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Tag: Rafael Nadal

  • Tennis star, Rafael Nadal hints at retirement

    Tennis star, Rafael Nadal hints at retirement

    Tennis star Rafael Nadal who pulled out of this month’s French Open because of a hip injury, has hinted on retiring from the sport come next year 2024.

    According to the Spaniard 2024 will be his last year Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour.

    The 36-year-old Spaniard has not played since a second-round straight-sets defeat to American Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January, where he was hampered by his hip troubles.

    He was initially expected to be out for six to eight weeks, but has dropped to 14th in the ATP rankings having failed to recover as quickly as had been hoped.

    The “King of Clay” announced he will miss the only Grand Slam played on the surface for the first time since 2004, and planned to miss further months of action.

    “The evolution of the injury I sustained in Australia has not gone as I would have liked,” Nadal said.

    “I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible.

  • Madrid Open: Clay King, Rafael Nadal suffers injury relapse

    Madrid Open: Clay King, Rafael Nadal suffers injury relapse

    Rafa Nadal will miss next week’s Madrid Open after a setback in his recovery from a hip injury sustained at the Australian Open in January.

    Nadal, a 22-time major champion, announced this on Thursday, in a video published on his social media accounts.

    He skipped tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo as well as the on-going Barcelona Open, after suffering the injury that effectively ended his Melbourne Park title defence.

    The world former world number also fell to a second-round defeat by Mackenzie McDonald.

    “Initially it had to be a six to eight week recovery period and we are now on fourteen. The reality is that the situation is not what we would have expected.

    “All medical indications have been followed, but somehow the evolution has not been what they initially told us and we find ourselves in a difficult situation.

    “The weeks are passing and I had the desire of being able to play in tournaments that are the most important in my career such as Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros and for the moment I have missed Monte Carlo and Barcelona.

    “I will not be able to be in Madrid unfortunately,’ he announced.

    While the Spaniard still hopes to be fully fit for the Grand Slam starting in May, his statement is not optimistic.

    “The injury still hasn’t healed and I can’t work out what I need to compete,” Nadal said.

    “I was training, but a few days ago we decided to change course a bit, do another treatment and see if things improve to try to get to what comes next.

    “I can’t give deadlines because if I knew I would tell you but I don’t know. This is how things are now.”

  • Rafael Nadal pulls out of Wimbledon semi-final

    Rafael Nadal pulls out of Wimbledon semi-final

    Rafael Nadal’s hopes of completing a rare calendar-year Grand Slam ended on Thursday when the Spaniard withdrew from his highly-anticipated showdown with Australian Nick Kyrgios with an abdominal strain.

    “I have to pull out of the tournament as I have been suffering with pain in the abdomen,” said the 36-year-old, the holder of a men’s record 22 Grand Slam titles.

    Nadal had triumphed at the Australian and French Opens this year and had been hoping to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar-year slam.

  • Nadal brushes off Moutet to win 300th grand slam match

    Nadal brushes off Moutet to win 300th grand slam match

    Rafael Nadal recorded his 300th grand slam match win by easing into the third round of the French Open, beating Corentin Moutet in straight sets on Thursday.

    The “King of Clay” is in search of a record-extending 22nd major title at Roland Garros, where he was dethroned by Novak Djokovic last year.

    On this evidence, Nadal is in the form to re-establish his dominion of the tournament.

    He overcame a spirited home hope, who enjoyed the benefit of vocal support from the crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday evening.

    Nadal will see room for improvement having failed to serve the match out in the third set, but a 6-3 6-1 6-4 win was never in doubt.

    The tone for a procession was established when Nadal raced into a 3-0 lead in the opening set, and Moutet’s dream of playing his idol soon appeared to be turning into a nightmare.

    Nadal won the second set in commanding fashion behind an excellent first serve, but found Moutet’s resistance more stern in the third.

    That spirit was exemplified by Moutet breaking Nadal’s serve with the Spaniard ahead 5-3.

