Rafael Nadal

Nadal and Alcaraz Come Out Ahead By Skipping Monte Carlo

April 15, 2023 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

BY JAMES BECK

Rafa Nadal was the smart one. Of course, along with Carlos Alcaraz.

They skipped Monte Carlo.

Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas didn’t. And they took their medicine.

Elimination before the quarterfinals ended.

Jannik Sinner probably is singing the Italian fight song. The tall, thin Italian looks more dangerous every time he step on a tennis court. He just needs to win one of the big ones to possibly take off and fly away with a Grand Slam title.

IS ALCARAZ THE BEST?

Looking at the situation, I would say at this point of the season, Alcaraz probably is the best player in the world, followed by Medvedev and Sinner.

What? No Djokovic or Nadal up top.

If you listen to one of the broadcasters/announcers in Monte Carlo, Djokovic is in a tennis world above everyone else. After Djokovic’s loss in Monte Carlo, the announcer called Djokovic the “greatest tennis player in history.”

Don’t tell Rod Laver, Roger Federer or Nadal.

Yes, they all are or were great.

WATCH OUT FOR THE TOP 5

Djokovic and Nadal are my Nos. 4s. And Tsitsipas is No. 6.

I expect the top five of those to dominate Europe’s two Grand Slams.

I’m probably not alone.

Of course, there’s Taylor Fritz of the U.S., Andrey Rublev, Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrettini, Holger Rune and new threat (Djokovic beater) Lorenzo Musetti waiting around to make their move into the elite group.

That’s a dozen players to watch.

PROPERTY CHANGING HANDS?

The European red clay and grass seasons may no longer be the property of Nadal and Djokovic.

These are new seasons filled with players that still have to make a true mark on the pro tour.

Casper Ruud, along with veteran Grand Slam tournament winners Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Dominic Thiem, and veterans Grigor Dimitrov, Diego Schwartzman, Karen Khachonov, Hubert Hurkacz and even Richard Gasquet are worth an upset or two, but probably not dangerous enough to reach into the last 16.

Of course, it all probably comes back to those top six or better yet top five, four of whom have won Grand Slam titles within the last two years.

Oh, Oh! Don’t forget Nick Kyrgios.

The most talented guy on the planet can’t be overlooked. That is, if Nick’s injured knee gets the green light in Europe.

—

James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award as the tennis columnist for the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier newspapers. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

The Glimmer of Hope: How Rafael Nadal Can Bounce Back from His Setbacks

March 27, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

Rafael Nadal, the Spanish tennis superstar, has suffered a series of setbacks in recent years. From injuries to early exits in tournaments, his road to success has been bumpy. However, amidst all the gloom, there is a glimmer of hope. Nadal, with his talent and drive, can bounce back from these setbacks and reclaim his position at the top of the tennis world. In this blog post, we will delve into the reasons behind Nadal’s recent struggles and how he can overcome them. We will look at his physical and mental health, his playing style, and his competition. So, let’s get started and explore the ways in which Nadal can reignite his career and shine once again.

Examining the Troubles Surrounding Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal, one of the all-time greats in tennis, has been plagued by injuries over the past few years. These injuries, including hip and knee issues, have significantly limited his ability to compete consistently and perform at his peak form. As a result, Nadal has been forced to withdraw from several tournaments on the ATP Tour, leaving many to question whether it is time for him to retire. The 35-year-old has been battling injuries for most of his career, but it seems that they are catching up to him in recent years. While he has shown flashes of his former self on the court, it is clear that he is no longer the dominating force he once was. With every injury setback, retirement seems to become a more viable option for Nadal. It is time for him to seriously consider whether it is worth continuing on the ATP Tour if he cannot stay healthy and compete at the highest level.

