Nadal vs Roberto Carballes Baena – highlights (2018 Barcelona Open)

On By Rafael Nadal FansIn Video7 Comments

Highlights of the second round match between Rafael Nadal and Roberto Carballes Baena from the ATP Barcelona Open.

Barcelona Open R3: What time does Rafael Nadal play against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez?

On By Rafael Nadal FansIn Match Time & Live Stream6 Comments

On Thursday, Rafael Nadal will face countryman Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (No. 69)  in the third round of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. The veteran right-hander advanced after Kei Nishikori retired down 3-6.

Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Date: April 26, 2018

Match time: Rafa is third match on Pista Rafa Nadal. Around 2.30 PM local time / 8.30 AM EDT –  New York, Montreal / 1.30 PM BST – United Kingdom / 2.30 PM  CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 10.30 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.

Rafa on playing Garcia-Lopez:

He is aggressive, he has good punches and good service, he will not go out on the court without believing he can win, he has experience in important matches and he has won good people.

I have to be prepared to play better than today.

Rafa leads their head to head 4-1 and he won their last meeting, at the Barcelona Open in 2012.

Year Event Surface RND Winner Result
2012 Barcelona 
Spain		 Outdoor Clay R32 Rafael Nadal
61 62
2011 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Shanghai 
China		 Outdoor Hard R32 Rafael Nadal
63 62
2010 Bangkok 
Thailand		 Indoor Hard SF Guillermo Garcia-Lopez
26 763 63
2008 Chennai 
India		 Outdoor Hard QF Rafael Nadal
63 62
2005 Valencia 
Spain		 Indoor Hard R16 Rafael Nadal
61 64

Good luck & Vamos Rafa!

Source: ATP World Tour

Rafael Nadal breaks another clay-court record with Carballes Baena win

On By Rafael Nadal FansIn Articles, Photos8 Comments

Rafael Nadal set a new Open Era record for the most consecutive sets won on clay, as he reeled off his 37th and 38th against Roberto Carballes Baena in Barcelona.

The world No. 1 had matched Romanian legend Ilie Nastase’s effort of 36 sets won in a row as he beat Kei Nishikori to win an 11th title in Monte-Carlo and he overtook him with a 6-4 6-4 victory against his compatriot on Wednesday.

Rafa:

I need to catch the intensity, pace and concentration of last week.

The first rounds are always difficult and more when you come from winning a tournament last week. The sensations at the end of the match were better. It is a good victory seeing how the day has gone with players of the highest level who have lost.

I had to accept not having good feelings but I ended up winning the game.

Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Photo: Barcelona Open
A supporter holds a placard reading “With you always Rafa” in front of Spain’s Rafael Nadal during a Barcelona Open ATP tournament tennis match in Barcelona on April 25, 2018. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images)
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Rafael NADAL from Spain during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 66º Trofeo Conde de Godo at Reial Club Tenis Barcelona on 25 of April of 2018 in Barcelona. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Rafael NADAL from Spain during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 66º Trofeo Conde de Godo at Reial Club Tenis Barcelona on 25 of April of 2018 in Barcelona. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Rafael NADAL from Spain during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 66º Trofeo Conde de Godo at Reial Club Tenis Barcelona on 25 of April of 2018 in Barcelona. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Rafael NADAL from Spain during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 66º Trofeo Conde de Godo at Reial Club Tenis Barcelona on 25 of April of 2018 in Barcelona. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Rafael NADAL from Spain watch during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 66 Trofeo Conde de Godo at Reial Club Tenis Barcelona on 25 of April of 2018 in Barcelona. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Rafael NADAL from Spain during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 66º Trofeo Conde de Godo at Reial Club Tenis Barcelona on 25 of April of 2018 in Barcelona. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Rafael NADAL from Spain coach Francis Roig and close friends during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 66 Trofeo Conde de Godo at Reial Club Tenis Barcelona on 25 of April of 2018 in Barcelona. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Photo: Barcelona Open
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Photo: Barcelona Open
Photo: Barcelona Open
Photo: Barcelona Open

Rafa has not dropped a set since losing to Dominic Thiem in Rome last season – a loss that ended a run of 17 straight victories.

Rafa will face another compatriot in the third round as Guillermo Garcia-Lopez progressed after two-time champion Kei Nishikori was forced to retire.

Sources: ATP World Tour, Metro, Express

Barcelona Open R2: What time does Rafael Nadal play Roberto Carballes Baena?

On By Rafael Nadal FansIn Match Time & Live Stream12 Comments

World No. 1 and ten-time champion Rafael Nadal opens his Barcelona Open campaign on Wednesday when he takes on fellow Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena (No. 77) in the second round.

Date: April 25, 2018

Match time: Rafa is third match on Pista Rafa Nadal. Around 2.30 PM local time / 8.30 AM EDT –  New York, Montreal / 1.30 PM BST – United Kingdom / 2.30 PM  CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 10.30 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.

Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Our champ and Carballes Baena have never met before. Ecuador Open champion Carballes Baena has just 20 match wins to his name at Tour-level. Seven have come this year, against five losses.

The 25-year-old needed one hour and 35 minutes to beat Andreas Haider-Maurer (6-2, 6-4), breaking the Austrian five times en route to victory.

Rafa is 53-3 in Barcelona and has won eight of his 10 titles without dropping a set, including 2016-17. He needs to win his 11th title in Barcelona to remain No. 1 in the ATP Rankings, or else Swiss Roger Federer will take over.

GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!

Source: ATP World Tour

WATCH: Rafael Nadal plays tennis with young cancer survivor

On By Rafael Nadal FansIn Articles6 Comments

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal may be focused on winning titles but that didn’t stop the 16-time Grand Slam champion making a lovely gesture earlier today in Barcelona.

BARCELONA, SPAIN- APRIL 24: ATP Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 24, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos)
Marc Krajekian, a 10-year-old cancer survivor from North Carolina playing with his hero Rafael Nadal during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 66 Trofeo Conde de Godo at Reial Club Tenis Barcelona on 24 of April of 2018 in Barcelona. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Marc Krajekian, a 10-year-old cancer survivor from North Carolina playing with his hero Rafael Nadal during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 66 Trofeo Conde de Godo at Reial Club Tenis Barcelona on 24 of April of 2018 in Barcelona. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN- APRIL 24: ATP Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 24, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos)
Marc Krajekian, a 10-year-old cancer survivor from North Carolina playing with his hero Rafael Nadal during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 66 Trofeo Conde de Godo at Reial Club Tenis Barcelona on 24 of April of 2018 in Barcelona. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Marc Krajekian, a 10-year-old cancer survivor from North Carolina playing with his hero Rafael Nadal during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 66 Trofeo Conde de Godo at Reial Club Tenis Barcelona on 24 of April of 2018 in Barcelona. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Mark Krajekian had played tennis since he was three years old but had his leg amputated when he was eight after he was diagnosed with cancer. But the youngster’s willingness to fight and courage throughout his battle won the hearts of the tennis community.

Rafa invited Mark, now 11 years old, to his practice session and played some very exciting points that made the child smile and left him an unforgettable lifetime memory.

Last year during the US Open, Mark helped Roger Federer warm up for his night session match against the German Kohlschreiber in the Arthur Ashe stadium.

Mark on meeting Rafa:

It was very exciting. He made my day. I would like to thank him for everything.

What a special moment!