Sole searching: Alcaraz pays homage to Nadal's footprint at Roland Garros
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 6, 2025 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in action during his semi final match against Italy's Lorenzo Musetti REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 6, 2025 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and Italy's Lorenzo Musetti pose for a photograph before their semi final match REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
PARIS - Carlos Alcaraz paused in a moment of quiet reverence before his French Open semi-final on Friday to take a picture of the permanent footprint tribute to his childhood idol and compatriot Rafael Nadal.
The 21-year-old Spaniard, widely seen as Nadal's natural successor, pulled out his phone to capture the imprint honouring the 14-time Roland Garros champion and lingered in what appeared a moment of communion between tennis generations.
Alcaraz faces Italian Lorenzo Musetti as he bids to take a step closer to a second title in Paris and follow the path set by his countryman.
Installed on day one of this year's tournament as organisers paid tribute to the recently retired "King of Clay", Nadal's footprint has rapidly transformed into something of a shrine at the spiritual home of claycourt tennis.
Italian Jasmine Paolini touched it before one of her matches last week, while Alcaraz's coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero - himself a former Roland Garros champion - posed for a photograph in front of the footprint. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Will it be deja vu as Spurs' Daniel Levy presses reset button again?
Tottenham Hotspur's head coach Ange Postecoglou gestures on the touchline during the match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur on April 13. PHOTO: AFP Spurs' first trophy in 17 years did not protect Ange Postecoglou. At the party held in the streets of north London, speaking from a dais at Tottenham town hall he declared the third season would be better than the second, like 'all the best television series'. Daniel Levy chose not to recommission the Australian. The real damage was done in the 22 games they lost in the Premier League, an unrepeatable situation. Those who paid good money at the Tottenham Stadium to watch such historic mediocrity had seen their fill, the glory of winning the Europa League in Bilbao was probably not enough. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Donnarumma says Italy's form unacceptable after drubbing by Norway
Soccer Football - World Cup - European Qualifiers - Group I - Norway v Italy - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - June 6, 2025 Norway's Sander Berge hits the post as Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma looks on Lise Aserud/NTB via REUTERS Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma offered no excuses for his side's poor showing in their 3-0 defeat at Norway in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday, saying their form was not acceptable and the fans deserve better. Playing the first match of their qualifying campaign, Italy were stunned after a ruthless first-half performance by Norway, who put three past the visitors thanks to Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland. Italy sit fourth in Group I, while Norway lead the group with nine points from three matches. Estonia, Moldova and Israel are also in Group I. "I have no explanation at the moment. You just have to go inside and realise the performance tonight. Our fans don't deserve this," Donnarumma told Italian TV channel Rai Sport. "We all have to come out of these games together, we need to examine our conscience." The four-times World Cup winners have not qualified for the global showpiece event since 2014. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti said his team were going through a difficult patch and that he would speak with the Italian Football Federation about the situation. "From us, it has to come from us first of all. We are Italy and these matches are not acceptable... We must be more united than before," said Donnarumma, who won the Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup and French Super Cup titles with Paris St Germain in the recently concluded season. Italy next host fifth-placed Moldova on Monday. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
India's Rahul signals top-order readiness with warm-up hundred
LONDON - KL Rahul's composed hundred in the ongoing second unofficial test against England Lions will bring much relief to the India team management ahead of the five-test series in England. Partnering with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the batting order, Rahul produced a chanceless knock of 116 in Northampton on a lively track in overcast conditions on Friday. India, under new captain Shubman Gill, have been left with gaping holes in their top order after opener Rohit Sharma and stalwart Virat Kohli quit test cricket last month. While Rahul, who can bat practically anywhere in the lineup, is likely to succeed Rohit as Jaiswal's opening partner, either Gill or Karun Nair is likely to fill the void of Kohli at number four. Nair, who played the last of his six tests in 2017, smashed a double hundred in the first unofficial test in Canterbury. "We haven't really decided on the (batting order), we still have some time," Gill had said in his pre-departure press conference in Mumbai. "We will be playing an intra-squad match and we will be having a 10-day camp in London. So we still have a little bit of time and I think we can decide on the batting order once we go there." The five-test series begins in Leeds on June 20. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
