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☆ Rafael Nadal withdraws from French Open due to injury, says ‘next year is my last year’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Rafael Nadal will miss the French Open for the first time since he made his debut in 2005 after the 14-time champion announced on Thursday that he has withdrawn from the tournament due to injury, adding that “next year is my last year” in professional tennis. The Spaniard suffered a hip injury during his second-round Australian Open defeat to Mackenzie McDonald in January and initially said he hoped to be fit again within six to eight weeks. Rafael Nadal said next year will likely be his last playing tennis. In 2016, Nadal withdrew ahead of his third-round match against compatriot Marcel Granollers due to a wrist injury. Nadal has not played since the Australian Open and in March dropped out of the world’s top 10 for the first time since 2005.

☆ Rafael Nadal Withdraws From the French Open, Wants to Play One More Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Matthew Futterman | Christopher Clarey | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Rafael Nadal, the 14-time French Open men’s singles champion, will not compete in this year’s edition of the event that has defined his career because of an injury that has sidelined him for months. Nadal, who has competed in Paris every year since 2005 and has an astonishing record of 112-3 at Roland Garros, made the announcement in a news conference Thursday at his tennis academy on the Spanish island of Majorca. Nadal said he would further extend his break from the game to try to get healthy and then attempt to play next season, which he said “probably is going to be my last year in the professional tour.”“That’s my idea,” he said. “Even that, I can’t say that 100 percent it’s going to be like this because you never know what is going to happen, but my idea and motivation is to try to enjoy and to try to say goodbye to all the tournaments that have been important to me in my tennis career.”

☆ Nadal to miss French Open, 2024 likely to be last year of career
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible. The French Open runs from May 28 to June 11. French Open organisers said on Twitter: "We can't imagine how hard this decision was. Nadal's 14 French Open titles are the most by any player at a single major. "Roland Garros will always be Roland Garros with or without me ... there will be a new champion and I'm sure the tournament will be a big success."

☆ Fans speculate about Nadal's retirement before French Open announcement
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The 36-year-old Nadal has not competed since January after sustaining a hip injury at the Australian Open and is expected to confirm whether he will skip the French Open, a tournament he has won a record 14 times. On the YouTube page that will stream Nadal's news conference later on Thursday, fans posted tearful emojis and speculated about him announcing his retirement. Nadal's 14 French Open titles are the most by any player at a single major. He boasts a stunning 112-3 record in Paris and is widely regarded as the 'king of clay'. The French Open begins on May 28.

☆ Djokovic says new generation has arrived after Rome quarter-final exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ROME, May 18 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic said the long awaited "shift of generations" has finally come to men's tennis after the world number one lost to 20-year-old Dane Holger Rune in the Italian Open quarter-finals. Djokovic, who has now lost two in a row to Rune, said the next generation of players led by world number two Carlos Alcaraz is like a breath of fresh air for the sport. "A new generation is here already," Djokovic told reporters. When asked if Roland Garros would be the most open tournament in years, Djokovic smiled and said: "It depends if Nadal plays or not. "But next to him Alcaraz, Rune - these guys are right there in contention, some of the biggest favourites to win the title."

☆ Rune repeats Djokovic upset to storm into Rome semi-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

For the first time since 2004, neither Djokovic nor the injured Rafa Nadal will be in the Rome final. Rune outlasted Djokovic in three sets in last year's Paris Masters final and the 20-year-old made the perfect start in search of another upset by breaking the world number one in the opening game of the match. "Obviously, I did it last year in Paris, but every match is a huge challenge when I play Novak. "He's one of the greatest to ever play the game so I knew I had to be at my best. Rune said he hoped to stay humble after another statement win on the ATP Tour.

☆ Holger Rune beats Novak Djokovic in rainy Italian Open quarterfinal clash
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

1 was beaten by Holger Rune in the Italian Open quarterfinals. It will be the first time since 2004 that neither Djokovic or Rafael Nadal will be in the final of the Italian Open, according to the ATP. Holger Rune celebrates after defeating Novak Djokovic. Huge credit to Novak, I’m a big fan of his. Holger Rune has two consecutive wins over Novak Djokovic.

