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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Warrior by Christopher Clarey: The nice guy you wouldn't want to face across the net…
The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and his kingdom of clay by Christopher Clarey (John Murray £22, 360pp) What a privilege it's been for tennis fans – no, for sports fans everywhere, for anyone who admires excellence – to have lived through the game's Golden Age, the era of the 'Big Three'. There's Roger Federer in his stylish branded whites, effortlessly firing off exquisite winners while occasionally flicking away a bead of sweat with his little finger. There's the Serbian Novak Djokovic, like some supranatural Transylvanian being who wouldn't give up even if you buried him outside the court and put a stake through his heart – he would still find a way to leap out and defend the next point. And finally here's Rafael Nadal, Rafa the inexhaustible fighter, the force of nature, never ever knowing he was beaten. Never-say-die Rafa, with his obsessive on-court rituals, lining up his water bottles and touching his nose before each serve. Rafa the great, perhaps the most likeable of them all. With his muscles bulging out of his sleeveless shirt, his ferocious hitting and his intense focus, he could look scary and remote, but when he pulled off his bandana and shook out his sweat-soaked hair, a sweet boyish smile would spread across his face. Humble and surprisingly shy, Nadal was born into a prosperous middle-class family, in Majorca, but he had no airs and graces. I saw him once on a budget airline flight, in the early stages of his career, stuffing his tennis rackets into the overhead compartment. He would always stay behind to talk to tournament staff, everyone from referees to media room typists, thank them personally and sign autographs. Guy Forget, the former French No 1 and tournament director, put it like this: 'He was always very polite, he showed respect for everybody. Some guys walk in like they own the place. Rafa was always connecting with people, from the guy who does the court to the referees, to anybody he sees. That's why people like him so much, because he hasn't changed for all these years, with all that fame and success.' This year the French Open, currently under way at Roland Garros in Paris, is for the first time in three decades not playing host to Nadal, its greatest ever champion. Finally, the body gave out, the pace was too much, and it was time for Rafa to stop. Even that gladiatorial fighter had to retire last year, aged 38, amid much tearfulness from all and sundry. Fittingly, French tennis laid on a spectacular and hugely emotional tribute to their great champion on the first afternoon of this year's tournament. With at least 90-odd members of Rafa's family and stars past and present on centre court, as well as the band being brought back together when Federer, Djokovic and Andy Murray came on for a special appearance, this was always going to be a tear-stained afternoon. Rafa himself was weeping and there wasn't a dry eye in the house, certainly not from me. But this masterful and exhaustive portrait from one of the world's leading tennis writers should be some compensation. Christopher Clarey, the long-time sports correspondent for the New York Times, has interviewed Nadal and his associates countless times since he made his debut as a pro in 2001, and The Warrior is an affectionate biography of one of the world's greatest athletes. But it is much more, too. Between them, the Big Three won a scarcely believable 66 Grand Slam titles. Federer won 20, Djokovic, who is still ploughing on at the age of 37, has won 24, and Nadal 22, of which an unsurpassable 14 came on the clay of Roland Garros. I say unsurpassable, and of course it could be bettered, that's what records are for, but it's hard to imagine. Before Nadal came along, the man who had won most French Open titles was Bjorn Borg. He won six, a triumph that prompted Ilie Nastase to say it would never be beaten. But he hadn't met Nadal. It was always likely that Nadal would be a sportsman of some kind. One uncle played football for Barcelona and Spain; another, the irrepressible Uncle Toni, was a former tennis player who saw his nephew's talent from an early age. But it wasn't easy. A natural right-hander, under Uncle Toni, Nadal turned himself into a ferocious left-hander, sustained by the belief that suffering and pain were to be embraced. He grew up playing on the clay courts at Manacor, his hometown and base of his tennis academy which now occupies most of his energies. He was clearly a teenage prodigy. At 12 he had signed with Nike. At 14 he beat former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, and at 19 he won his first French Open. He was blessed with unique hand speed and power, and hit with blistering topspin. Murray has ruefully described how tiring it was, when playing Nadal, to keep hitting the ball from shoulder level, such was the power of his topspin. And to play well on clay, you had to know how to slide to return a shot, and Nadal could slide equally effectively to his left and right. Richard Gasquet, a hugely talented one-time French No 1, and a teenage rival of Nadal, said after one defeat: 'When I came off court I told my father, 'It's over, that's the new champion of Roland Garros. There's no doubt.' I saw very quickly that he was an extra-terrestrial.' Among the rich commentary from other star players, Jim Courier talks most illuminatingly about Nadal's extraordinary competitiveness. 