Rafael Nadal lauds Jannik Sinner for ‘keeping focus' during doping case
Rafael Nadal has described Jannik Sinner 's ability to retain focus on his tennis as 'amazing', despite the distraction of his doping case.
Nadal, who retired last November as Spain lost in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup Finals, was speaking on former pro Andy Roddick 's podcast, Served with Andy Roddick, in a wide-ranging interview covering everything from his decision to retire to his rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Sinner, the world No 1, has been embroiled in a lengthy saga over two positive tests for clostebol last year, and eventually agreed to a three-month suspension in a settlement with WADA, which will last until the Italian Open in May.
'We showed the world that we can be the biggest rivals but at the same time, we can be colleagues, we can have a good personal relationship,' Nadal said. 'I think that shows a positive example to the next generations, I am proud of that.
'I think that helps this new generation to understand you don't need to hate your opponents, you can respect, you can appreciate the opponent, because in the end they are an important part of your life, so you don't need to hate opponents to give your best.'
Roddick drew comparisons between Nadal's on- and off-court demeanour and that of the new generation of top tennis talent, including Nadal's Spain teammate Carlos Alcaraz and five-time major winner Iga Swiatek.
'Carlos is a great kid,' Nadal, who played doubles with the 21-year-old at the Olympics last year, said. 'Great guy with a very good family behind him, with positive values. Humble. They're good people. That's why I think Carlos is how he is. Because in the end, the values you receive at home, the way you're educated is the way that you show up. I see the same with Iga.
'Jannik is another good guy. Not much of a show off. He's focused on what he's doing. Of course, he went through a very tough process the last year. It's amazing the way he was able to keep being focused on what he's doing.
'It's a new generation of great tennis players. I think they're going to keep helping this beautiful sport to grow and to engage fans.'
Nadal also shared the moment he made the decision to retire, bringing the curtain down on a career spanning two decades and 22 grand slam titles - including 14 French Opens, a record that is unlikely to ever be surpassed.
The Spaniard endured a torrid time with injuries in his final years as a professional, memorably winning the French Open in 2022 despite having a numb foot from injections to numb an injury, and ultimately felt his body had had enough.
'Inside myself, I was not able to move the way that I was used to moving,' he explained. 'After Olympics [in Paris, when he lost in the second round of the singles], I came back home and said it's over, I feel it.
'Before I didn't feel it, I wanted to give myself the time. After that, I say okay, it doesn't make sense, I don't feel like with this issue I'm going to come back and be competitive at the level that motivates me. When I felt that, it was over.'
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The Herald Scotland
43 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Eilish McColgan: I've run a marathon, now I feel pressure-free
And secondly, she'll almost certainly never tackle a marathon that challenges her as much as her debut did. McColgan has a stellar record on both the track and the road, but having decided she was going to move up to the marathon, it took her literally years to reach the start line. A number of injuries, including knee surgery in late-2023, served to delay and further delay her marathon debut. But finally, at the London Marathon in April of this year, McColgan ran her first marathon. And from almost the second she crossed the finish line, a wave of relief crashed over McColgan and she's spent the past weeks basking in a pressure-free state that she's never before experienced in the entirety of her decade-long elite career. 'This is the first time in my career I'm in no rush to get back into things. It's nice not to feel that intense pressure or stress because so often, I've been rushing to get ready for the next thing,' the 34-year-old says. 'Last year, I was rushing to get back from knee surgery to make it to the Paris Olympics then almost immediately, I felt like I was constantly fighting against time to be ready for the London Marathon. 'So this is the first time ever that I've felt like okay, I've ticked my box for the year and so if I do another marathon in 2025 then great but if I don't then it doesn't actually matter. "It's now up to me what I want to do for the rest of the year instead of feeling like I'm constantly rushing to get ready for the next championship and running out of time. 'It means I now feel the least pressure I've felt during my whole career, and that's really, really nice.' (Image: PA) From the outside, McColgan's run in London was something close to a dream marathon debut; an eighth-place finish, top British female and a new Scottish record of 2 hours 24 minutes 25 seconds was an impressive performance. And given the way the race panned out - McColgan was forced to run almost the entirety of the 26.2 miles alone - the Dundonian appeared to be coping admirably with her maiden marathon run. Appearances can be deceiving, though, and how she appeared to spectators could not have been more contrasting to how she felt. 'From very early in the race, I felt rough. Literally as soon as I started running, I was concerned about how heavy my legs felt and that's obviously a big worry when you've got 26 miles to go,' she says. 'That feeling didn't ever really go away and if anything, it just gradually got worse so mentally I found that tough. I knew it was going to be a very long slog, and it was made even harder given I was running by myself because I had never visualised doing the whole race solo. 'I definitely had moments of thinking of stopping. From halfway, I had cramp in my right quad so in my head I was just telling myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other. 'So I honestly don't think I'll ever run a marathon that feels as hard as that again. 