Meanwhile, the question on whether Rafael Nadal should retire or not remains a topic of heated debate among his fans and critics. While his injuries have forced him to withdraw from major tournaments, it is evident that the 19-time Grand Slam winner is still determined to make a comeback and prove his critics wrong. However, it is crucial that he takes his health and fitness seriously to avoid further injuries that could potentially end his career prematurely. Nadal has undoubtedly left an indelible mark in the world of tennis, but he must be mindful of his physical limitations if he wants to continue competing at the highest level. Whether he decides to retire or not, one thing is for sure; Nadal’s legacy will continue to inspire generations of tennis players for years to come. The paragraph highlights the gravity of Nadal’s injuries and emphasizes that it is essential for him to prioritize his health to prevent any future injuries.

Finding a Path to Comeback: The Glimmer of Hope

Rafael Nadal has been plagued with injuries over the past couple of years, raising concerns about his retirement. Despite his admirable career and remarkable achievements in tennis, the star has been unable to maintain his physical form on the court. However, there is still a faint glimmer of hope for him to make a comeback. As much as his fans would love to see him play at his best again, it is crucial to consider the risks associated with his injuries. Is it really worth it for him to push himself to the brink of complete physical breakdown? Maybe it is time for Nadal to seriously think about his future and focus on what matters most to him beyond tennis.

Thereafter, it would be premature to suggest that Rafael Nadal should retire from the sport that he has excelled in for so many years. While his recurring injuries may have hindered his game, his age and commendable track record serve as a testament to his perseverance and ability to overcome setbacks. Nadal’s fighting spirit and unwavering determination to succeed remain intact, making him a force to reckon with on the court. It is essential to remember that injuries are a natural part of the game, and even the best athletes experience them. Therefore, it would be unfair and unwise to overlook Nadal’s undeniable skills and prematurely urge him to retire. Instead, we must support him and root for him as he navigates through the challenges posed by injuries and continues to pursue his love for the game.

Conclusion

Despite the difficulties that Rafael Nadal has faced in recent years, there is reason to believe that he can bounce back from his setbacks and once again dominate the tennis world. While injuries and tough competition have certainly taken a toll on him, Nadal’s unwavering dedication and work ethic suggest that he is not one to give up easily. By taking steps to prioritize his physical and mental health, adapting his playing style to match his current strengths, and remaining focused on his goals, Nadal can overcome the challenges that lay ahead of him. It won’t be an easy road, but with his talent and drive, there is no doubt that Nadal can once again rise to the top.

The Top Three Tennis Players In The Universe

December 26, 2022 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

How about we start with the men. It’s somewhat difficult to decrease this rundown to the main 3 tennis players ever, so a few inconceivable players have tragically missed the cut.

Rafael Nadal

Essentially, you can’t stop this man!

We go this way and ask ourselves who is the best tennis player ever, however you can’t look past Rafael Nadal.

To play him on earth is quite possibly the hardest test any game has at any point introduced, and we’re essentially special to have watched him for such a long time.

Each time you discount him, he returns considerably more grounded, and he completely has the right to have brought home the most Huge homerun championships of any male player.

One of various left-handers on the rundown, Nadal is in the film industry.

While he may be most popular for earth, he has been superbly versatile, and like Federer and Djokovic has won the vocation Huge homerun winning every one of the four majors at some point.

Nadal’s mind blowing shot-production is something we will all miss when he in the long run resigns, and it acquires him the main spot on our rundown of the best tennis players ever.

Roger Federer

In the past Roger Federer was miles in front of the opposition.

We felt quite wary that we were watching the best tennis player ever.

At the mostbet aviator we love Roger Federer, and he’s clutched the main spot in this rundown for quite a while. In any case, in 2022, we at last arrived where we needed to acknowledge that his accomplishments had been outperformed.

Try not to misunderstand us!

This person is and was totally extraordinary.

You wouldn’t really expect to watch a more lovely tennis player. The things he could do on the tennis court were practically unique, and he had the outcomes to back them up.

Seemingly, we would agree that that the Fed discarded some Huge homerun titles that were effectively inside his scope. He could well have been well ahead in this rundown assuming he was somewhat more merciless, however that is the manner in which it goes.

All in all, for what reason does he land at number 2 in our rundown of the best tennis players ever, as opposed to number 3 behind Djokovic?

Novak Djokovic

With regards to the discussion over who is the best tennis player ever, Novak Djokovic isn’t generally a prevalent sentiment.