'It's the attitude, the way he handles defeat, the way he handles success. He's the Kipling quote [on triumph and disaster, from the poem If] come to life. As famous as that guy is, he's never seemed famous. He's the guy who cleans up the practice court when he's done. He's not entitled in the least . . .' Then Courier chokes up. 'It's hard not to break a racket. The guy's never broken a racket.' Nadal's uncle Toni taught him that breaking a racket would be showing a lack of respect to those who either have to buy their rackets, or cannot afford them. What moved Courier, says Clarey, was Nadal's dualities: the blend of self-control with competitive passion; of modesty with ambition; and relentless destructive force with ingrained common decency. Clarey, as you would expect, writes about some of Nadal's greatest victories away from Roland Garros, the breathtaking 2008 Wimbledon final when Nadal finally overcame Federer in gathering darkness after hours of thrilling, rain-interrupted battle – the best tennis match I have ever seen. 'This is sports,' Nadal said. 'It's a competition so of course my goal is to finish with the most. But for me it truly never has been an obsession. I was never looking over to see if someone had more than me, if their house was bigger or their phone was better. Whatever happens, Roger, Novak and I have all made our dreams come true.' You can't argue with that. And if you have ever held a racket or seen a champion play, you will find this splendid book a rich source of pleasure and inspiration.
Auto Blog
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
How Tariffs Are Making Trucks Like the Ford Maverick Pricier
Thanks to rising tariffs on foreign auto parts, even budget-friendly models like the Ford Maverick and Subaru Forester are transforming from practical pickups into premium purchases. Why the Ford Maverick Now Costs Over $8K More Than Last Year That 'Buy American' sticker? It's costing you more than patriotism. The scene: You're eyeing a Ford Maverick, imagining weekend road trips, when the dealer slides over a quote. The price? $8,641 higher than last year's model. Suddenly, your practical truck feels like a fiscal hostage. Welcome to the era where tariffs transform workhorses into white elephants—and Washington's trade wars roll up in your driveway. Trump's Auto Part Tariffs: A $42 Billion Burden for Buyers Let's cut through the exhaust fumes. Trump's 25% tariffs on Chinese auto parts aren't just policy—they're a masterclass in economic jiujitsu. That Subaru Forester Hybrid you've been eyeing? Its price tag ballooned by $4,000 overnight, not because of inflation, but geopolitical theater. Detroit's Big Three will pocket $42 billion in tariff costs by 2025, but here's the kicker: You're funding 90% of it through padded MSRPs. This is gaslighting with a V8 engine. 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid — Source: Subaru How 'American-Made' Trucks Use Global Parts to Dodge Tariffs Ford's F-150—that titan of truck commercials—runs on a Mexican alternator, Canadian half-shafts, and Korean tires. Only 32% of its components are U.S.-sourced, yet it sidesteps tariffs via NAFTA's 'substantial transformation' loopholes. Translation: Assemble a global parts bin in Michigan, slap on a Stars-and-Stripes decal, and charge a $2,055 'market adjustment' because freedom isn't free. Meanwhile, GM's Texas-built Escalade sources aluminum tied to Xinjiang's Uyghur forced labor camps. Your armrest? A $100K tribute to oppression and corporate amnesia. 2024 Ford F-150 XLT — Source: Ford Why Car Dealers Profit Most From Your Patriotic Purchases Meet the real winners: dealerships. When Ram's 'Born in Michigan' ads play, they omit that heavy-duty models roll off Saltillo, Mexico lines—a plant churning out 250,000 units annually. Yet dealers markup these trucks by $1,150 overnight, exploiting your red-white-and-blue reflex. It's not supply and demand. This is psychological warfare with a 72-month financing plan. Are EVs the Answer to Rising Truck and SUV Prices? Amidst the markup madness, here's your lifeline: Go electric. While GM axed the $30K Chevy Bolt to focus on luxury behemoths, Tesla's Model Y persists as a tariff-proof anomaly. Its battery? 50% cheaper per kWh than 2019, with no hidden 'patriotism tax.' Hyundai's Ioniq 5 offers 303-mile range and wireless CarPlay—a tech suite that laughs at Detroit's dated infotainment. Pro tip: Lease. Let the tariffs depreciate on someone else's driveway. Should Tariffs Be Listed on Car Stickers? Tariffs are the new dealer add-ons—unavoidable, infuriating, and dressed in patriotic veneer. Every overpriced SUV is a referendum on what we value. Do we bankroll boardroom greed masked as nationalism? Or demand transparency with our wallets? Amazon was on the money, no pun intended, with wanting to put the 'tariff burden' on the receipt. What about the true value of those tariffs on the sticker price? Your move, America. That extra 8 grand on your F-150 has a cause. 2024 Ford F-150 STX
Mint
6 days ago
- Sport
- Mint
The tennis GOAT is running out of time
