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Tag: Rafa Nadal

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Tennis: Rafael Nadal’s comeback could add a layer of intrigue to a sport slowly moving into the future

Perhaps the most startling of Rafael Nadal’s achievements – even more so than the ridiculous haul of 14 French Open titles – was the 912 consecutive weeks he spent in the top 10 of the world rankings. Second-best on that list in men’s tennis is Jimmy Connors, with 788.Nadal played his first competitive match in nearly a year at the Brisbane International on Sunday, losing his first-round doubles tie in straight sets. The singles tournament will start in the coming week, where his first opponent is 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem. His participation in Brisbane is a tune up for the Australian Open, in what could be his final trip down under as a competitor. The Spaniard has been in this position so many times before that crippling injury woes are as much his trademark as his lasso-lik...
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Tennis: Will Rafael Nadal make his comeback at Australian Open? Grand Slam chief still confident

Australian Open chief executive Craig Tiley on Thursday reiterated his full confidence in the return of Rafael Nadal at next year’s opening Major as the Spaniard continues his rehabilitation from the several different injuries that have plagued him over the past few years. The 22-time Grand Slam champion had revealed earlier this year that he plans for 2024 to be his final year on the competitive tennis tour.Nadal, who has not played a professional tennis match since bowing out of the second round at Melbourne due to a hip flexor injury, is yet to confirm where and when his comeback will take place. But Tiley maintains that he is confident the 37-year-old will not miss out on the opportunity to repeat his heroics from 2022, when he returned from a similar injury-induced break to win the...
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French Open: Carlos Alcaraz blasts past qualifier Flavio Cobolli in first round | Tennis News – Times of India

World number one Carlos Alcaraz started his campaign for a second Grand Slam title with an emphatic victory over Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli in the first round of the French Open. The Spaniard showcased his formidable skills and dispatched Cobolli 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 in a commanding fashion.At just 20 years old, Alcaraz has already established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the tennis circuit. He is considered one of the frontrunners to inherit the legacy of his compatriot, the 14-time Roland Garros champion Rafa Nadal, who is absent from this year's tournament due to a hip injury.Alcaraz, who had to skip the Australian Open earlier this year due to a leg injury, made a strong statement in his return to Grand Slam action since his victory at the US Open last year. He demonstra...
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Andy Murray pulls out of French Open | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former world number one Andy Murray has decided to withdraw from the upcoming clay-court Grand Slam French Open.The 36-year-old tennis star, who reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2017, has only made one appearance at the tournament since then.Last month, Murray expressed his desire to have another opportunity to play at the Grand Slam while he is in good physical condition.Despite winning the Aix-en-Provence Challenger Tour title earlier this month, the three-time Grand Slam champion experienced early exits in recent tournaments including Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome and Bordeaux.Murray's decision to withdraw from the French Open marks a setback in his ongoing journey to regain top form.The Scot has opted to skip tournaments during the clay-court season in the past to ...
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FACTBOX: Nadal’s injuries affecting his participation at Grand Slams | Tennis News – Times of India

The following is a list of major injuries Rafa Nadal has suffered during his 21-year career that have caused him to miss or withdraw from Grand Slams:2003: Elbow injuryNadal injures his elbow in a fall while training and is forced to postpone his French Open debut.2004: Stress fracture in ankleNadal's French Open debut is delayed yet again after a left ankle fracture forces him to skip most of the claycourt swing as well as Wimbledon.2006: Foot injuryNadal is forced to skip the Australian Open having not played since winning the Madrid Masters in October 2005. He returns to action in February.2009: Tendonitis in the kneesNadal suffers his first loss at the French Open to eventual runner-up Robin Soderling and then reveals he was playing with knee pain for several months due to tendoniti...
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Novak Djokovic prepared to miss Grand Slams rather than have Covid vaccine

Novak Djokovic is prepared to miss the French Open and Wimbledon rather than have a COVID-19 vaccination but is not an anti-vaxxer, the world number one said in his first interview since his failed attempt to play at the Australian Open. After an 11-day rollercoaster involving two visa cancellations, two court challenges and five nights in two stints at an immigration detention hotel, the unvaccinated Djokovic was deported before the tournament began. The debacle deprived the 34-year-old the chance to win a record-extending 10th Australian Open and a men’s record 21st Grand Slam title. Instead career-rival Rafa Nadal won the title and moved to 21 and with Djokovic unwilling to have a vaccine limiting where he might be able to play, the Serb is jeopardising his dream of ending his career...
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Djokovic faces Carballes Baena, Swiatek meets Niemeier at Australian Open | Tennis News – Times of India

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic will begin his quest for a record-extending 10th Australian Open title against Roberto Carballes Baena while top-ranked Iga Swiatek meets Jule Niemeier, following the draw for the year's first Grand Slam on Thursday.Defending champion Rafa Nadal will look for his first win of 2023 when he takes on Jack Draper in his opener, as the Spanish top seed looks to put an injury-hit 2022 and a shaky start to the new season behind him.Nadal won last year's title in an epic final beating Russian Daniil Medvedev, who takes on Marcos Giron first. Second seed Casper Ruud -- twice a runner-up on the Grand Slam stage last year -- plays Tomas Machac.Swiatek, who has largely dominated the women's game after the retirement last year of Australian Ash Barty following her triumph a...