Highlights from the third round match between Rafael Nadal and Karen Khachanov at the 2018 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
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Tag: Rafael Nadal
Monte Carlo Masters QF: What time does Rafael Nadal play against Dominic Thiem?
Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem will be going head-to-head for the eighth time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Friday.
Date: April 20, 2018
Match time: Rafa is second match on Court Rainer III. Around 1.30 PM local time / 7.30 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 12.30 PM BST – United Kingdom / 1.30 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 9.30 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa leads Thiem 5-2 in their Head2Head series.
Rafa has lost twice to Thiem on clay, but produced a dominant display in the French Open semi-finals last year en route to his 10th Roland Garros title.
| Year | Event | Surface | RND | Winner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2017 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Dominic Thiem | |
| 2017 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2017 | Barcelona Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2016 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2016 | Buenos Aires Argentina |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Dominic Thiem | |
| 2014 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | R64 | Rafael Nadal |
Rafa o playing Thiem:
It’s going to be a difficult match. He is a player that plays so good in every surface, but especially on clay. He hits the ball hard.
I can’t let him play from good positions because he has lot of power… I need to play aggressive, with a higher intensity than him, then we’ll see.
Thiem on playing Rafa:
It’s a way better feeling if you go against him and know that you’ve beaten him already on this surface. It’s the ultimate challenge to play against him. I have to raise my level again.
Good luck & Vamos Rafa!
Source: ATP World Tour
Rafael Nadal beats Karen Khachanov, will face Dominic Thiem in Monte Carlo quarter-finals [PHOTOS]
Ten-time champion Rafael Nadal has booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Our champ beat Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and 19 minutes. With today’s triumph, he has improved to 65-4 lifetime in Monaco, and 393-35 on clay.
Khachanov held his own at times in the opening set, but Rafa moved through the gears and claimed his second comfortable victory of the week after his opening win over Aljaz Bedene.
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AFP Photo/YANN COATSALIOU
After the match, Rafa said:
A good victory. Straight sets against a difficult opponent. That’s the real thing.
I think I played little bit better than yesterday [against Aljaz Bedene]. My serve worked well and my forehand was better than yesterday. (via ATP World Tour)
Rafa, who is chasing a record 31st ATP Masters 1000 title, will next face Austrian Dominic Theim, who knocked out 2013 and 2015 champion Novak Djokovic, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3 in two hours and 29 minutes.
Monte Carlo Masters R3: What time does Rafael Nadal play against Karen Khachanov?
On Thursday, top seed and ten-time champion Rafael Nadal will face Karen Khachanov in the third round of the 2018 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Date: April 19, 2018
Match time: Rafa is third match on Court Rainer III. Around 3 PM local time / 9 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 2 PM BST – United Kingdom / 3 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 11 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on plying Khachanov:
Karen is a tough opponent, of course. No doubt about that. He’s a player that serves big and has big shots from the baseline. I need to play aggressive. I can’t let him play in comfortable positions because then it will be impossible… I know it’s going to be an important test for me.
Rafa owns a 2-0 lifetime record against the Russian and has won all five sets they have contested.
| Year | Event | Surface | RND | Winner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Beijing China |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2017 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | R32 | Rafael Nadal |
Rafa has won 14 consecutive matches vs. Russians since falling to Nikolay Davydenko in the SFs at 2011 Doha. He has reached the Monte-Carlo QFs or better 13 years in a row since losing in the 3R in his 2003 debut (l. to Coria).
Rafa must retain the Monte-Carlo title, which would represent his 31st Masters 1000 crown, to remain at No. 1 in the ATP Rankings. Otherwise his Swiss rival, Roger Federer, will return to the top spot on 23 April. Rafa is in his 170th week at No. 1, tying John McEnroe for the sixth-most weeks in rankings history (since August 1973).
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP World Tour
VIDEOS: An interview with Rafael Nadal + Hot Shots ~ 2018 Monte-Carlo Masters R2
Rafa reflects on his second round win over Aljaz Bedene on Wednesday.
Hot Shots:
PHOTOS: Rafael Nadal beats Aljaz Bedene to reach third round at Monte Carlo Masters
(AFP) – Ten-time champion Rafael Nadal improved to 64-4 at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Wednesday when he reached the third round with victory over Aljaz Bedene.
Our champ won 6-1, 6-3 in 78 minutes and will next prepare to meet Karen Khachanov on Thursday.
Rafa brought up set point in the opener with a trademark, curling forehand up the line, before sealing the set with a drop shot. Bedene managed to keep the second set on serve for six games, but Rafa broke to lead 4-3 and wrapped up a comfortable victory in the Monaco sunshine with another break as Bedene hit a forehand into the net.
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Tennis – ATP – Monte Carlo Masters – Monte-Carlo Country Club, Monte Carlo, Monaco – April 18, 2018 A bead of sweat drops off of Spain’s Rafael Nadal as he prepares to serve during his second round match against Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
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Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning the men’s single tennis match against Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia during the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament on April 18, 2018 in Monaco. / AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)
EPA6550. ROQUEBRUNE CAP MARTIN (FRANCIA), 18/04/2018.- El tenista español Rafa Nadal celebra su victoria ante el eslovaco Aljaz Bedene durante el partido que enfrentó a ambos en la segunda ronda del Master 1.000 ATP de Montecarlo celebrado en Roquebrune Cap Martin en Francia hoy, 18 de abril de 2018. Nadal inició la conquista de su undécimo título en Montecarlo con una victoria ante el esloveno Aljaz Bedene, por 6-1 y 6-3 en 78 minutos. EFE/ Sebastien Nogier
EPA6550. ROQUEBRUNE CAP MARTIN (FRANCIA), 18/04/2018.- El tenista español Rafa Nadal celebra su victoria ante el eslovaco Aljaz Bedene tras el partido que enfrentó a ambos en la segunda ronda del Master 1.000 ATP de Montecarlo celebrado en Roquebrune Cap Martin en Francia hoy, 18 de abril de 2018. Nadal inició la conquista de su undécimo título en Montecarlo con una victoria ante el esloveno Aljaz Bedene, por 6-1 y 6-3 en 78 minutos. EFE/ Sebastien Nogier
Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning the match against Aljaz Bedene during the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament, on April 18, 2018 in Monaco. / AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)
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After the match, Rafa said:
It was a positive start. That’s all. It’s important for me to win matches, of course. I need days on court. Since Shanghai last year, I have spent not enough time on court competing. Every match that I have the chance to win is a great news, because it [helps my] confidence and is a chance to play another day. That’s what I need. (via ATP World Tour)
Monte Carlo Masters R2: What time does Rafael Nadal play against Aljaz Bedene?
On Wednesday, top seed and ten-time champion in Monaco, Rafael Nadal will play his first match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters against Slovenian Aljaz Bedene (ranked No. 58). It will be only Rafa’s 8th tour-level match of the year (6-1) and second tournament of 2018.
Rafa and Aljaz have played once, which was in the 2016 Monte Carlo Masters, a match our champ won in straight sets. The match took 18 games to be decided (6-3, 6-3).
Date: April 18, 2018
Match time: Rafa is third match on Court Rainer III. 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, who is participating in his second tournament of the year, is 63-4 at Monte-Carlo Masters. His only four losses in Monaco came in the third round in 2003, to Guillermo Coria; the final in 2013, to Djokovic; the quarterfinals in 2014, to David Ferrer; and the semifinals in 2015, to Djokovic.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP World Tour