Maybe this is on the grounds that Roger and Rafa appear to be so all around adored that Djokovic can some of the time be viewed as the other person.

Notwithstanding, Djokovic’s details are absolutely mind blowing. As I would like to think, in the event that you put a prime Djokovic facing prime any other person on this rundown he succeeds no less than 6 out of multiple times.

Whether you imagine that makes him the best tennis player ever is for you to choose, yet differing about his strike being truly outstanding ever is hard.

At the point when you toss everything in however, we’ve gone with Nadal, regardless of whether Djokovic could wind up with the most Huge home runs.

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal

Key Players To Watch For At The 2022 U.S. Open

August 24, 2022 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

The year’s fourth and final grand slam gets underway on Monday 29th August with much to compete for at the US Open.

Defending men’s champion and world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev returns to grand slam action after being banned from competing at Wimbledon, however the unvaccinated Novak Djokovic and world number 2 Alexander Zverev are unlikely to be present. Despite this the markets have Djokovic as one of the favourites despite him not being expected to play. You can find the best in spread betting odds for Flushing Meadows here.

Daniil Medvedev

The world’s top-ranked player won his first grand slam at last year’s Open, defeating Djokovic in straight sets. Medvedev was absent from Wimbledon due to his Russian nationality however he has retained his number 1 rating as no ranking points were awarded for the Championship. Looking to be the first men’s player to retain the US Open title since 2008, he will become de facto favourite for the event once Djokovic is confirmed absent.

Carlos Alvarez

The US Open in 2021 was the first in ALvarez’s career, yet he still managed to make the quarter-final in an impressive debut performance. WInning on the hard-court surface at the Miami Open this year bodes well for the 19-year old Spaniard, who has both the health and fitness to confirm his status as Tennis’ next global superstar.

Rafael Nadal

The injury that forced Nadal to pull out of his Wimbledon semi-final against Nick Kyrgios looks to have been cleared and it will be his first time at the tournament for two years having been absent in 2021 and 2020 through injury. Needless to say, Nadal’s chance of victory rests on his health through multiple matches at Flushing Meadows.

Taylor Fritz

The 24-year old American is close to having his breakout win. Fritz pushed Djokovic to five sets in the 2021 Australian Open third round, Tsitsipas to five sets in the 2022 Australian Open fourth round and Nadal to five sets in the quarter-finals of WImbledon 2022. Inching closer, he has the serve, power on both backhand and forehand and is gaining confidence with the more high-rankin matchups. He could be a surprise package in a fascinating US Open.

Iga Swiatek

Although the women’s side of the tournament appears more open (at least in betting circles), Swiatek is the favorite to achieve victory at the US Open. The world number 1 who went on a 37-match winning streak that ended on her weakest surface at Wimbledon, is in tremendous form. With two French Open titles under her belt already she looks primed to make the US Open her third grand slam title.

Emma Radacunu

The defending US Open champion won last year as an 18-year old, but has found it a struggle with injuries and at major tournaments this year. No doubt she will be glad to be back on hard surfaces once again as she looks to finish her season off with a bang. She finally started to show some impressive form dispatching Victoria Azarenka and Serena WIlliams at the Cincinnati Masters in preparation for Flushing Meadows.

Jessica Pegula

The top ranked American’s performances have gone somewhat under the radar this year and she is currently third in the race for the WTA Finals, behind only Swiatek and Ons Jabeur. Pegula has only reached the third round of the US Open, although she has made the quarter-finals of two majors this year. The 28-year old has had one of the best seasons of her career showing steady improvement in her game and achieving personal records. Her quest for a maiden Grand Slam is very much on the cards.

Naomi Osaka

This season has been a struggle for Osaka. The 24-year old four-time Grand Slam champion has won twice before in New York and were she flying on all cylinders would be one of the shorter price favourites. Life in the limelight has taken its toll on the former world number 1, who has opened up about issues with mental health that caused her to take a break from sport last year. Injuries have plagued her in 2022, having to retire with back issues from her US Open tune-up in Toronto recently.