    However, Nadal immediately responded in kind, dominating Moutet from the back of the court.

    He wrapped up a landmark victory when the Frenchman sent a lob long at the end of an entertaining rally.

    Nadal will face Botic Van De Zandschulp in the third round.

    Data Slam: Nadal 107-3 opponents

    As well as being his 300th grand slam match win, Nadal’s triumph was his 107th at Roland Garros.

    He has still only tasted defeat in Paris three times.

    The fifth seed won all 11 of his first-serve points in the second set of another impressive display.

    WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
    Nadal – 27/22
    Moutet – 16/24

    ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
    Nadal – 1/2
    Moutet – 0/3

    BREAK POINTS WON
    Nadal – 7/12
    Moutet – 2/4

  • Nadal claims record 21st grand slam title after stunning comeback win

    Nadal claims record 21st grand slam title after stunning comeback win

    Rafael Nadal achieved the most astonishing feat of his glittering career by fighting back from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev and win the 2022 Australian Open.

    The feat helped him to win a record 21st grand slam title.

    Nadal’s 2-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-4 7-5 victory moves him clear of his great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the most successful male player in grand slam history.

    When the match, which lasted five hours and 24 minutes, finally finished at 1:11 a.m local time in Melbourne, Nadal dropped his racket to the court in disbelief.

    He then pumped his fists in delight and celebrated with his support team.

    The victory also makes him only the second man in the Open era after Djokovic to win each of the four titles at least twice.

    Nadal was adding a second Australia Open crown to the one he claimed in 2009.

    But the numbers only tell a fraction of the story.

    The Spaniard feared he may have to retire only a couple of months ago because of a chronic foot problem and arrived in Australia unsure of what he could achieve.

    Reaching the final had already exceeded all expectations and it appeared he would fall just short again in Melbourne.

    That was when Medvedev moved two sets ahead.

    The Russian was looking to follow up his maiden US Open title by becoming the first man in the Open era to win the next major as well.

    Nadal had faded physically in the third set of his matches against both Denis Shapovalov and Matteo Berrettini.

    But, at 35 and playing in just his 10th match since early August, he outlasted an opponent nearly a decade his junior.

    Remarkably, it is also the first time Nadal has recovered from two sets down to win a match since beating Mikhail Youzhny at Wimbledon in 2007.

    He is the first to do so in an Australian Open final since Roy Emerson in 1965.

    The final, meanwhile, was the second longest in the tournament’s history, behind only the epic tussle between Djokovic and Nadal in 2012.

    The contest was briefly interrupted by a protestor who jumped out of the crowd holding a banner highlighting refugee detention.

    This was a campaign that received a global spotlight when Djokovic was detained and then deported ahead of the tournament.

    Security guards quickly raced on to haul the person away.

    That seemed to be a crucial period of the match, with Nadal holding set-point in the second set having twice been a break up.

    But Medvedev, who won seven more points in the match, fought back and clinched the tie-break.

    The 26-year-old, who had also lost in the US Open final in 2019 to Nadal and here against Djokovic last year, had been exceptional for two sets.

    Had he taken any of three break-points at 3-2 in the third set, things may well have panned out very differently.

    Muddled shot selection contributed to a break for Nadal in the ninth game of the third set, and his desperate use of drop shots betrayed the fatigue he was feeling.

    Nadal got the better of three successive breaks early in the fourth set and he looked on his way to the title when he moved 3-2 ahead in the decider.

    At 5-4 30-0, he was two points away, but a double-fault could have proved costly as a netted backhand from Nadal saw Medvedev break back.

    The Russian, though, could not hold his own serve, giving Nadal a second chance to serve for it, and this time he did not falter.

    After receiving the trophy, Nadal turned to his opponent, saying: “I know it’s a tough moment. Daniil you are an amazing champion.

    “I have been in this position a couple of times at this tournament. I have no doubt you will have this trophy a couple of times in your career.

    “It has been one of the most emotional matches in my tennis career and to share the court with you is just an honour.

