RAFAEL NADAL PLAYS CHRISTOPHE ROCHUS IN MELBOURNE JAN 20, 09

Rafael Nadal practicing down under.
Photo credits are Getty and unknown
Apologies to any photographer who is not credited.

RAFA PLAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MELBOURNE TUESDAY - JANUARY 20
THAT'S RIGHT THE OBAMA INAUGURATION DAY
But due to the time difference Rafa will play before Barack Obama is the new President of the United States of America.

THE TIME FOR MELBOURNE IS ON MY SIDEBAR.

Melbourne is 16 hours ahead of the USA EST.

The time listed below for Rafa's first match ~ is Melboune, Australia time. The women's match begins Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in Melbourne and Rafael and Christophe's match will follow the women's match listed here. I just checked the completed match times of women's, which is the best of 3 sets or two winning sets. Some sets have lasted under a half hour and some around an hour. So that means Rafa could begin approximately one to two hours after the women's start time of 7:30 p.m. in Melbourne. So I believe that would mean Rafa could begin to play as early as 4:30 a.m. but probably around 5:00 a.m. or later USA EST.

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Rod Laver Arena

19:30 Start

Women's Singles - 1st Round Samantha Stosur(AUS) vs. Klara Zakopalova(CZE) Men's Singles - 1st Round Rafael Nadal(ESP)[1] vs. Christophe Rochus(BEL)

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TV VIEWING OF RAFA....

Tuesday, January 20, 2009 ESPN2 3:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. ET (LIVE)
Tennis Channel 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET (LIVE)
ESPN2 3:00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m. ET (Highlights)
Tennis Channel 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. ET (LIVE)
ESPN2 10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. ET (LIVE)
Source: TV Scheudle at www.tennis-x.com

Rafael Nadal's Official Website:

www.rafaelnadal.com
There is a Forum for fans at Rafa's site that is very informative and helpful.

News from Rafa's website

A Fan Website for Rafa:
www.vamosbrigade.com

Australian Open draws

Tennis Talk's Live Score
and
Link to Live AO '09 Radio Play by Play

Australian Open AO radio

Schedule of play is released each evening and will be posted on the website as soon as it is made available. This schedule is correct at time of publishing and is subject to change.

Remember Australia is a day ahead of the USA. There is no live streaming for the USA from the AO '09 website.

Schedule of Play

Australian Open Preview - Nadal's Quarter

Scoring in different forms - Live, Completed Matches - Event Statistics, etc:
www.australianopen.com Real Time

Another link to check out:
Scoreboard of Australian Open

My previous post that has important links and
ESPN2 TV schedule is at
Tennis on Now Australian Open 09

These three photos: Wire Image

Feliciano Lopez, Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal

TENNIS ON NOW - AUSTRALIAN OPEN '09

Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during practice ahead of the Australian Open 2009 at Melbourne Park on January 16, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. (All photos of Rafa in his new outfit are by photographer Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Above and below photos:
Tennis's biggest stars are spotted around Melbourne.

(Photo by Photo Agency)

Above and below photos:
Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open 2009 at Melbourne Park on January 14, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Lucas Dawson/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open 2009 at Melbourne Park on January 17, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Lucas Dawson/Getty Images)

Australian Open draws

Tennis Talk's Live Score
and
Link to Live AO '09 Radio Play by Play

Australian Open AO radio

Schedule of play is released each evening and will be posted on the website as soon as it is made available. This schedule is correct at time of publishing and is subject to change.

Remember Australia is a day ahead of the USA. There is no live streaming for the USA from the AO '09 website.

Schedule of Play

Australian Open Preview - Nadal's Quarter

Scoring in different forms - Live, Completed Matches - Event Statistics, etc:
www.australianopen.com Real Time

Another link to check out:
Scoreboard of Australian Open

Coming Up Soon:

Men's Singles - 1st Round
Andrea Stoppini(ITA)	vs.	Novak Djokovic(SRB)[3]

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Want to ask Rafa a question?

Here is the link to do so:
Herald Sun

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For USA Australian Open '09 is being aired on ESPN2
for me with Cox Communications (Cable), that is Channel 29.
All times below are EST.

