Latest news with #Nadal
West Australian
4 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Mitchell Johnson: ‘Big four' rivals turn friends as Rafael Nadal's farewell shows what sport is really about
Tennis' big four were reunited this week for Rafael Nadal's emotional farewell to Roland Garros. There's so much to unpack about these legends of the sport, but one intriguing takeaway for me was Nadal's 'change in perspective' in retirement. The 14-time French Open champion reflected on years of fierce competition with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, his drive to win grand slams and the quest to be number one. But in retirement, his views on his rivals-turned-friends highlight why athletes truly play sport: even at the highest level of competition, friendships can flourish after all is said and done. The respect that the big four have for each other is heartwarming. Djokovic, the only one of the quartet still active on tour, mentioned that a piece of himself felt missing with Nadal's retirement, and I can relate to that sentiment. When you've battled against the best for so many years, it becomes almost natural to see that person on the other side of the net. Or the other end of the pitch. Watching these four athletes over the years has been nothing short of sensational, despite the challenges each faced with being part of that era of dominance. As fans, we all have favourites among the four, and reminiscing about their careers is a fun exercise. With all at their peak, Federer was my personal favourite to watch. Interestingly, I didn't warm to the Swiss superstar initially because he was gunning for Pete Sampras's spot as number one and I had grown up idolising 'Pistol Pete'. However, over time, I came to appreciate all their greatness, including Nadal's exceptional prowess, particularly on clay. Giving the Spaniard a fitting farewell on his favourite court – complete with a permanent plaque of his footprint - was a testament to the respect he earned from the world of tennis, the fans, fellow players, and everyone fortunate enough to witness a truly dominant career. Nadal has set a bar, especially on clay, which may never be equalled. I grew up watching tennis and my dream was always to play at Wimbledon. My childhood was such an incredible time to watch the sport even before the big four, especially with players like Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Goran Ivanisevic, Pat Rafter, Jimmy Connors and Stefan Edberg. The late 1980s through the early 2000s was truly memorable, filled with some of the greatest talent in tennis history. While there have been many legends prior to them who did amazing things on the court and inspired many of the players I mentioned, the era of the big four feels particularly special. I often wonder if any of their records will ever be broken. It reminds me of a golden era in cricket when Australia dominated, or how the All Blacks have established themselves in rugby. It's mind-blowing to think that in an individual sport, we witnessed such extraordinary skill and determination from these four players whose domination virtually shut out all other competitors. During their time, the rivalries were intense and there were moments when they clearly didn't like each other. Yet they always delivered brilliant matches filled with strategy, endurance and mental strength. When Nadal bowed out last year, Federer noted in his congratulatory message that Nadal had made him work harder than he ever thought he could just to hold his ground. Each of them constantly pushed the others to improve, whether it was honing a skill, boosting fitness, or finding that extra one per cent to get ahead. The mental game was just as crucial, particularly in grand slam competitions, where it often came down to who was better prepared psychologically. Now, it's as if they've become like siblings, and the respect they have for one another reminds us all that, in the end, sport is a game and entertainment, despite it being something these athletes gave everything to. The friendships they've formed are special, showcasing the camaraderie that can arise from fierce competition. Rating the all-time greats in tennis is so subjective and almost impossible when you try to compare different eras as well as surfaces. So my list is primarily made up of the players I most enjoyed watching and the excitement they brought to the game. Nadal's dominance on clay is unmatched, making every French Open he played a thrilling spectacle. His tenacity and fighting spirit added so much drama to matches. Then there's Federer, whose grace and shot-making ability transformed the way tennis is played. His style and charisma on and off the court made him a joy to watch. Djokovic is another player who deserves recognition for his unique combination of incredible defence and mental toughness. His battles with both Nadal and Federer produced some unforgettable moments. And let's not forget Murray, whose determination and skill have often been overshadowed but who consistently brought intense competition, especially during his peak years before injury got the better of him. All four have distinct qualities that make them legendary, and while their statistics may place them high on many lists, it's really the emotional connection and enjoyment they brought to fans that resonates the most with me. It's the memories they left us with of those intense rivalries and unforgettable matches, along with their growth as individuals and athletes, that truly make them all-time greats in my eyes. Roger Federer Pete Sampras Martina Hingis Stefan Edberg Goran Ivanisevic Michael Chang Monica Seles Rafael Nadal Ivan Lendl Pat Rafter
Mint
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Mint