PARIS—While the elite of men's tennis reacquainted itself with the tony confines of Roland-Garros this past week, easing into this posh corner of the French capital, Novak Djokovic was stuck 300 miles away. The 24-time Grand Slam champion didn't have the luxury of a gentle return to Paris. He was busy grinding through a minor tournament in Geneva in a last-minute bid to recover some semblance of form. Until this week, Djokovic hadn't won a title of any kind since his Olympic gold here last July. He hasn't won a major since the U.S. Open in 2023. Reminders that even his remarkable longevity has an end are everywhere. On Thursday, he turned 38 years old. 'It's a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis," Djokovic said last month after a round-of-64 exit in Madrid. Time seems to have caught up to Djokovic all at once. Barely two years ago, he reached every Grand Slam final in the same season and won three of them. He had managed to outlast the other members of the Big Three and was still holding off the next generation. He reached a men's record 24 major titles—putting him ahead of Rafael Nadal's 22 and Roger Federer's 20—and seemed poised to keep padding that number. Then came the slump. There were lingering physical issues, but there was also a pair of problems named Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner is 23, while Alcaraz is 22, and between them, they have now won the past five major tournaments. 'We came out of the era of the Big Three—this is the era of the New Two," said four-time major winner and TNT analyst Jim Courier. 'They've clearly shown that there's separation there at the highest level." Their ascension meant that 2024 became Djokovic's first year without a Grand Slam trophy since his injury-plagued 2017—and only his second 0-for-4 season since 2010. The saving grace was his Olympic triumph over Alcaraz. But the most alarming part is how often Djokovic is being knocked out in early rounds. In six tournaments before Geneva, he only reached one final, which he lost to Jakub Mensik in Miami. During that run, he also ended his brief stint working with Andy Murray, who had joined his coaching team last winter. 'Kind of a new reality for me, I have to say," Djokovic said later. 'Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament." The biggest problem with this new reality is that tennis has a tendency to kick you when you're down. Djokovic's world ranking has slipped to No. 6, which means having to face a serious heavyweight as early as the quarterfinals. If things go as expected here, that would mean a matchup against world No. 3 Alexander Zverev, before even thinking about Sinner or Alcaraz. So earlier this month, Djokovic ventured to Switzerland to rack up a few more clay-court matches before the spotlight was back on him in Paris. In fact, he went one better and won the tournament on Saturday, claiming his 100th tour-level title. That's an improvement on last year, when Djokovic also tried this approach in Geneva, where he reached the semis before tearing the meniscus in his right knee during a fourth-round marathon match at the French Open. 'It's a challenge for me mentally to really face these kinds of sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in tournaments," Djokovic said. The adjustment hasn't been easy. For a man whose relentless excellence helped him win 100 titles and spend a record 428 weeks of his career ranked world No. 1, the idea of anything less than perfection is profoundly troubling. This is a player who hadn't lost three matches in a row since 2018. This season, he's already done it twice. But in true Djokovic fashion, he intends to keep plugging away. People close to him have said publicly that he intends to play at least until the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Djokovic, still motivated by his obsession with tennis history, knows that one more major title would give him sole possession of the all-time mark ahead of Margaret Court. He also has an eye on the leaderboard for all-time men's single titles. Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer sit ahead of him, with 109 and 103, respectively. Whether he can get there depends on careful management of his body and his schedule, picking the few spots where the 38-year-old version of himself can keep up with an entire generation that grew up watching him. 'That's the circle of life and the career," Djokovic said. 'Eventually it was going to happen." Write to Joshua Robinson at
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Clean Energy Faces Hard Market Truths
As soon as the November 2024 election results were in, proponents of the energy transition started warning the end of their industries was nigh. They weren't wrong. Trump has wasted no time clipping the wings of wind, solar, EVs, and related industries that have enjoyed years of generous financial support—from taxpayers' money. This is now over, and these industries will need to learn to survive on their own. Republican legislators are busy drafting ways to slash billions in subsidies that have contributed significantly to the thriving of solar and wind businesses, encouraged billions in pledged investments from battery makers, for example, and cushioned the blow of EV sales losses for the Big Three as they struggle to make the shift to EVs that Americans don't really want to buy. The targeted industries are, naturally, not happy about it. 