2009 Australian Open TV Schedule

Week 1
Date	Time	Round	Channel
Jan. 18	7:00 PM-2:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 19	3:30-8:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 19	3:00-7:00 PM (Delay)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 19	9:00 PM-2:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 20	3:30-8:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 20	3:00-7:00 PM (Delay)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 20	10:00 PM-2:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 21	3:30-8:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 21	3:00-7:00 PM (Delay)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 21	11:00 PM-2:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 22	3:30-8:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 22	3:00-7:00 PM (Delay)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 22	11:00 PM-2:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 23	3:30-8:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 23	3:00-7:00 PM (Delay)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 23	7:00-9:30 PM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 23	11:30 PM-2:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 24	3:30-8:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 24	9:00 AM-2:00 PM (Delay)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 24	10:00 PM-1:30 AM (Live)	Round of 16	ESPN2
Week 2
Jan. 25	3:30-8:00 AM (Live)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 25	12:00 PM-5:00 PM (Delay)	Early Rounds	ESPN2
Jan. 25	9:00 PM-1:30 AM (Live)	Round of 16	ESPN2
Jan. 26	3:30-6:00 AM (Live)	Round of 16	ESPN2
Jan. 26	3:00-7:00 PM (Delay)	Round of 16	ESPN2
Jan. 26	9:30 PM-1:30 AM (Live)	Men's & Women's Quarterfinals	ESPN2
Jan. 27	3:30-6:00 AM (Live)	Men's & Women's Quarterfinals	ESPN2
Jan. 27	3:00-7:00 PM (Delay)	Men's & Women's Quarterfinals	ESPN2
Jan. 27	9:30 PM-2:00 AM (Live)	Men's & Women's Quarterfinals	ESPN2
Jan. 28	3:30-6:00 AM (Live)	Men's & Women's Quarterfinals	ESPN2
Jan. 28	3:00-7:00 PM (Delay)	Men's & Women's Quarterfinals	ESPN2
Jan. 28	9:30 PM-1:30 AM (Live)	Women's Semifinals	ESPN2
Jan. 29	3:30-6:00 AM (Live)	Men's Semifinal #1	ESPN2
Jan. 29	3:00-6:00 PM (Delay)	Men's Semifinal #1	ESPN2
Jan. 30	3:30-6:00 AM (Live)	Men's Semifinal #2	ESPN2
Jan. 30	3:00-6:00 PM (Delay)	Men's Semifinal #2	ESPN2
Jan. 31	3:30-5:30 AM (Live)	Women's Final	ESPN2
Feb. 1	3:30-6:30 AM (Live)	Men's Final	ESPN2

*All Times Eastern

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The following schedule includes ESPN2 and The Tennis Channel:

Sunday, January 18, 2009
Australian Open Early Rounds
ESPN 2 - 7 p.m.-2 a.m. (LIVE)

Monday, January 19, 2009
Australian Open Early Rounds
ESPN 2 - 3:30-8 a.m. (LIVE); 3-7 p.m. (tape); 9 p.m.-2 a.m. (LIVE)
TC - 7 p.m.-9 p.m. (LIVE)

Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Australian Open Early Rounds
ESPN 2 - 3:30-8 a.m. (LIVE); 3-7 p.m. (tape); 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (LIVE)
TC - 7 p.m.-10 p.m. (LIVE)

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Australian Open Early Rounds
ESPN 2 - 3:30-8 a.m. (LIVE); 3-7 p.m. (tape); 11 p.m.-2 a.m. (LIVE)
TC - 7 p.m.- 11 p.m. (LIVE)

Thursday, January 22, 2009
Australian Open Early Rounds
ESPN 2 - 3:30-8 a.m. (LIVE); 3-7 p.m. (tape); 11 p.m.-2 a.m. (LIVE)
TC - 7 p.m.-11 p.m. (LIVE)

Friday, January 23, 2009
Australian Open Early Rounds
ESPN 2 - 3:30-8 a.m. (LIVE); 3-7 p.m. (tape); 7-9:30 p.m. (LIVE); 11:30 p.m.-2 a.m. (LIVE)
TC - 9:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. (LIVE)

Saturday, January 24, 2009
Australian Open Early Rounds
ESPN 2 - 3:30-8 a.m. (LIVE); 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (tape); 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (LIVE)
TC - 7 p.m.-10 p.m. (LIVE)

Sunday, January 25, 2009
Australian Open Fourth Rounds
ESPN 2 - 3:30-8 a.m. (LIVE); Noon-5 p.m. (tape); 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (LIVE)
TC - 7 p.m.-9 p.m. (LIVE)

Monday, January 26, 2009
Australian Open Quarterfinals
ESPN 2 - 3:30-6 a.m. (LIVE); 3-7 p.m. (tape); 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (LIVE)

Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Australian Open Quarterfinals
ESPN 2 - 3:30-6 a.m. (LIVE); 3-7 p.m. (tape); 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m. (LIVE)

Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Australian Open Women's Semifinals
ESPN 2 - 3:30-6 a.m. (LIVE); 3-7 p.m. (tape); 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (LIVE)

Thursday, January 29, 2009
Australian Open Men's Semifinals # 1
ESPN 2 - 3:30-6 a.m. (LIVE); 3-6 p.m. (tape)

Friday, January 30, 2009
Australian Open Men's Semifinals # 2
ESPN 2 - 3:30-6 a.m. (LIVE); 3-6 p.m. (tape)

Saturday, January 31, 2009
Australian Open Women's Final/ Mixed Doubles Final
ESPN 2 - 3:30-6 a.m. (LIVE) (Women's Singles Final); 3-6 p.m. (tape)
TC - 12 a.m.-1.30 a.m. (LIVE) (Mixed Doubles Final)

Sunday, February 1, 2009
Australian Open Men's Final
ESPN 2 - 3:30-6:30 a.m. (LIVE); 3-6 p.m. (tape); women's final 6-8 p.m. (tape)

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Rafael Nadal's website
(which includes an informative opening page and also a forum for fans:
http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=84197&p=1

A fan run website about Rafael Nadal:
www.vamosbrigade.com

Want more pictures of Rafa? Click here.