Why Rafael Nadal will forever remain the greatest star of French Open
When the Roland Garros, venue for the Grand Slam formerly known as the French Open, honoured Rafael Nadal earlier this week, it did so by unveiling a plaque on court with the player's footprint and signature. Court Philippe-Chatrier will bear Nadal's footprint forever, on its striking red clay, as a reminder to future generations how big these shoes are to fill. In his new book The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and his Kingdom of Clay, Christopher Clarey reiterates that point repeatedly and with good reason. Nadal won 14 titles at this venue, a record that's widely considered unbeatable and twice the previous record number of seven by Chris Evert. During the course of these 14 titles over 20 years, he built a 112-4 win-loss record, and remained unbeaten in all 14 finals he contested. Clarey's book therefore is not strictly a biography, which would have been expected of him after his previous work on Nadal's great rival, The Master: The Brilliant Career of Roger Federer, came out three years ago. This latest piece of work focuses on Nadal in the context of Roland-Garros, driven by the sheer magnitude of the Spaniard's achievement at this event. Clarey, a former contributor to The New York Times and The International Herald Tribune, personalises this one, unlike his previous work. Digging deep into his experience of covering sport for more than 30 years, Clarey had the fortune of watching Nadal—and following his career—from the time he started attracting attention on the senior men's tour from the early 2000s. Also Read Rafael Nadal: The man who taught us how to love clay While the focus may be on Nadal's dominance on the red clay, Clarey sprinkles the book with brief histories, of Nadal himself, his family, other Spanish stars who preceded him, the French tennis greats who gave the French Grand Slam its importance, of Chatrier, and of Clarey's own association with the tournament. As evident from Nadal's speech earlier this week during his felicitation ceremony at Roland Garros, attended by his great rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, he owed a lot of his career to his uncle Toni, widely considered to be the biggest reason—besides Rafa himself—why he became one of the greatest athletes of all time. One of the sweetest stories of The Warrior is connected to Toni. When Nadal was still a boy coming up the ranks in tennis, Toni had convinced the child that his uncle had magical powers. Nadal would therefore call him Tio Mago (Uncle Magician) or Natali, because Toni had also convinced the child that he was an Italian football player for AC Milan. In his first tournament, when a seven-year-old Nadal was to play a 11-year-old in an under-12 team competition in Mallorca, Toni told Nadal that if he started to really trail in the match, Toni would make it rain so that the match is called off. Down 0-4 at one point, Nadal, in true Rafa style, fought back to 3-4 when it started raining. The little boy immediately went up to Toni and in all earnestness said, 'Listen, Natali, I think you can stop the rain because I think I can beat this guy." Fifteen years later, in the 2008 Wimbledon final against Federer, there was a rain delay with the 22-year-old Nadal leading two sets to love. When Toni reached Nadal in the men's locker room, his first words to his uncle were, 'Now was not the time to make it rain!" Also Read One vs one was sacred in tennis. No longer. One of Nadal's greatest gifts, as several people point out in The Warrior, is his simplicity and humility, attributes that allowed him to connect with people across the board. Besides his enormous success, his personality also endeared him to the Parisian audience over the years, after they had started off disliking him. Clarey remembers the crowd being totally in favour of Robin Söderling, an unheralded tennis player whose greatest claim to fame was beating Nadal at Roland Garros in 2009. It's worth noting that Söderling, who is remembered mainly for this one victory, is one of only three men to have defeated Nadal at Roland Garros. The other two are Djokovic—twice—and Alexander Zverev last year against an unfit Nadal well past his prime. As Nadal's assistant coach Francis Roig says in the book, 'Rafa is someone who is very simple, with human values that are strong and anchored but in competition he becomes superhuman." That Söderling loss was such an aberration that it's remembered to date and gets a worthy mention in Clarey's book. Considered one of the biggest upsets in men's tennis ever, it halted a straight run of titles for Nadal starting 2005, in his first appearance at the tournament. For the author, Nadal's 14-0 record in Roland-Garros finals is the most impressive statistic, a reflection of his mastery on clay, considering he was 8-8 in other major finals. The two other losses are significant because they were against Djokovic. Clarey argues that Nadal's greatest rivalry was against the Serbian, not Federer, though the latter was the more glamourised contest and earned more buzz. Nadal and Djokovic played each other 60 times in 18 years, with their first (2006 quarter-finals, which Nadal won) and last (Paris Olympics, which Djokovic won) competitive matches played—coincidentally—at Roland Garros. No man beat Djokovic more often; no man beat Nadal more often. They ended up finally at 31-29 in favour of Djokovic. By 2024, when Nadal played his last match at Roland Garros (at the Grand Slam, not the Olympics later)—though he didn't declare it then—his body had pretty much given up on him. From the beginning, Nadal's bruising style of play caused sufficient wear and tear on his body, leading to frequent injuries, long recovery periods and missed events. He suffered from Mueller-Weiss syndrome, a degenerative condition caused by a misshapen small bone in the top of the foot from an early age and never had surgery for it because it would have hampered his movements on court. Also Read Who will replace Rafael Nadal as the master of clay? He played a lot of his matches with painkiller injections and though there have been enough suspicions—given his quick recoveries and subsequent successes—Nadal has never been cited or sanctioned for failing a doping test. 