Tag: rafael nadal

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Rafael Nadal’s Comeback Halted In Epic Encounter In Brisbane International | Tennis News

Spanish great Rafael Nadal's comeback to tennis came to an end when he lost a 3hr 25min marathon quarter-final to Australian Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International on Friday. Thompson saved three match points in the second set before overcoming an increasingly fatigued Nadal 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in a gruelling encounter that finished just before midnight on Pat Rafter Arena. Thompson booked a semi-final against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov with the win, while at the same time throwing a spanner in the works of Nadal's Australian Open preparations. Nadal said he had plenty of chances to win, but just couldn't take them. "I think he played a good match. For me, it was not the best match, I had a lot of opportunities to win it," he said."I need to accept that. After a year (of not playi...
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Rafael Nadal Roars Back With ‘Emotional And Important’ Win Over Dominic Thiem In Brisbane International | Tennis News

Rafael Nadal won his first match back from a year-long injury layoff when he beat former US Open champion Dominic Thiem at the Brisbane International on Tuesday, calling it an "emotional and important day". The 22-time Grand Slam winner looked in superb touch with a clinical 7-5, 6-1 victory over the Austrian in front of a full house at Pat Rafter Arena. He will now play Jason Kubler in the second round after the Australian wildcard progressed when Aslan Karatsev was forced to withdraw injured with the scores locked at one set apiece.  The 37-year-old Spaniard had not played singles since a second-round loss at the Australian Open last year, undergoing two rounds of hip surgery."Today, honestly, is an emotional and important day for me after probably one of the toughest years of my tenn...
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Rafael Nadal Loses Comeback Doubles Match In Brisbane International | Tennis News

Rafael Nadal looked sharp on court and appeared to have no issues with his movement.© AFPSpanish superstar Rafael Nadal's first match back after a 12-month injury layoff ended in defeat when he and doubles partner Marc Lopez went down to Australian pair Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell on Sunday.The Australian duo were too consistent, winning their Brisbane International first round-match 6-4, 6-4 on Pat Rafter Arena.Nadal looked sharp on court and appeared to have no issues with his movement after the long lay-off for a hip problem.He takes to the singles court on Tuesday against former US Open champion Dominic Thiem of Austria.(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Topics mentioned in this article Source link
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Rafael Nadal To Play Former US Open Champion Dominic Thiem In Comeback Match | Tennis News

Rafael Nadal will face former US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the first round of the Brisbane International in a tough return to the ATP Tour after almost a year off due to injury. Thiem, a former world number three who was beaten by Nadal in the 2018 and 2019 French Open finals, battled through two tough qualifying rounds to make the main draw. Like Nadal, he has also struggled with injury and fell to 352 in the world in 2022 following a right wrist tear. He is currently ranked 98.The two men have played 15 times, with Nadal winning nine and Thiem six. However, the Austrian has won their past two encounters at the ATP Tour Finals in 2020 and the Australian Open the same year. They will play on Tuesday.Nadal also left the door ajar to continue playing after the 2024 season, but conced...
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Rafael Nadal Draws Qualifier At Comeback Tournament In Brisbane | Tennis News

Rafael Nadal in action© AFPRafael Nadal avoided meeting a seed first up at his comeback tournament after drawing a qualifier in the Brisbane International, with Russia's Aslan Karatsev a potential second-round opponent. The 37-year-old Spaniard has been out of the game for almost 12 months following hip surgery after the 2023 Australian Open in January. It was feared that Nadal, the winner of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, would never play professionally again. However, he has fought his way back and was granted a wildcard to the season-opening Brisbane International in preparation for the first Grand Slam of the year at Melbourne Park beginning January 14.While he missed out on facing a seed, there are plenty of accomplished players competing in Brisbane qualifying, including 2020 US Op...
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Rafael Nadal ‘Feeling Good’ But Plays Down Australia Expectations | Tennis News

Rafael Nadal said Friday he was "feeling good" but played down any chance of winning tournaments in the near future as he returns from a near year-long injury absence. The 37-year-old has not played since a second-round loss at the Australian Open this year, undergoing two rounds of hip surgery on the long road back. It raised fears his career could be over, but he will again grace the courts at the Brisbane International starting on Sunday ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne."I am feeling good," the Spaniard, who has previously indicated it could be his farewell season, said at a promotional event in the city."I can't complain. I feel much better today than what I expected one month ago, but for me, it's impossible to think about winning tournaments today."What's possible is to e...
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Rafael Nadal-Carlos Alcaraz To Play Netflix Exhibition In Vegas | Tennis News

File image of Rafael Nadal© AFPRafael Nadal will face Carlos Alcaraz in an exhibition match in Las Vegas on March 3, the fixture's broadcaster and organisers Netflix said on Monday. Twenty-two time Grand Slam winner Nadal will meet Spanish compatriot and world number two Alcaraz at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort. The fixture be part of Nadal's return to the courts after missing almost a year with injury. "I'm very excited for my first visit to Las Vegas, one of the most iconic and entertaining cities in the world," Nadal said."I'm also very excited to be playing with my fellow countryman Carlos Alcaraz. I am sure it will be a fantastic night of tennis," the 37-year-old said.Former US Open champion and this year's Wimbledon winner Alcaraz is considered Nadal's heir a...
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“Every Chance 2024 Going To Be My Last Year”: Rafael Nadal On Retirement Talks | Tennis News

Rafael Nadal could retire in 2024© AFPRafael Nadal said on Thursday he could not confirm that 2024 would be his final season before retirement, saying it "makes no sense" to set a deadline for the end of his career. The 22-time Grand Slam champion will make his return from a near year-long injury absence at the Australian Open warm-up event in Brisbane next month. The 37-year-old had previously suggested he would hang up his racquet at the end of 2024."There's every chance that it's going to be my last year and I'm going to enjoy the tournaments in that way," Nadal said in a video posted on his social media accounts."I don't want to announce it because in the end I don't know what can happen and I have to give myself the opportunity not to say one thing as then I'll be a slave to what I...
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Rafael Nadal Confident He Will Be ‘Competitive’ On Return To Tennis | Tennis News

Rafael Nadal on Wednesday insisted he will be "competitive" when he returns to professional tennis next month after enduring nearly a year out of action due to injury. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has undergone surgery twice in 2023 after struggling with a hip injury. He has said next year will likely be his last season before retirement and announced last week he would make his comeback at the Australian Open warm-up event in Brisbane, which runs from January 1-7. "I don't know at what level (he will play at), I don't know what to expect, I have no idea, but I don't care right now," Nadal said in a video posted on social media. "I'm just happy to be back and with great excitement to make the effort that is necessary to have fun and I believe that I will be competitive."Nadal last pl...
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Rafael Nadal Plays Down Expectations Before Brisbane International Return | Tennis News

Rafael Nadal is in line for a busy final season with the Grand Slams and the Olympics.© AFPFormer world number one Rafael Nadal said on Monday he expects "nothing" from himself before his return to the courts next month. Nadal, 37, has been out with a hip injury since last January but is set to feature at Brisbane in the near year. The Spaniard will use the tournament as a warm-up to the Australian Open in Melbourne having slumped to 663rd in the world before starting his final year before his expected retirement."I think I'm ready and I trust and hope that all goes well and it gives me the opportunity to enjoy myself on the court," Nadal said in a video on social media."I expect from myself to expect nothing."To have the ability not to demand myself what I have demanded myself througho...