Serena Williams

Serena’s imminent retirement from the sport she has graced with her talent will ensure that this will be a US Open to remember. Williams evolved the game with her power, precision and mindset, leaving rivals no choice but to catch-up if they ever wanted to compete for grand slam titles. She has won at New York six times and since the last of her 23 grand slam triumphs in 2017, there have been 13 different champions across the four majors. Playing at home in her final tournament one should not count Serena completely out of the running, it would be a massive finale were the 41-year old to turn back the clocks for one final occasion.

Nick Kyrgios Walkover Wimbledon Win Over Rafa Nadal Not The Most Famous Ever

July 8, 2022 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from his Wimbledon semifinal with Nick Kyrgios with a stomach tear shocked the tennis world. However, it is not the most famous “Wimbledon Walkover” in the history of The Championships.

In one of the most unusual episodes ever in tennis history came in the 1931 Wimbledon final when American Sidney Wood won the men’s singles title by forfeit. Wood, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 97, tells the story in his book “The Wimbledon Final That Never Was…And Other Tennis Tales From A By-Gone Era” (for sale and download here https://www.amazon.com/dp/0942257847/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_MJT771VHG5P7VNGMVCW1) of how he won the Wimbledon title over Frank Shields, his school buddy, doubles partner, roommate and Davis Cup teammate (and model and actress Brooke Shield’s grandfather) when Shields was ordered by the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) to withdraw from the final to rest his injured knee in preparation for a U.S. Davis Cup match following Wimbledon. He then discusses his “private understanding playoff” that saw his match with Shields at the Queen’s Club tournament final in London three years later be played for the Wimbledon trophy.

Writes Bud Collins in “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” book of Wood, “he became the second-youngest champion of Centre Court, and without stepping onto the hallowed sod. Frank Shields, with an injured ankle, withdrew, the only time Wimbledon has had a defaulted final.”

“Frank wanted to play, and so did I,” Wood said to Collins years later . “It was insulting to the fans and the tournament. I didn’t want to win that way. But the U.S. Davis Cup committee ordered Frank to withdraw so he’d be ready for Davis Cup the next weekend against Britain, which we lost. It shows you the control the USTA had over us amateurs.”

Wood got to the final with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, decision over Britain’s Fred Perry, the future champion, and, at 19, became the youngest Wimbledon champ until 17-year-old Boris Becker in 1985.

Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com) is also the publisher of “Juan Martin del Potro: The Gentle Giant” by Sebastian Torok, “Althea Gibson: I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” by Althea Gibson, “The Pros: The Forgotten Era of Tennis” by Peter Underwood, “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All-Time” and “Pete Sampras: Greatness Revisited” by Steve Flink, “The Education of a Tennis Player” by Rod Laver with Bud Collins, “The Secrets of Spanish Tennis” by Chris Lewit, “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” by Bud Collins, “Titanic: The Tennis Story” by Lindsay Gibbs, “Macci Magic: Extracting Greatness From Yourself And Others” by Rick Macci with Jim Martz, “Andy Murray, Wimbledon Champion: The Full Extraordinary Story” by Mark Hodgkinson, “Cattle To Courts: A History of Tennis In Texas” by Ken McAllister, “Sport of a Lifetime: Enduring Personal Stories From Tennis” by Judy Aydelott, “Trojan Tennis: A History of the Storied Men’s Tennis Program at the University of Southern California” by S. Mark Young, “Absolute Tennis: The Best And Next Way To Play The Game” by Marty Smith, “How To Permanently Erase Negative Self Talk So You Can Be Extraordinary” by Emily Filloramo, “Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match” by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, “Your Playbook For Beating Depression: Essential Strategies For Managing and Living with Depression” by Cliff Richey and Mary Garrison, “The Greatest Jewish Tennis Players of All-Time” by Sandra Harwitt, “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” by Rene Stauffer, “The Days of Roger Federer” and “On This Day In Tennis History” by Randy Walker, “Jan Kodes: A Journey To Glory From Behind The Iron Curtain” by Jan Kodes with Peter Kolar, “Tennis Made Easy” by Kelly Gunterman, “A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis” by Tony Serksnis, “Court Confidential: Inside The World Of Tennis” by Neil Harman, “A Backhanded Gift” by Marshall Jon Fisher, “Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” by Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli (www.Boycott1980.com), “Internet Dating 101: It’s Complicated, But It Doesn’t Have To Be” by Laura Schreffler, “How To Sell Your Screenplay” by Carl Sautter, “Bone Appetit: Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog” by Suzan Anson, “The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle” by Stewart Wolpin among others.

