Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal won the Rio Open in 2014 Getty

Spaniard Rafael Nadal takes on Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov in the quarter-final of the Rio Open on Friday, 19 February.

Where to watch

The match is scheduled to start at 9pm GMT. Live coverage of the game is available in UK on Sky Sports 3 and Sky Sports 3 HD. Live scores and real time updates are available on the ATP World Tour's official website.

Overview

In what will be a rematch of the 2014 final, number one seed Rafael Nadal takes on unseeded Alexandr Dolgopolov in the quarter-final of the Rio Open. The Spaniard beat compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 7-5 to reach the quarter-final, however, the scoreline actually did flatter Nadal. An analysis of the match will tell you that Nadal still has not hit top form and if his opponent Almagro showed a little more composure, it would have been a tighter contest.

The 2014 winner is struggling to impose himself on what is his preferred surface and while he will go into this game as the favourite, his opponents will know that the King of Clay title for Nadal does not ring as true as it once did.

One of the most unpredictable players currently in the world of tennis, Alexandr Dolgopolov has the game to take down any opponent on his day. The Ukrainian, perhaps, has not done justice to his talent, winning only two ATP titles in his career so far, with 2016 also not starting too well. Expect Dolgopolov to come out all guns blazing with the aim of securing a semi-final spot.

Head-to-Head

The duo have met seven times in the past six years, with Nadal winning five of those encounters. However, Dolgopolov has won the last two games they have played.

Rio Open History

Nadal and Dolgopolov faced off in the final of the inaugural season in 2014, the former world number one winning that encounter 6-3, 7-6(3).

Rafael Nadal