'It wasn't until I got in that last half mile stretch heading on to the Mall that I actually believed I was going to be able to finish.' Despite her struggles throughout the two-and-a-half hours of the race, though, McColgan admits her first marathon experience was something she'll treasure. Despite having raced on the biggest stages of them all - she's a four-time Olympian and produced one of the most memorable moments of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 when she won 10,000m gold - the experience and the atmosphere of her debut marathon was, she admits, unique. 'London was very different from track racing because people were cheering specifically for me. I could hear people shouting 'Go Eilish', people were shouting my mum's name or were shouting Dundee Hawks. It was very different from the Commonwealth Games when it was very noisy but you can't pick out what people are saying. The crowd was the only thing that kept me going.' Eilish McColgan won 10,000m gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (Image: Steve Christo - Corbis) On seeing her finishing time, McColgan's initial feeling was disappointment. She had bettered Steph Twell's previous Scottish record by over two minutes, and her own mum, Liz's, by two-and-a-half minutes. McColgan was, she thought, in shape to go faster but as the weeks since the race have passed, she's begun to realise that finally making her marathon debut after two heavy disrupted years of injury, and battling to the finishing line feeling far from perfect is a remarkable achievement. 'I've been trying to get on the start line of a marathon for two years and it had never happened so of course there was a little bit of doubt in my own mind wondering if it's going to happen,' she says. 'So, on reflection, I'm really proud of finishing it because it would have been much easier to have called it a day early doors.' There is, unsurprisingly, a number of things McColgan will take from her run in London into her upcoming training, and into future marathons. The Scot will focus almost exclusively on the road going forwards and while she remains uncertain quite when her next marathon appearance will be, she's sure of what she wants to achieve on her hermit outing over 26.2 miles. 'Sub 2 hours 20 minutes is a big goal - that's when you start becoming more competitive and giving yourself a chance of being on the podium at the major marathons,' she says. 'I definitely feel like 2:20 could potentially be the next step for me given how tough London felt so next time, if I could feel normal until halfway, I think that would make a big difference to me and to my time. 'I don't know exactly where my next marathon will be but the great thing is there's a major marathon every few weeks so if I aim for Berlin but amn't quite ready, I can push it back to New York or Chicago or even London next year. 'So I feel like I'm in a great position.'
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Eilish McColgan: I've run a marathon, now I feel pressure-free
Firstly, she can finally call herself a marathon runner. And secondly, she'll almost certainly never tackle a marathon that challenges her as much as her debut did. McColgan has a stellar record on both the track and the road, but having decided she was going to move up to the marathon, it took her literally years to reach the start line. A number of injuries, including knee surgery in late-2023, served to delay and further delay her marathon debut. But finally, at the London Marathon in April of this year, McColgan ran her first marathon. And from almost the second she crossed the finish line, a wave of relief crashed over McColgan and she's spent the past weeks basking in a pressure-free state that she's never before experienced in the entirety of her decade-long elite career. 'This is the first time in my career I'm in no rush to get back into things. It's nice not to feel that intense pressure or stress because so often, I've been rushing to get ready for the next thing,' the 34-year-old says. 'Last year, I was rushing to get back from knee surgery to make it to the Paris Olympics then almost immediately, I felt like I was constantly fighting against time to be ready for the London Marathon. 'So this is the first time ever that I've felt like okay, I've ticked my box for the year and so if I do another marathon in 2025 then great but if I don't then it doesn't actually matter. "It's now up to me what I want to do for the rest of the year instead of feeling like I'm constantly rushing to get ready for the next championship and running out of time. 'It means I now feel the least pressure I've felt during my whole career, and that's really, really nice.' (Image: PA) From the outside, McColgan's run in London was something close to a dream marathon debut; an eighth-place finish, top British female and a new Scottish record of 2 hours 24 minutes 25 seconds was an impressive performance. And given the way the race panned out - McColgan was forced to run almost the entirety of the 26.2 miles alone - the Dundonian appeared to be coping admirably with her maiden marathon run. Appearances can be deceiving, though, and how she appeared to spectators could not have been more contrasting to how she felt. 'From very early in the race, I felt rough. Literally as soon as I started running, I was concerned about how heavy my legs felt and that's obviously a big worry when you've got 26 miles to go,' she says. 'That feeling didn't ever really go away and if anything, it just gradually got worse so mentally I found that tough. I knew it was going to be a very long slog, and it was made even harder given I was running by myself because I had never visualised doing the whole race solo. 'I definitely had moments of thinking of stopping. From halfway, I had cramp in my right quad so in my head I was just telling myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other. 'So I honestly don't think I'll ever run a marathon that feels as hard as that again. 