'While American businesses are demanding more energy to compete against our adversaries, and consumers are turning to clean energy to hedge against rising electricity prices, these proposals will undermine our nation's efforts to achieve President Trump's American energy dominance agenda,' the president of the Solar Energy Industries Association said in a statement in response to the House Energy and Commerce Committee's reconciliation bill proposal, released earlier this month. This is perhaps one way of putting things, even though high electricity prices appear to be inextricably linked to wind and solar proliferation—and the link appears to be direct and causal. Among the transition industries, other weapons for fighting back Trump's energy policies are the threats of lost investments and, of course, jobs. Furthermore, some are arguing that these energy policies of the current federal government are about to disrupt a 'booming business'.'Developers have built $145 billion in solar, wind and battery-storage projects since expanded federal tax credits were approved in 2022, while manufacturers have invested $73 billion in 94 factories that are now operating,' Jennifer Hiller from the Wall Street Journal wrote this week, noting that what the House lawmakers are doing with the budget reconciliation bill could put an end to all this, threatening the survival of these industries. Not only this, but state governments are appearing to turn on wind, solar, EV batteries, and anything else transition-related, tightening rules for capacity buildouts and getting more selective with the permitting. It sounds really bad for the industries concerned. However, the alarm among them begs one question: if they are, indeed, thriving, can they not keep thriving in a less-subsidized environment? Hiller's statement about the expansion of wind, solar, and battery storage is telling. That $145 billion worth of capacity was built in the two years since the Biden administration supercharged subsidy support with some $400 billion in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Chips and Science Act. And even with that level of support, as much as 40% of projects announced following the IRA got delayed, some of them indefinitely, as the Financial Times reported last year. These facts do not paint the picture of a 'booming business'. Rather, they paint the picture of a business environment carefully crafted and nourished selectively to survive against competition that obeys market conditions. Wind, solar, EVs, and batteries were picked as the winners in a race where all other participants followed one set of rules while the chosen ones followed their own special set of rules, involving pretty much unconditional support, while others became subjects of increasingly tighter regulation. What is happening now is the pendulum swinging back, plain and simple. Local communities across the United States are fighting back against wind turbines and solar panels on their lands, and state and local governments are running out of money to subsidize EV sales or solar installations. Meanwhile, the drawbacks of alternative energy sources have become more obvious now that there is so much capacity around. Last year's crash in wind and solar stocks was evidence enough that even with subsidies, these technologies can and do have trouble, such as the impossibility of delivering electricity on demand, the need for costly battery backup to have a chance at delivering electricity on demand, and the increasingly high costs of construction and operation—because inflation does not spare wind and solar. There is also the issue of negative prices due to overproduction of wind and solar electricity during periods of low demand and, on top of all this, too many wind turbines in one place lead to lower wind speeds and lower electricity output in a very special case of self-cannibalization. Wind and solar industries really did boom during the Biden administration. The reason for this boom was the constant and growing financial assistance they were getting from the federal government, and a lot of state and local governments determined to build a next-era energy system—based on the arguments of people with a solid vested interest in such a system even if it would ultimately prove unworkable. Now, wind and solar are being exposed to free market rules—the same that govern most other industries. That's a great opportunity to prove they can survive on their own without hundreds of billions in subsidies. By Irina Slav for More Top Reads From this article on
Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner set for Italian Open final showdown
It has not taken long for the best active rivalry in men's tennis to be renewed. Just one tournament into Jannik Sinner's return from a three-month doping ban, he will stand across the net from Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Italian Open. This promises to be quite an occasion and a juicy appetiser for the upcoming French Open. Most of their previous ten battles have been entertaining contests, with enthralling baseline rallies between the finest two players to emerge on the tour since the 'Big Three' era of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Underpinning Episode 11 on Sunday is the location of Rome. A partisan atmosphere is guaranteed in favour of the home favourite Sinner, who has been welcomed back at