    “I don’t know what to say. For me it’s just amazing.

    “Being honest, one month and a half ago I didn’t know if I would be able to be back on the tour and now I am here sharing the trophy with all of you.

    “You don’t know how much I fought to be here. Thank you so much for all the support.

    “Without a doubt it’s one of the most emotional moments in my tennis career. The support I received through the three weeks is going to stay in my heart for the rest of my life.

    “I really can’t explain the feelings that I have right now but I’m going to keep trying my best to come next year.”

  • French Open: Rafael Nadal sees off spirited Diego Schwartzman to reach semi-finals

    French Open: Rafael Nadal sees off spirited Diego Schwartzman to reach semi-finals

    Rafael Nadal reached a record-extending 14th French Open semi-final on Wednesday with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 win over Diego Schwartzman, setting up a potential last-four showdown with world number one Novak Djokovic.

    Nadal, bidding for a 14th Roland Garros title and record 21st major triumph, dropped his first set at the tournament since 2019 — ending a run of 36 consecutive sets won in Paris by the Spanish third seed.

    The 35-year-old Nadal improved his incredible French Open record to 105 wins and two losses as he advanced to his 35th Grand Slam semi-final. He beat Argentine 10th seed Schwartzman in the last four of the 2020 edition.

    “It’s always incredible for me to return to the semi-finals for another time,” said Nadal.

    “Diego is such an amazing player with so much talent, today was a very difficult challenge.”

    Nadal and Schwartzman had both progressed to the last eight without dropping a set.

    After Nadal took the opener he faltered while serving to stay in the second set, shanking long to concede his first set at Roland Garros since beating Dominic Thiem in four sets in the 2019 final.

    “I started bad the second set and then was able to come back, but then the game at 4-4, returning with the wind helping, I played a bad game and had a tricky situation serving to not lose the set. Well done to him, he played well,” said Nadal.

    The Spaniard regrouped and grabbed a decisive break in the ninth game of the third set, winning the final nine games against a weary Schwartzman to close out victory.

    “I needed to play a little bit more aggressive and I think I did later, so I am very happy for that,” added Nadal.

  • The twists and turns of 13th French Open as Djokovic bows to Nadal and 19-year-old Swiatek kisses first women Grand Slam trophy, By Osayande Ero

    The twists and turns of 13th French Open as Djokovic bows to Nadal and 19-year-old Swiatek kisses first women Grand Slam trophy, By Osayande Ero

    By Osayande Ero

     

    It’s been a fantastic two weeks of high-class tennis delivered by players who would simply not be put down by happenings around them, and it ended up serving what has been one of the most enthralling Roland Garros tournaments we have ever had. Starting with the men’s tour, we had some mouth-watering first-round clashes between multiple Grand Slam winners with Stan Wawrinka easily dispatching Andy Murray in straight sets, and newly crowned US Open champion, Dominic Thiem seeing off the challenge of 2014 US Open champion, Marin Cilic also in straight sets.

     

    World number one, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Sascha Zverev, Diego Schwartzman, and Roberto Bautista Agut came through their first round matches unscathed. The biggest upset on day one was the elimination of world number five, Danil Medvedev falling at the hands of Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in four sets. Other notable first round exits were David Goffin, falling at the hands of talented Italian next gen star, Jannik Sinner in straight sets; world number 29, Filip Krajinovic, falling to fellow Serb ranked outside the world’s top 100, on tour Nikola Milojevic in four sets.

     

    We also witnessed a few breakout stars making it as far as the fourth round and even the quarterfinals. Twenty-year-old American, Sebastian Korda, Frenchman, Hugo Gaston also aged 20, and German qualifier, Daniel Altmaier, made it to the fourth round eventually falling to Nadal, Thiem, and Pablo Carreno Busta respectively. Italian next gen star, Jannik Sinner, made it to the quarterfinals in his first appearance at Roland Garros, but his quarter final opponent was none other than 12-time champion, Rafael Nadal who had just too much experience in the important moments to knock out the teenage sensation.