☆ Djokovic says 'Big Four' rivalries made him tougher
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Luckily for me, in my career, I managed to win more matches than I lost when I was facing difficult circumstances," Djokovic said. "I got stronger because of the rivalries, particularly with Federer, Nadal and Murray," he added. Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Murray were dubbed the 'Big Four' as they won a combined 67 Grand Slam titles in an unprecedented period of dominance and were involved in some of the most memorable matches over the last two decades. "Staying the course, staying patient and believing in the process and the journey," Djokovic said. "Understanding what works for you best, what's your winning formula mentally and also physically and emotionally, and then sticking to it."

☆ Nadal turns down claycourt event wildcard as French Open looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, May 14 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal has turned down a wildcard offer for next week's Challenger tournament in Bordeaux as the Spaniard's participation in the French Open hangs in the balance, the claycourt event director said on Sunday. Nadal has been struggling with a hip injury he suffered at the Australian Open in January, and fears the Spaniard may miss the Paris Grand Slam grew after he pulled out of this week's Italian Open. He very kindly told me that Nadal was continuing his preparation at home in Manacor, that he was not ready and was in a race against time to be ready for the French Open," Jean-Baptiste Perlant told French sports daily L'Equipe. Nadal skipped last week's Madrid Open and missed tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. The French Open, which Nadal has won a record 14 times including last year, starts on May 28.

☆ Messi and Fraser-Pryce win top Laureus awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Laureus World Sports Awards - Hotel d’Evreux, Paris, France - May 8, 2023 Footballer Lionel Messi poses after winning the 2023 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award REUTERS/Johanna GeronPARIS, May 8 (Reuters) - Argentina's World Cup winning captain Lionel Messi was named the Laureus Sportsman of the Year, while sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce bagged the top women's honour at the awards ceremony on Monday. Messi also received an award on behalf of the Argentina men's football team, who were named World Team of the Year after their triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Messi also became the first athlete to scoop both the World Sportsman of the Year Award and the World Team of the Year Award in the same year. Tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, who won the 2022 U.S. Open and rose to number one in the ATP rankings, was named the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year. The Laureus World Sports Awards nominees are selected by the global media, while the winners are determined by the 71 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.

☆ Nadal missing French Open would be 'brutal' for the sport - Federer
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 8 (Reuters) - Roger Federer said he hopes Rafa Nadal will recover in time for the French Open and that it would be a "brutal" blow for tennis if the 14-time Roland Garros champion is absent this year. Nadal has been dealing with a hip injury he suffered at the Australian Open in January, and fears that the Spaniard may miss the Paris Grand Slam grew after he pulled out of this week's Italian Open. Nadal skipped last week's Madrid Open and also missed tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. "It would be brutal, it would be tough for tennis if Rafa isn't going to be there," 20-times Grand Slam winner Federer told Sky Sports on Sunday at Formula One's Miami Grand Prix. Nadal has competed at the French Open every year since winning the first of his men's record 22 major titles in Paris in 2005.

☆ Alcaraz set to reclaim number one spot in Rome after Madrid triumph
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID, May 7 (Reuters) - Carlos Alcaraz is raring to get to Italy next week to compete in the Rome Masters for the first time in his career and reclaim the world number one spot from Novak Djokovic. To maintain the points won at an event a player must at least match the tally from the previous year. Alcaraz skipped the Rome Masters last year due to an ankle injury so has no points to defend while Djokovic won in Rome last year and thus cannot improve his overall points total. "I am an ambitious guy and I'm going full for the win in Rome," Alcaraz told a news conference on Sunday. I just have won my 10th title, my fourth Masters 1000, back-to-back titles here in Madrid and very close to reclaiming the number one world spot.

☆ Recovering Nadal skips Italian Open to cast doubts over Roland Garros
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 5 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal will miss next week's Italian Open as he has yet to regain full fitness from the hip injury he sustained at January's Australian Open, casting further doubt over his participation in the French Open. Nadal, a 14-times Roland Garros champion, skipped the ongoing Madrid Open and has also missed tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Nadal, who has dominated the claycourt season for years, has competed at Roland Garros every year since winning the first of his men's record 22 major titles in Paris in 2005. But a setback in his recovery ahead of the Madrid tournament and his subsequent withdrawal from Rome means that if he is fit in time, Nadal would be heading to Roland Garros without having played any competitive matches. In March, Nadal slipped out of the top 10 of the ATP ranking for the first time since 2005 and is currently ranked 14.