“The Wimbledon Final That Never Was…” book

Rafael Nadal Is Now The Oldest Roland Garros Champ In Addition To Being Most Dominant

June 5, 2022 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

Seventeen years to the day when he won his first Roland Garros title and his first major title, Rafael Nadal won his 14^th Roland Garros title and his 22^nd major title.

He defeated Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in a tension-less final that increased Nadal’s career record at Roland Garros to an incredible 112-3.

With a win, Nadal, two days past his 36^th birthday, passes fellow Spaniard Andres Gimeno as the oldest Roland Garros men’s singles champion in history. Gimeno, at age 35 years and 10 months, set the record exactly 50 years and one day earlier in 1973 when he defeated Patrick Proisy of France in the 1972 final.

It was also on June 5, back in 2005, when Nadal won Roland Garros for the first time for his first major title, as documented in the “On This Day In Tennis History” book and excerpted here:

2005 – Nineteen-year-old Rafael Nadal of Spain fends off a charge from unseeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina to win his first major singles title at the French Open. Nadal wins the title and his 24th consecutive match with a 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1 7-5 decision over the No. 37-ranked Puerta to become the fourth youngest men’s singles champion at Roland Garros. Nadal joins 1982 champion Mats Wilander as the only player to win Roland Garros in his debut.

Nadal is now a perfect 14-0 with the Coupe des Mousquetaires on the line and has never lost two sets in a Roland Garros final, much less three. His 14 Roland Garros titles are the most won by any man at a single Grand Slam event in history, followed by Novak Djokovic’s nine at the Australian Open and Roger Federer’s eight at Wimbledon.

For the first time in his career, Nadal has swept the Australian Open and Roland Garros in the same year and equaled his lowest ranking as a Grand Slam champion. He was also No. 5 at 2005 Roland Garros and the 2022 Australian Open.

International Tennis Hall of Fame Announces Winners of Iconic Moments in Tennis History

May 4, 2022 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

Following a two-week vote with tens of thousands fans from around the globe weighing in, the International Tennis Hall of Fame has announced the five winning nominees from the Iconic Moments in Tennis History fan voting campaign. The winners in each of the five categories voted upon will be featured in a new exhibition in the ITHF Museum for fans to experience later this month, and online at tennisfame.com/iconic-moments.

The first annual Iconic Moments campaign gave fans the opportunity to revisit, debate and weigh in on some of the sport’s most impactful moments, with individuals from more than 100 nations participating. Fans were able to submit their ballots for their choices among eight nominees in each category.

The Iconic Moments in Tennis History winners are:

Most Epic Rivalry category winner: Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic

For nearly 20 years, tennis fans have been captivated by the rivalry between the three most successful players in the history of the ATP Tour by Grand Slam title count. In a category that featured some of tennis’ most impactful matchups, the “Big Three” stood apart for fans who participated in the voting campaign. Each of the three has competed against the other two at least 40 times, with the trio combining to win 61 of the past 76 Grand Slams. Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic stood tied at 20 Grand Slam titles apiece until January, when Nadal claimed his 21st major trophy at the 2022 Australian Open.

Best Cinderella Story category winner: Emma Raducanu, 2021 US Open

Despite Emma Raducanu reaching the last 16 at Wimbledon just weeks prior, no tennis fan could have predicted her stunning triumph at the 2021 US Open. Sitting at No. 150 in the world at the beginning of qualifying, she rattled off nine straight victories in Flushing Meadows without dropping a set, advancing to the final. Raducanu’s championship matchup with Leylah Fernandez marked the first all-teen women’s final at the US Open since 1999. With her 6-3, 6-4 victory, Raducanu became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era, and the first British woman to win a major since 1977.