     

    Other quarter-final matches saw world number one, Novak Djokovic dispatch Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in a re-match of the US Open quarter final when Djokovic was disqualified for hitting a lines judge with the Serb coming through in four sets. Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas saw off the challenge of the spirited Russian Andrey Rublev in straight sets, and Diego Schwartzman upsetting tournament favorite and two-time finalist, Dominc Thiem in five entertaining sets. These set up very captivating semi-final clashes. First up on semi-finals day was Diego Schwartzman looking to be only the third man to beat Rafael Nadal on the Paris dirt with the Spaniard looking to further his amazing 98-2 win/loss record at Roland Garros.

     

    And as expected, Nadal just had too much for his opponent, sealing the win in straight sets to reach yet another final in Paris and possibly lay his hands on his 13th French Open title. The second semi-final saw world number one, Djokovic race to two sets to love lead, and was serving for the match in the third set when Tsitsipas broke back playing lights out tennis, and thus taking the third set. The Greek’s resurgence continued in the fourth set as he pushed Djokovic to a fifth set shoot-out for a place in the final but Djokovic would not be denied his chance at a showcase meeting with his rival, Nadal in the final as he breezed through the deciding set to set up the blockbuster final the tournament deserved.

     

    Finals Sunday at Court Philippe-Chartier in Paris definitely didn’t disappoint. We got the final everybody wanted. World number one, Novak Djokovic facing off against his biggest rival, world number two and 12-time champion, Rafael Nadal, in a suspense-filled 2 hours, 41 minutes contest. It was Nadal who sped out the blocks breaking Djokovic in the very first game; and he went on to deliver the biggest shock of the final, winning the first set to love. Nadal was on attack mode from the get go and this continued in the second set allowing Djokovic just two games. The third set was a tight affair with the world number one showing signs of life, but Nadal was just too good on the big points and would wrap up his 100th win and 13th title here in Paris in straight sets.

     

    It was a clinical display of attacking clay court tennis from the Spaniard which saw him wallop his opponent 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 to pick the much coveted trophy. Djokovic, in his on court interview, paid homage to his great rival, acknowledging that Nadal played at such a high level that took him by surprise. The win is more memorable for Nadal because he had reservations about the heavy balls and conditions prior to the tournament. But in true Nadal style, he went on to seal his victory without dropping a set. It’s his fourth straight title here in Paris and he has tied Roger Federer as players with the most grand slam wins with 20 in the kitty.

     

    On the women’s tour, it had been nonstop entertainment with so many highlights that had made the “COVID’ slam a huge thrill. The first round saw the usual suspects go through unscathed; a couple scares for Karolina Pliskova and former champion, Garbine Muguruza who both avoided upsets in three sets. Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova, Elina Svitolina, Petra Martic, and Aryna Sabalenka, all came through their first. There were some notable first-round exits with seeds like Donna Vekic, Jenifer Brady, Angelique Kerber, Madison Keys, Dayana Yastremska, Anett Kontaveit, seven-time Grand Slam champion, Venus Williams; and most notably, Johanna Konta, losing to 16-year-old American, Cori Gauff.

     

    If the first round wasn’t dramatic enough, things went up a notch in round two with underdogs getting lots of scalps, most notably Karolina Pliskova, falling to 2017 champion, Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets. Also, US Open finalist, Victoria Azarenka, lost to Slovakian Schmiedlova Anna-Karolina in straight sets. The biggest news of the second round was the withdrawal of Serena Williams, citing the injury she sustained at the US Open. She disclosed that she’s been having difficulty walking so there obviously was no way she could compete at the level needed to mount a title charge.

     

    We were blessed with a bunch of surprise names making their way through the draws, as far as the semi-finals. Iga Swiatek, Nadia Podoroska, Martina Trevisan, and Laura Siegemund, all made their way through tough draws, upsetting seeded players to make their way to the business end of the championships. In the first quarter-final, Elina Svitolina lost to Nadia Podoroska in straight sets; Iga Swiatek dispatched Martina Trevisan, also in straight sets. Petra Kvitova saw off the challenge of Laura Siegemund; and the last quarter-final saw Sofia Kenin defeat fellow American, Danielle Collins in three sets.

