Rafael Nadal

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Tennis Icon Plays Final Match of His Career

Rafael Nadal retires after losing at the Davis Cup

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal bit his lower lip and his reddened eyes welled with tears as he stood alongside his Davis Cup teammates for Spain's national anthem Tuesday before what he—and everyone— knew might be the last match of his career . Hours after Nadal's 6-4, 6-4 loss to Botic...

Rafael Nadal: It's Time to Retire
Rafael Nadal
Calls It a Day
Oct 10, 2024 6:05 AM CDT

Rafael Nadal Calls It a Day

Tennis great, 38, to play his final pro match at Davis Cup Finals

(Newser) - One of the best tennis players of all time is relinquishing his racket. Spain's Rafael Nadal, whose retirement was suggested following his loss to Novak Djokovic in the Paris Olympics men's singles, announced Thursday that he will retire from the game he loves following the Davis Cup Finals...

2 Tennis Titans Clash in Paris— Possibly for the Last Time

Novak Djokovic ends Rafael Nadal's comeback bid to send him home in the 2nd round

(Newser) - Novak Djokovic dominated rival Rafael Nadal at the start, then held off a comeback attempt to win 6-1, 6-4 at the Paris Olympics in the second round on Monday, the 60th—and likely last—head-to-head matchup between the two tennis greats, reports the AP . Djokovic claimed 10 of the initial...

Alcaraz, 21, Does Role Model One Better

French Open winner becomes youngest man win a major title on all three surfaces

(Newser) - After an intense, five-set, come-from-behind victory Sunday in the finals of the French Open, Carlos Alcaraz addressed his parents. The Spaniard used to rush home from school to watch Rafael Nadal play at the tournament on TV. "Now," Alcaraz told his parents after going into the stands to...

14-Time Winner of French Open Falls in Opener

'I really hope to see you again,' Rafael Nadal tells crowd, 'but I don't know'

(Newser) - The noise was loud and relentless, a chorus of thousands belting out "Ra-fa! Ra-fa!" The 15,000 or so on hand roared their support Monday when Rafael Nadal stepped out into Court Philippe Chatrier at the French Open, voices echoing under the closed roof of a place he...

At Wimbledon, a Very Rare Late Withdrawal

Rafael Nadal bows out before semifinal because of injury

(Newser) - Nick Kyrgios just advanced to his first Wimbledon finals, without picking up his racket. His would-be semifinal opponent, Rafael Nadal, announced Thursday that he was dropping out because of a torn abdominal muscle, reports ESPN . The AP notes that it's the first time since 1931 that a male player...

Nadal Takes French Open for 14th Time

36-year-old who first won tournament at 19 becomes its oldest champion

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal long has been considered a bad bet to be winning a Grand Slam title at age 36. A Bleacher Report piece predicted that, with his body apparently breaking down quickly, he'd won his last—in 2012. He once hurt his knee while sitting in a hotel room...

French Open Semis Don't Follow Script

Climate change demonstrator breaches court during men's match, and Nadal's opponent has to retire

(Newser) - A climate activist wearing a T-shirt with the message "We have 1028 days left" interrupted the French Open men's semifinal Friday between Marin Cilic and Casper Ruud by attaching herself to the net and kneeling on the court. Play was delayed for more than 10 minutes with Ruud...

Tennis Stars Disagree With Wimbledon on Barring Russians

Nadal, Djokovic say it's unfair to blame athletes for war in Ukraine

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic criticized Wimbledon's decision to exclude Russian and Belarus players from this year's tournament following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two tennis greats made the statements Sunday, the AP reports. "I think it's very unfair of (on) my Russian tennis mates,...

In 5 Hours and 24 Minutes, Nadal Does the Extraordinary

He broke the men's record for most Grand Slam singles titles with 21st win

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal got to 21 first, breaking the men's record for most Grand Slam singles titles and doing it the hard way by coming back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in an almost 5 1/2-hour Australian Open final that didn't finish until the early hours...