Best Comeback Within a Match category winner: Rafael Nadal d. Daniil Medvedev, 2022 Australian Open Final

At age 35 and competing at his first Grand Slam in nearly eight months, Rafael Nadal engineered the greatest match comeback of his storied career on the grandest of stages. Having advanced to the final in Melbourne as the No. 6 seed, Nadal found himself down two sets to none to No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev before turning the match on its heels and prevailing 2-6, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. The victory marked Nadal’s 21st career Grand Slam title, breaking the three-way tie at 20 he had previously held with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and his second Australian Open title.

Most Iconic Celebration category winner: Guga Kuerten draws a heart in clay at 2001 Roland-Garros

Known for wearing his heart on his sleeve while on court, Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten left a lasting impression on the clay of Roland-Garros during his run to the title in 2001. Already a two-time champion and the favorite heading into the tournament that year, Kuerten found himself in a bind against qualifier Michael Russell in the fourth round. After surviving match point and prevailing 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-1, Kuerten expressed his love and gratefulness for the fans by drawing a heart in the clay with his racquet.

Best Moment of National Pride category winner: Andy Murray, 2013 Wimbledon

In capturing the 2013 Wimbledon title, Andy Murray ended one of tennis’ longest droughts, becoming the first British man to win his home major since Fred Perry in 1936. He achieved one of the nation’s sport pinnacles in front of a U.K. television audience of 17.3 million and 15,000 elated fans at Centre Court, defeating top seed Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Murray’s victory and final score of 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 would forever be “etched into the national psyche,” according to The Guardian.

Panelists decide the Iconic Moments in History

The nominees in the Iconic Moments in Tennis History campaign were decided upon by a panelists of tennis experts, journalists and historians, and encompassed over seven decades of tennis history. As part of the initiative, thousands of fans around the United States entered to win the 2022 Enshrinement Weekend sweepstakes. Two fans have been selected as winners, and will travel to Newport, R.I. this July 15-17 and receive exclusive access to Lleyton Hewitt’s induction celebrations and the Infosys Hall of Fame Open.

Carlos Alcaraz wins first Masters in Miami, confirms wonderkid status

April 4, 2022 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

Carlos Alcaraz wins his first Masters title in Miami and hereby confirms that he is the new wonderkid in tennis. Alcaraz beat Casper Ruud in straight sets 7-5 6-4.

By winning the Miami tournament Alcaraz is the 2nd youngest player to ever win a Masters title. Only Michael Chang, (Toronto, 1990) and Rafael Nadal (Monte Carlo, 2005) were younger when they won a tournament in this highly prestigious category in professional tennis. The Masters tournament are directly placed under Grand Slam tournaments.

Alcaraz, who is of this week is the number 11 on the ATP Tour rankings, also reached the semi finals of the Indian Wells tournament, another prestigious Masters’ tournament and also considered to be the fifth Grand Slam, gave all he got and then some in Miami to win the third title of his career.

Alcaraz, who was born in Murcia, Spain was pleasantly surprised by coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who went back to Spain due to the passing of his father.

Alcaraz has a rusty start

Alcaraz did not want to disappoint his Ferrero with whom he has been collaborating in 2019, and may have felt some pressure because he was off to a rusty start with a lot of unforced errors.

Casper Ruud, who also played his first Masters finale like Alcaraz, happily took advantage of the bad start of the Spanish youngster. The Norwegian, number seven in the world, took a 4-1 lead but Alcaraz rejuvenated his game and took the first set with 7-5.

Alcaraz put more variety in his game and dominated Ruud. The Spaniard took a quick 3-0 lead in the second set and won the set and match swiftly by hitting matchpoint on a lovegame.

Alcaraz became the youngest Miami tournament ever and broke the “Spanish curse”. Sergi Bruguera, Carlos Moya, David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal (5x) also reached the finals of the prestigious Miami tournament but there never was a Spanish winner.

