Spain's king makes Rafa Nadal a marquis
MADRID, June 19 (Reuters) - Spain's King Felipe VI on Thursday granted tennis great Rafa Nadal the noble title of marquis, recognising his contribution to the nation through sporting prowess, according to a royal household statement.
Nadal, a 22-times Grand Slam champion who retired last year, was among six individuals honoured as part of celebrations marking the monarch's 10th anniversary on the throne.
Other given such titles included pop-rock singer Luz Casal and Paralympic swimmer Teresa Perales.
"They are a source of pride for Spain and a permanent reference point for values that should inspire our society," the palace said.
Former world number one Nadal, 39, will hold the title Marquis of Llevant de Mallorca, the island where he was born and lives. The title can be inherited by his descendants.
Nadal, who won the French Open a record 14 times, was commemorated last month at Roland Garros with a permanent footprint on the Centre Court.
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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Tennis player calls umpire a ‘f---ing t---' at Queen's
French tennis maverick Corentin Moutet shocked the well-heeled fans at Queen's Club with a furious meltdown as he lost his second-round match against Britain's Jacob Fearnley. Moutet appeared to swear at chair umpire Adel Nour as part of an extended rant towards the end of his 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 defeat. The world No 89 is renowned for being one of the spicier characters on the circuit, as well as a creative genius with a wide range of drop shots and ingenious tricks at his disposal. He was unhappy with Nour during the final changeover of the match. He had just been docked a first serve for a second time violation, which followed an earlier warning for ball abuse when he smacked a ball clean out of the stadium. Marching up to the chair at 2-5 in the deciding set, Moutet told Nour: 'Saying time violations, it is your only job. I am talking to you because I have three balls in my hand. Then you give me a time violation and you say, 'Don't talk to me'. What is wrong with you? With your Rolex.' He then appeared to call the umpire a f---ing t---, half under his breath, before returning to his seat and carrying on with: 'I am running every day for three hours and you are telling me what I have to do. It's crazy. This guy's crazy! Killing me every day.' When it comes to run-ins with players and officials, Moutet is a repeat offender. He was defaulted from a match in Adelaide in 2022 for saying 'f--- you' to an umpire, and lost his funding from the French Tennis Federation after another incident in the same season in which he and his opponent Adrian Andreev started pushing each other on the court. @ 🎥 Twitter/Imad__26 🎾 Corentin Moutet and Adrian Andreev almost had a fight. #tennis #tennislegend #tennistiktok #tennisvideo #tennisplayer #tennisfun #tennislife #tennismatch #tennistournament #tennisfans #corentinmoutet #moutet ♬ Then, in Arizona in March, the chair umpire had to separate Moutet from another opponent – this time Alexander Bublik – after they argued about whether Moutet was ready to receive serve or not. In the middle of that imbroglio, Bublik asked: 'You want to fight?' @justballtennis What happened here? Things getting really spicy between Bublik and Moutet! 👀 ( 📷: @gabrielbuck_art) #tennis #tennisplayers #tennispro #bublik #moutet #angrytennis #fight #tennismatch #rivalry #tennisfans ♬ original sound - JustBall Tennis The BBC, which is running live coverage of Queen's, did not feel the need to apologise for Moutet's swear words on Thursday, perhaps because it was not projected with quite the same volume as the rest of his outburst. Neither did Moutet receive a fine from tournament officials. But commentators John Lloyd and Sam Smith could not help chuckling over Moutet's behaviour. 'The longer Corentin stays out here the more trouble he can get himself into,' Smith said, after the rant. 'He's lost it,' chimed Lloyd. ''This guy's crazy?' Look in the mirror.' Fearnley showed great composure amid the chaos to close out his win, which earned him his first trip to an ATP quarter-final. 'I never thought I would be in these moments,' said a delighted Fearnley. 'I still can't quite believe it.' With regard to Moutet's tantrum, Fearnley added: 'I played Corentin before, and yeah, I kind of know that's what he's going to do. He's going to get angry. He's going to talk to the ref. So when he was doing it, it wasn't really a surprise.' Alcaraz wins longest match in 34 years Moutet was not the only player at Queen's who fell foul of an umpire's timekeeping. Around halfway through his three-set win over Jaume Munar, world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz received a time violation and replied that he had not had enough opportunity to dry his hands on his towel between points. The contest between Munar and Alcaraz became out the longest match to be played at Queen's in 34 years. Their struggle lasted 3hr 23min before Alcaraz floated a delicious backhand lob over the net-rushing Munar to seal his 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 victory. Really, Alcaraz should have been back in the locker room an hour earlier. He held match point on his own serve at 6-4 in the second-set tie-break, only to double-fault and invite the persevering Munar back into the contest. But then, this is exactly the sort of outing that Alcaraz often seems to struggle with. While nobody could compare the plush lawns of Queen's Club to the proverbial wet Wednesday night at Stoke – especially in light of the baking sun – there was a sense of a foregone conclusion about the match-up. Munar arrived with a grass-court win ratio of just 27 per cent. Afterwards, Alcaraz alluded to the lengthy, baseline-dominated nature of the rallies as he took a pen and decorated the camera lens with the words '3hr 30: were we on clay?'