Djokovic Has Been Deported From Australia

Courts affirmed right to boot unvaccinated tennis star

(Newser) - Instead of starting the defense of his Australian Open title on Monday, Novak Djokovic was on his way home, a stunning and unprecedented end to his run of success at Melbourne Park. Djokovic has won nine of his 20 Grand Slam trophies at the Australian Open—including three in a...

Amid Aussie Mess, Djokovic Has a Message for Fans

Serbian tennis star is feeling the love as he tries to clear up visa/vaccine hubbub before Australian Open

(Newser) - Novak Djokovic still isn't revealing whether he's been vaccinated, but he's now speaking out to family and fans supporting him as he's caught up in a visa commotion Down Under. The Serbian tennis star, who was denied entry to Australia this week ahead of the Australian...

Djokovic Joins Federer, Nadal Atop Grand Slam List

34-year-old bounces back for 4-set Wimbledon victory

(Newser) - Novak Djokovic tied Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal by claiming his 20th Grand Slam title Sunday, coming back to beat Matteo Berrettini 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in the Wimbledon final. The No. 1-ranked Djokovic earned a third consecutive championship at the All England Club and sixth overall, the AP...

Nadal Ties Record With Stunning Win on French Clay

The Spaniard crushes Novak Djokovic in straight sets

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal tied Roger Federer with 20 Grand Slam titles by producing a nearly perfect performance against Novak Djokovic in the French Open final, the AP reports. Nadal equaled long-time rival Federer for the most major singles tennis championships won by a man and added to his own record at...

Defending Champ Will Skip US Open
Defending Champ
Will Skip US Open
Aug 4, 2020 4:42 PM CDT

Defending Champ Will Skip US Open

'The situation is very complicated worldwide,' Rafael Nadal says

(Newser) - Defending champion Rafael Nadal will skip the US Open because of the coronavirus pandemic, putting on hold his bid to equal Roger Federer’s men’s record for Grand Slam titles. Nadal explained his decision in a series of tweets sent in Spanish and English on Tuesday. "The situation...

Rafael Nadal Wins 'Unforgettable' Final

Win over Daniil Medvedev didn't come easy

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal's 19th Grand Slam trophy went from inevitable to suddenly in doubt in a thrill-a-minute US Open final. What had all the makings of a casual crowning morphed into a grueling contest thanks to Nadal's opponent, Daniil Medvedev, a man a decade younger and appearing in his...

For the 12th Time, Nadal Lifts the French Open Trophy

Champion dropped a set but recovered

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal pulled away in what had suddenly become a tight final to beat Dominic Thiem 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, on Sunday for his record-extending 12th French Open championship. It raises Nadal's Grand Slam title count to 18; Roger Federer has 20. Thiem made it seem as if this...

Djokovic Embarrasses a Legend at Aussie Open

Rafael Nadal loses final to relentless Djokovic, who marches to his 7th tournament title

(Newser) - Novak Djokovic was so good, so relentless, so pretty much perfect, that Rafael Nadal never stood a chance. Djokovic reduced one of the greats of the game to merely another outclassed opponent—just a guy, really—and one so out of sorts that Nadal even whiffed on one of his...

'Scared' Nadal Beats Thiem at French Open

The Spaniard claims his 17th Grand Slam title

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal won his record-extending 11th championship at the French Open on Sunday, overcoming a late problem with a finger on his racket-swinging hand and displaying his foe-rattling best for a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory over No. 7 seed Dominic Thiem, the only person to beat the Spaniard on clay...

Nadal Beats Anderson for 3rd US Open
Nadal Dominates
US Open Final
Sep 11, 2017 12:04 AM CDT

Nadal Dominates US Open Final

He beats Anderson for 16th Grand Slam final

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal against Kevin Anderson in the US Open final shaped up as quite a mismatch—and that's exactly what it was. His game at a high level at the end of an unusually easy path through a Grand Slam field, Nadal overwhelmed first-time major finalist Anderson 6-3, 6-3,...

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