A tribute to Juan Carlos Ferrero

“Eduardo always with us,” he wrote on the lens with a heart before acknowledging his coach’s gesture of attending the final in his speech. “Juan Carlos came yesterday, it’s a tough moment for him and I want to say thank you to him for coming to stay with me in this important moment for me, for my career,” the newly-crowned Miami Open said. “It’s pretty amazing to share this with you.”

Rafael Nadal Now Has 91 ATP Singles Titles… And Counting!

February 28, 2022 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

Rafael Nadal defeated Cameron Norris 6-4, 6-4 to win the Mexican Open in Acapulco for his 91st career ATP singles victory and extend his career-best start for a season to 15-0.

Nadal, who won his third title in 2022 including the Australian Open for his record 21st major singles title, is three victories from tying Ivan Lendl’s total of 94 for third place for most championships in the Open Era. Jimmy Connors leads with 109 and Roger Federer has 103.

The Spaniard won for the fourth time in Acapulco (2005, 2013 and 2020) where he is a fan favorite. Norrie, who was on an eight-match winning streak including winning the Delray Beach Open, was trying to become the first British man to win the Mexican Open in its 29-year history. In two weeks, he will try to defend his title at the BNP Paribas Open, that he won when the event was staged last Autumn.

At the start of the match, Nadal had a break in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead and went on to win the first set in 51 minutes. The players exchanged breaks in the first two games of the second set. However, Nadal added breaks in the fifth and seventh games to take home the trophy.

In the doubles final, Spain’s Feliciano Lopez and Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated El Salvador’s Marcelo Arevalo and the Netherlands’ Jean-Julien Rojer 7-5, 6-4.

No Guarantees In Sport, But Nadal Comes Close

February 16, 2022 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

We are told that success in sport is never guaranteed. Those quick to reel out said words of warning can point to various examples throughout history of odds being bucked in order to support their argument.

Just when you think a certain result is set in stone, along comes a Buster Douglas to stun Mike Tyson, the New England Patriots to rip up the Greatest Show on Turf or an FA Cup giant killing to rival Leicester City’s remarkable Premier League title triumph. These things are not supposed to happen, but logic can be thrown out of the window on any given day of the week, not just Sunday.

Back in 2009, Rafael Nadal found himself on the receiving end of an upset that nobody – even the man delivering it – could have seen coming. The undisputed King of Clay, who will be a heavy favourite at Space Casino to claim another French Open crown in 2022, suffered a barely believable defeat in Paris some 13 years ago.

A Spanish superstar headed into that Grand Slam with 31 successive victories and four consecutive overall crowns at Roland-Garros to his name, with the general consensus being that he had become untouchable.

He proved in a four-set outing against Robin Soderling that he was not, with a stunning fourth-round reversal sending Nadal off to start his preparations for the grass court season much earlier than he had grown accustomed to.

A revenge of sorts was to be enjoyed in the final 12 months later, when a Swedish foe was seen off in straight sets, and there has been the considerable consolation of a further eight Paris titles since then.

Rare blip

The aforementioned outing against Soderling was a rare blip on a pretty pristine copybook for an all-time great, with Nadal’s record on a favoured surface making for quite stunning reading.

Across 108 outings in the French capital, he has secured 105 victories and suffered just three defeats – giving him a win ratio of 97.2 per cent – with eternal rival Novak Djokovic the only other man to have got the better of him.

Quite simply, whenever an iconic figure with a record-setting 21 major honours to his name steps out onto a surface that has a red tinge to it, his opponent may as well pack up the bags he came with and spare himself the suffering that will inevitably follow.

Optimism will of course spring eternal, with nobody ever beaten before a ball has been kicked or backhand sliced in anger, but sometimes the writing really is on the wall. Hope is being offered by niggling injuries and Father Time, but it also continues to be crushed by an evergreen performer who remains at the peak of his powers.

It may be the case that there are no certainties when teams or individuals lock horns on a competitive sporting stage, with all possible outcomes theoretically on the table whenever said contests begin, but Nadal has come as close as anybody to mastering the art of perfection and it still takes a brave soul to bet against him.