'I have so many positive things in life, so many reasons to be happy and content with everything that I have. I don't need to create for myself a need or an obsession to try and get something more," says Nadal, in one of his typically philosophical pronouncements. 'There's a book in his transcripts," former French Open champion and now commentator Jim Courier tells Clarey. 'Someone could cherry-pick the Tao of Rafa in his press conferences because he simplifies things that mystify a lot of athletes." Nadal's global appeal paled a bit in comparison to Federer not just because of the latter's elegant playing style, but also because of his ability to communicate in multiple languages. To Nadal's disadvantage, he learnt English later on as an adult, which meant that while he spoke nuanced Spanish, his English was 'clipped and caricatural". There were straight translations out of Spanish, Clarey writes, like, 'It's obvious that I started well the match" or 'Today have been a very good Test". The other quirks which amused tennis followers always were the on-court rituals, of placing the water bottles in front of his chair, the pre-serve ticks of tucking his hair behind his ears and tugging his shorts. Nadal says that in his personal life he is disorganised, but on court he needed to be organised because routines allowed him to stay totally focussed. 'He didn't win 14 Roland Garroses with his muscles. He won them with his head," says Wojtek Fibak, an informal adviser to the Nadals and a former player. Sprinkled with anecdotes, comments from players across generations, details of some of Nadal's greatest matches, Clarey covers a lot of ground. He keeps this distinctly different from The Master, making it more personal, with repeated references to his time at the NYT and his access to players. By force of will and reliability, Clarey writes, Nadal became a reference point, a way of measuring time for all those associated with Roland Garros. He takes the example of Marc Maury, the master of ceremonies at Roland Garros, whose voice would be familiar to television audiences. Maury would recite all the years, one by one in French, that Nadal won the title, 'Deux mille cinq, deux mille six, deux mille sept…" before the player stepped on to the court. 'His (Maury's) long and lilting enumeration became the best testimony to the absurdity of Nadal's achievement," writes Clarey about a player who has become so emblematic with this event that this year's ongoing tournament seems incomplete without him—barring that emotional cameo at the felicitation ceremony. Arun Janardhan is a Mumbai-based journalist who covers sports, business leaders and lifestyle. Also Read Reliving India's historic 1975 Hockey World Cup win
Indian Express
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Nephew Nadal and how everyone needs to have an Uncle Toni in their lives
Back in the day, Rafael Nadal, 15, endured a strange evening. In the company of two men he respected, Rafa sat silently listening to them speculate about his future. This was early 2000 and Nadal, along with his coach and uncle, Toni, were guests at the home of Spain's national hero of that period – the square-jawed, long-haired Carlos Moya. During dinner, Moya, Spain's first-ever World No.1, threw a ridiculous question at Toni. Can you sign on a paper proclaiming that Rafael will turn out to be as good as Albert Costa? Just a few months back, Costa had won the French Open. Not known for diplomacy or false modesty, Toni declined. In his deep tenor-like voice, he said Nadal would do better than Costa. Moya didn't end the game there. 'Do you think he is as good as me, can you sign on to that?' Years later, recalling those bizarre meal-time events in a podcast; Toni said he reluctantly signed the paper just to be courteous to their generous host. But once the goodbyes were done and Toni was sure that the door behind their back was shut, he looked at an utterly confused young Rafa. 'I told him, I should have never signed on it but had to. I am sure you will be better than him. For me, it is not enough for you to be Carlos Moya.' Everyone deserves an Uncle Toni in their lives but only a few lucky nephews and nieces are blessed to have one. Nadal would at times feel the greatness inside him but he wasn't sure. Toni was always around to remind Rafa that he was the 'Special One'. The uncle also forced him to train hard, shielded him from distractions and, like that evening at Moya's home, didn't let his impressionable ward be satisfied by being merely as good as one of his idols and limit his goals. That day when he had signed the paper at Moya's home, Toni knew Rafa would one day put his indelible signature on the game. What he couldn't have imagined, it would be in the form of a red-clay footmark, etched on a sparkling white tile and cemented next to the net at Court Philippe Chatrier forever. Who could have read the mind of the aesthetically blessed and incredibly graceful French? In his teary, emotional speech at his grand Paris farewell the other day, where the French in the stands kept reaching for their handkerchiefs, Nadal extended a 'thousand thank yous' to Toni. He did mention his parents, sister, friends and wife but Nadal's virtual 'what do I say' surrender when it came to paying tribute to his mentor and guide underlined uncle Toni's role in the making of the Clay King. This was so like Sachin Tendulkar at the end of his career at Wankhede, pouring his heart out when talking about his own Toni – elder brother Ajit. 