     

    The first semi-final saw 19-year-old Iga Swiatek looking to be the first Polish player on either tour to win a Grand Slam. She quickly dispatched her opponent, Nadia Podoroska in straight sets thus booking her place in her maiden grand slam final. The second semi-final saw Australian Open champion, Sofia Kenin defeat Petra Kvitova in straight sets and booking her place in her second Slam final of the year.

     

    We had a final not too many saw coming, but a welcome development as two stars of the future battled it out for a chance to lift the coveted trophy – Iga Swiatek, looking to make history as the first polish player ever to win a grand slam, and Sofia Kenin, looking to make it her second Slam of the year. The match promised a lot but it was Iga Swiatek who took her chance at a first slam with both hands seeing off Kenin in straight sets. The Pole, winning her first grand Slam at 19 without dropping a set, is definitely a remarkable feat. Considering the circumstances in which the tournament was staged, all cannot but agree that it was a fantastic tournament with plenty of memorable moments. Congratulations Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek on winning Roland Garros 2020.

  • Nadal beats Djokovic to win 13th French Open title

    Nadal beats Djokovic to win 13th French Open title

    Rafael Nadal scripted history on Sunday by winning a record-extending 13th French Open title as he lifted his 20th Grand Slam trophy and equalled Roger Federer’s record for most Major titles.

    The Spaniard defeated Novak Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 in 2 hours and 41 minutes at Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris.

    “Congrats to Novak for another great tournament. Sorry for today, said Nadal.

    “It’s clear today was for me. That’s part of the game. We’ve played plenty times together – one day one wins, another the other.”

  • Nadal puts Spain into ATP Cup quarters

    Nadal puts Spain into ATP Cup quarters

    Rafael Nadal came back twice from a break down against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka to put Spain into the ATP Cup quarter-finals in Australia.

    The world number one won 7-6 (7-4) 6-4) to give Spain an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie after Robert Bautista Agut had earlier beaten Go Soeda 6-2 6-4.

    Nadal then paired up with Pablo Carreno Busta to win the doubles rubber and end Japan’s chances of a last-eight spot.

    Argentina later beat Croatia to advance to the knockout stage.

    Canada and Belgium sealed the two remaining quarter-final spots as the best runners-up.

    The knockout stage, taking place in Sydney, begins on Thursday with Great Britain facing hosts Australia (from 23:00 GMT on Wednesday).

    The ATP Cup is a new 24-nation knockout tournament that has been set up by the men’s professional tour to kick off the 2020 season.

  • Federer, Nadal to attempt world attendance record in Cape Town

    Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will attempt to set a world record for attendance at a tennis match, with the help of some celebrity guests, when they play an exhibition game in Cape Town in February.
    The clash on Feb. 7 will take place under the banner of the Roger Federer Foundation, which is involved in charitable work in Africa, and will be staged at the Cape Town Stadium.
    It will be preceded by a doubles match in which Federer will partner Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Nadal will play alongside South African comedian Trevor Noah.
    “This Match in Africa is a dream come true,” Federer told the ATP website on Thursday. “I will play in my mother’s home country against my toughest rival and friend Rafa Nadal.
    “We share not only the love for tennis but also for the good cause of giving children a better start in education and in life.”
    Nadal is also looking forward to the contest.
    “Roger and I have shared so many magical moments on and off the court. Travelling with him to Cape Town and playing for the benefit of children is something I am very excited about,” he said.
    “It will be my first time in the region with Roger as a tour guide –- that will be fun.”
    The attendance record for a tennis match is 35,681, set at an exhibition game in Brussels between Belgian Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams in 2010.
    The Cape Town Stadium, which hosted matches during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, has a capacity of 55,000.