☆ Dream big, think big - Alcaraz wants to become one of the greats
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The 'Big Three' of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic have dominated men's tennis for nearly 20 years, collectively winning 64 Grand Slams. While only Djokovic and Nadal of the three are still active, Alcaraz said reaching their level will be a daunting task. "Well, my dream in tennis right now is to become one of the best players in history," Alcaraz told reporters after beating Karen Khachanov 6-4 7-5 in the Madrid Open quarter-finals on Wednesday. "In this world, you have to dream big and you have to think big, as well," Alcaraz said. "I want to be part of the best tennis players in history and I'll work for it."

☆ Alcaraz says Nadal still the man to beat at Roland Garros
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nadal skipped the ongoing Madrid Open after a setback in his recovery from a hip injury sustained at the Australian Open in January. Alcaraz has emerged as favourite for Roland Garros after victories on clay at Buenos Aires and Barcelona but the world number two said Nadal cannot be written off and hopes his fellow Spaniard will return next week in Rome. "Hopefully he will be in Rome and then at Roland Garros, where he will be a rival to beat," Alcaraz told reporters after beating Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-2 on Tuesday to reach the Madrid quarter-finals. Alcaraz, who turns 20 on Friday, said reports of Nadal's return were encouraging as he hoped to continue learning from the 36-year-old. "I say this as a player and as a tennis lover," Alcaraz said.

☆ Alcaraz downs Khachanov to reach Madrid semi-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - May 3, 2023 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz reacts during his quarter final match against Russia's Karen Khachanov REUTERS/Juan MedinaMADRID, May 3 (Reuters) - World number two Carlos Alcaraz stayed on course for his fourth title of 2023 by powering into the semi-finals of the Madrid Open with a 6-4 7-5 win over Russian Karen Khachanov on Thursday. Alcaraz managed to break the Russian's serve in the seventh game, closing the first set 6-4. Alcaraz has reached 18 consecutive wins in Spanish clay-court tournaments since losing to Rafael Nadal in Madrid two years ago on his 19th birthday. In the women's singles, Russian Veronika Kudermetova beat American Jessica Pegula 6-4 0-6 6-4 and reach the Madrid Open semis. Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Alcaraz embracing the expectations at Madrid Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Tennis - ATP 500 - Barcelona Open - Real Club de Tenis, Barcelona, Spain - April 23, 2023 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after winning the Barcelona Open in the final match against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas REUTERS/Nacho DoceApril 26 (Reuters) - Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz rode home support to the Barcelona title on Sunday and knows fans will accept nothing less than victory at this week's Madrid Open but the world number two says he is happy to shoulder the expectations of his compatriots. Alcaraz will aim to become only the second player after Rafa Nadal to successfully defend the title in Madrid, but failure to do so will not bring him down. "Every tournament we go to, we think we can win it and we're going to try and win it. But if we don't, it's not a failure for me," Alcaraz said. Alcaraz, who has a 23-2 record this year, will face Emil Ruusuvuori or Ugo Humbert in his opening match.

☆ Djokovic to miss Madrid Open say organisers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 22 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic has pulled out of next week's Madrid Open, organisers said on Saturday, with the world number one joining Rafa Nadal on the sidelines. Djokovic said, however, that he was still hopeful of finding his groove on clay before next month's French Open. Nadal announced earlier this week that he would miss the Madrid tournament after a setback in his recovery from a hip injury sustained at the Australian Open in January. The two players share the record for most Grand Slam titles, with 22 each. The French Open, the second Grand Slam of the season, begins on May 28.

☆ Djokovic hoping to hit top gear on clay after Banja Luka exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The loss is Djokovic's second early exit from a tournament in as many weeks, following his third-round defeat to Lorenzo Musetti at the Monte Carlo Masters last week. On the other hand, I played much worse than I wanted to," Djokovic told reporters after the defeat in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The French Open, the second Grand Slam of the season, begins on May 28. I want to play my best tennis there," said Djokovic, who has also been struggling with an elbow injury. "The conditions are totally different there in comparison with Monte Carlo and Banja Luka.