'It wasn't until I got in that last half mile stretch heading on to the Mall that I actually believed I was going to be able to finish.' Despite her struggles throughout the two-and-a-half hours of the race, though, McColgan admits her first marathon experience was something she'll treasure. Despite having raced on the biggest stages of them all - she's a four-time Olympian and produced one of the most memorable moments of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 when she won 10,000m gold - the experience and the atmosphere of her debut marathon was, she admits, unique. 'London was very different from track racing because people were cheering specifically for me. I could hear people shouting 'Go Eilish', people were shouting my mum's name or were shouting Dundee Hawks. It was very different from the Commonwealth Games when it was very noisy but you can't pick out what people are saying. The crowd was the only thing that kept me going.' Eilish McColgan won 10,000m gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (Image: Steve Christo - Corbis) On seeing her finishing time, McColgan's initial feeling was disappointment. She had bettered Steph Twell's previous Scottish record by over two minutes, and her own mum, Liz's, by two-and-a-half minutes. McColgan was, she thought, in shape to go faster but as the weeks since the race have passed, she's begun to realise that finally making her marathon debut after two heavy disrupted years of injury, and battling to the finishing line feeling far from perfect is a remarkable achievement. 'I've been trying to get on the start line of a marathon for two years and it had never happened so of course there was a little bit of doubt in my own mind wondering if it's going to happen,' she says. 'So, on reflection, I'm really proud of finishing it because it would have been much easier to have called it a day early doors.' There is, unsurprisingly, a number of things McColgan will take from her run in London into her upcoming training, and into future marathons. The Scot will focus almost exclusively on the road going forwards and while she remains uncertain quite when her next marathon appearance will be, she's sure of what she wants to achieve on her hermit outing over 26.2 miles. 'Sub 2 hours 20 minutes is a big goal - that's when you start becoming more competitive and giving yourself a chance of being on the podium at the major marathons,' she says. 'I definitely feel like 2:20 could potentially be the next step for me given how tough London felt so next time, if I could feel normal until halfway, I think that would make a big difference to me and to my time. 'I don't know exactly where my next marathon will be but the great thing is there's a major marathon every few weeks so if I aim for Berlin but amn't quite ready, I can push it back to New York or Chicago or even London next year. 'So I feel like I'm in a great position.'
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Sponsors drop Aussie Olympian Heath Ryan after horse whipping video goes viral - 'shocked and heartbroken'
Aussie Olympian Heath Ryan has been dropped by two major sponsors after shocking footage emerged of the equestrian star whipping a horse 42 times. Prydes EasiFeed and Bates Saddles - both long time supporters of Ryan - announced separately on Friday they have severed ties with Ryan. In a statement, Bates Saddles said they were 'shocked and heartbroken' by the damning vision. Newcastle based Ryan, 66, has also been suspended indefinitely from competition by Equestrian Australia. The governing body confirmed they received a formal complaint from a member of the public - and have since launched an investigation into the matter. As a result, Ryan is provisionally suspended from the sport. The suspension was mirrored by the international governing body, Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). According to News Corp, Equestrian Australia said in a statement they were 'extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in the footage.' The RSPCA are said to be 'making further enquiries' and the Australian Olympic Committee are aware of the video - but it remains unknown if they will take further action. Earlier this week, Ryan insisted he was on a 'rescue mission' after horrific footage emerged of the international equestrian star whipping a horse more than 40 times at a private stable. Ryan, who competed at the 2008 Games in Beijing in the dressage team event, issued a statement online after the confronting vision appeared on social media via US-based Facebook page Dressage Hub. He conceded the footage is 'awful' - but maintained he was doing his utmost to ensure the horse wasn't sent to the slaughter house. Ryan also claimed the vision was posted 'by an unhappy ex-employee.' 'Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced,' his lengthy Facebook post began. 'This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery. His name is Nico. He was 6 years of age. A beautiful type. '(After the repeated whipping) I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well. 'All of this transpired sincerely with the horse's best interests the sole consideration. 'I (also) need to add that this happened about two years the video has been posted by an unhappy ex-employee. 'All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission.' Ryan has competed in equestrian events in Australia for decades, with his crowning achievement an appearance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Heath Ryan's lengthy statement after the confronting vision appeared on social media via Facebook page Dressage Hub He is also the brother of triple Olympic equestrian gold medallist Matt Ryan, who was part of the eventing team who famously stormed to victory at the Sydney Games in 2000. The incident follows British golden girl Charlotte Dujardin sensationally quitting just days before the 2024 Paris Olympics after a video emerged of her allegedly whipping a horse on the legs repeatedly. Last December, Dujardin was suspended from the sport for 12 months by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), as the six-time Olympic medallist conceded she made an 'an error of judgement' during a coaching session. Dujardin had returned to competition leading into Paris after giving birth to her first child Isabella in March of 2023.