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Reaction as Alcaraz survives scare to beat Munar at Queen's
Update: Date: 19:35 BST Title: Goodbye! Content: Carlos Alcaraz just has a knack at winning epically long tennis matches, doesn't he? Somehow he always manages to find a way. That's 15 wins in a row for the world number two, his longest career winning streak. Tomorrow he'll take on one of Arthur Rinderknech or Reilly Opelka for a spot in Saturday's semi-finals. Be sure to join us then, with Great Britain's Jack Draper and Jacob Fearnley are also in action. I'm off to buy those strawberries I was talking about at the start. Update: Date: 19:32 BST Title: 'I was out mentally' Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 Munar Carlos Alcaraz on court after his win: "It was a really tough battle that we had today. He's a great competitor and he showed how difficult it is to beat him. I'm proud of the level I showed today. It's my second match on grass this year. There were moments I struggled a lot mentally and physically. I still don't know how I'm standing here. But I'm really happy I've given myself another chance in the quarter-final. "I don't know. I just kept fighting. I guess I didn't give up. Honestly I was out mentally, but I stayed there and tried to play the points and play my best points from the first set. But I still don't know." Update: Date: 19:27 BST Title: Game, set and match Alacaraz Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 Munar What a way to finish. Jaume Munar comes to the net, and Carlos Alcaraz reaches the quarter-finals by lobbing him. Update: Date: 19:26 BST Title: Match point Alcaraz Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-5 Munar* Jaume Munar slams a forehand into the net. Alcaraz has a third match point after three hours and 22 minutes. Update: Date: 19:25 BST Title: Munar serving to stay in match Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-5 Munar* Double fault, at a time like this! 30-30. Update: Date: 19:25 BST Title: Munar serving to stay in match Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-5 Munar* From 0-15 down Munar recovers, forcing Alcaraz to net and then the world number two flicks a backhand return wide. 30-15. Update: Date: 19:22 BST Title: Alcaraz holds Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-5 Munar* Well, if Carlos Alcaraz is to lose this game, he'll be doing so in a tie-break. He holds to love, finish things with a 128mph ace. Update: Date: 19:20 BST Title: Munar holds Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 5-5 Munar Holds with an ace. We rattle on. Update: Date: 19:18 BST Title: Post Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 5-4 Munar* No nerves from Jaume Munar. He's already up 40-0. Update: Date: 19:16 BST Title: Alcaraz holds Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 5-4 Munar* Munar nets. Another game won! Alcaraz recovers from 0-30 just like the last game but manages to somehow find a way to hold. Update: Date: 19:14 BST Title: Post Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 4-4 Munar Better. Unreturnable serve from Alcaraz takes us to 30-30. Update: Date: 19:13 BST Title: Post Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 4-4 Munar Alcaraz is wobbling again. He guesses wrong as Munar hits a forehand into the opposite corner and then hits a forehand of his own wide. 0-30. Update: Date: 19:11 BST Title: Alcaraz breaks back Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 4-4 Munar The pickle juice has worked! Munar nets and suddenly we're back on serve. Update: Date: 19:10 BST Title: Break point Alcaraz Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 3-4 Munar* From 30-0 to a break point down. Munar hits a forehand on the move between the tram lines. Update: Date: 19:10 BST Title: Post Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 3-4 Munar* The epic rallies haven't gone away. We get treated to another one as Alcaraz lobs Munar and the Spaniard reaches it, but then slides the ball wide. 30-30. Update: Date: 19:08 BST Title: Post Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 3-4 Munar* Alcaraz stays into the middle-distance, drinking some pickle juice at the change of ends. Update: Date: 19:06 BST Title: Alcaraz holds Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 3-4 Munar* Alcaraz gets away with one as Munar reads another drop shot but can't quite chip over a winner. A far from convincing hold to 30. Update: Date: 19:04 BST Title: Post Content: Into the third hour. The match before went to a decider too. What an effort on the hottest day of the year. Update: Date: 19:02 BST Title: Munar holds Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 2-4 Munar Alcaraz isn't getting a sniff on Munar's serve. The latter holds to 15 as another chance goes begging. Update: Date: 18:59 BST Title: Post Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 2-3 Munar* They're moving around the BBC Two schedule. Tennis and summer is properly here.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Mike Tyson looks in fighting shape still aged 58 as boxing legend is spotted with glam wife Lakiha Spicer
MIKE Tyson looked a million dollars as he was spotted on a European trip with his wife. Tyson, 58, was seemingly ready to jump back into the ring given his physical condition. 4 4 The boxing legend was seen in Paris, France with wife Lakiha Spicer. The pair were leaving their hotel and heading to the airport when they were spotted. And they arrived in Berlin, Germany a couple hours later to watch a sporting event. Tyson and Spicer were in the stands for a WTA tennis tournament. American Coco Gauff, who recently won the French Open in Paris, was in action. But she was beaten in straight sets by Wang Xinyu in a shock result. Tyson and Spicer seemed to be enjoying the tennis from their exclusive vantage point. The boxer was seen wearing a lilac colored shirt and shorts combo while on the streets of Paris. His glam wife had a leopard print outfit matched with a black blazer. Tyson had been out of the ring for 19 years before making a dramatic comeback in 2024. He fought You Tube star Jake Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The boxing legend got himself back into peak physical condition for the bout. But it ended up being a one-sided victory for Paul with Tyson's speed no longer there. Tyson also landed a new job away from boxing this year. He is the new CEO of Carma HoldCo, who are the parent company to his cannabis brand Tyson 2.0. 4 4 Ric Flair's firm Drip is also part of the umbrella. Iron Mike said in a statement, "Carma HoldCo was built on the belief that powerful stories and even more powerful products can change how people connect with wellness, entertainment and culture. "This isn't just a title — it's a responsibility I take seriously. "I've wanted to be more involved for a long time and now is the right time to take that step. "I'm fully committed to making sure everything we create stays true to who we are while growing in new and exciting ways."