☆ Rafael Nadal’s French Open participation in doubt as he struggles to recover from injury
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Rafael Nadal admits he doesn’t know if he will recover from injury in time to defend his title at the French Open. “All medical suggestions have been followed, but the progress has not been what they initially told us. The weeks are passing and I had the dream of being able to play in tournaments that are the most important in my career such as Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros. This is how things are now.”The greatest clay court player of all time, Nadal has enjoyed unparalleled success at Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid, holding the record for most titles won at all three events. The French Open, where Nadal has won the title an unprecedented 14 times, begins on May 28.

☆ Nadal to miss Madrid Open after recovery setback
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, April 20 (Reuters) - 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, the 22-times major champion said on Thursday. Nadal skipped tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo as well as the current Barcelona Open after suffering the injury that effectively ended his Melbourne Park title defence as he 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," Nadal said in a video published on his social media accounts. "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. "The injury still hasn't healed and I can't work out what I need to compete," Nadal said.

☆ Rafael Nadal May Miss the French Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Hopes for Rafael Nadal to compete for a 15th French Open singles title this spring took a major hit on Thursday. Nadal, 36, of Spain, announced that the injury to the psoas muscle in his lower abdomen and upper right leg that he sustained at the Australian Open in January had not healed as he and his doctors and trainers had expected. In his statement that he would miss his third clay-court tournament — the Madrid Open, which begins next week — Nadal said he did not have a timetable for when he might be able to play competitive tennis again. “The injury still hasn’t healed, and I can’t work out what I need to do to compete,” Nadal said in video released Thursday on social media. There is a statue of him outside the main stadium.

☆ Rublev gets long-awaited reward with Monte Carlo title
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 16, 2023 Russia's Andrey Rublev celebrates with the trophy after winning the final against Denmark's Holger Rune REUTERS/Eric GaillardApril 16 (Reuters) - Andrey Rublev made the most of Holger Rune's nerves to win a see-saw Monte Carlo final 5-7 6-2 7-5 on Sunday, as the Russian's talent was finally rewarded with a Masters title. Rublev, 25, was 4-1 down in the decider but ground his way back into the contest to prevail on his second match point with an ace at a sun-drenched Monte Carlo Country Club. It was Rublev's third attempt in a Masters final after failing at the final hurdle here in Monte Carlo and in Cincinnati in 2021. "I don't know what to say, I'm just happy, I struggled so much to get this title," said Rublev. The Russian then broke to love and levelled the contest on serve as Rune seemed to lose his composure.

☆ Nadal pulls out of Barcelona Open as he builds fitness
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Tennis - ATP 500 - Barcelona Open - Real Club de Tennis Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain - April 25, 2021 Spain's Rafael Nadal in action during the final against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas REUTERS/Albert Gea/File PhotoApril 14 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal will miss next week's Barcelona Open and continue building his match fitness following a hip injury sustained at the Australian Open in January, the 22-times Grand Slam champion said on Friday. "Barcelona is a special tournament for me, because it's my adopted club and playing at home is always a unique sensation," the 36-year-old Nadal said on Instagram. "I'm still not ready and therefore I continue my preparation process for the return to competition." The Spaniard, a 14-times French Open champion, hopes to be fully fit for the clay court Grand Slam starting in May. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Tired Rahm working on Spanish-inspired Masters Champions dinner
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A tradition of Masters week is the previous year's winner choosing what is served when former champions gather on the Tuesday of tournament week in the clubhouse at Augusta National Golf Club. Rahm wants to talk with twice Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, who is from the same part of Spain as him, to learn what he served at his Champions Dinners. While Rahm received plenty of congratulatory messages after his Masters win, a stand-out one came from 22-times Grand Slam tennis champion and compatriot Rafa Nadal. The 28-year-old Rahm said this year's Masters, where play was suspended early on two days because of weather, was demanding physically and mentally. If I was one of the kids, I would want to see the recent Masters champion play good or bad, just want to be there," said Rahm.

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