'Toni, you are the reason I am here. Thank you for dedicating a large part of your life to wanting to be with me. Training, speaking and winning, making me suffer, making me laugh, and pushing me to my limit. What I experienced was not always easy but, without doubt, it was worth the pain. Toni, my gratitude for the sacrifice you made for me is infinite. The best trainer I could have had. A thousand thank yous.' In the stands, Toni was being his stone-faced self. His eyes did squint, but there were no tears. He had been at Nadal's 14 triumphs here, sat through some disappointing losses, gulped down emotions watching his warrior nephew play through pain. He had seen it all. This was a happy 'last goodbye' party. Known as 'Dr No' for his stubborn nature, Toni isn't known to be the sentimental kind. Having an uncle, and not a father, as coach has some unique advantages. With a parent, a child can take liberties, throw a tantrum to try to get concessions in training. A strict uncle doesn't allow all that. Toni had a torturous coaching regime – he would make a young Rafa train on under-prepared clay courts, make him play with old bald balls, didn't allow him to drink water during a session, forced him to have endless repetitions and on days even reduced him to tears. Teenager Rafael Nadal playing tennis with uncle Toni 😊 — Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) October 16, 2024 But Toni knew the limits of the young boy's patience. He ensured that Nadal didn't start to hate tennis. He would also cajole him, show patience with his mistakes and also be his protector. Once Toni couldn't travel for a tournament with pre-teen Nadal, so he asked a local coach to accompany him. Before they left, Toni had a word with the new coach. 'Don't be tough with my nephew, I am tough enough,' he said. Nadal's father was Toni's elder brother and they all lived in one big building. The family patriarch was a musician. Rafael was the family's first grandchild, a favourite among his uncles. In his book 'The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay,' Christopher Clarey mentions how Toni, besides teaching him tennis skills, was also his 'unofficial performance psychologist'. He was an incredible story-teller, who wanted the trust of his nephew. Toni wanted Nadal to believe that he had magical powers and can do anything – even make him invincible. A charming little anecdote from the time Nadal was seven explains this. To relax his nephew before a crucial game against an 11-year-old, Toni came up with a story. He told Little Nadal that in case he was trailing in the game, he could magically arrange for rain and the game would be washed out. The game would start with Nadal trailing 4-0 and Toni getting restless. But the tide turned and it was 4-3 soon. That's when the skies opened up and there was a downpour. Nadal took his word. He was too obedient to challenge his elder. The match had started with Nadal 0-4 down. Toni's promised showers were nowhere around. Left with no option, Nadal hit back. 1-4, 2-4, 3-4 … Over to the book, where Clarey quotes Toni. 'At 4–3, it starts to rain, so I stop the match and take shelter on a porch at the club. And Rafa comes up to me when the other player can't see him and tells me, 'Listen … I think you can stop the rain because I think I can beat this guy.'' That lovely story then takes a big jump. Cut to 2008 and the Wimbledon final against Federer. Here Nadal takes the first two sets and it starts to rain. 'Toni reached Rafael in the locker room during the forced break, Rafael's first words to him were – 'Now was not the time to make it rain!', writes Clarey. The two laugh and after a while the rain actually stops. Nadal loses the next two sets, but in the final set, beats Federer to win his first Wimbledon. It was a miracle, a Spaniard had won on grass. So how could Toni agree that his nephew was as good as Costa or Moya? How could he have undervalued the precious diamond he was so diligently polishing? Everyone deserves an Uncle Toni in their lives but only a few lucky nephews and nieces are blessed to have them.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Djokovic rolls past Moutet to reach French Open last 32
Novak Djokovic celebrates a winning point against France's Corentin Moutet at Roland-Garros. (AP pic) PARIS : Novak Djokovic extended his perfect record against French players at Roland Garros with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) win over Corentin Moutet to reach the third round on Thursday. It was largely plain sailing for the 38-year-old Djokovic although he did have to save a set point to force a tie-break in the third set. That came after the 24-time Grand Slam champion took a medical timeout earlier in the set to receive treatment for a blister on his left foot. 'Things got a little bit complicated with the blister. That was bothering me for a bit,' said Djokovic. 'But I don't think it's going to be an issue for me to recover.' Just when Moutet threatened to prolong the match, Djokovic clicked back into gear – a day after a nighttime cycle around the Arc de Triomphe – to improve to 12-0 against Frenchmen at Roland Garros. 'Obviously atmosphere was electric, especially in that third set. He was close to win it, so the crowd got involved. And it was, yeah, not much fun for me,' said Djokovic. He is through to the last 32 in Paris for the 20th time, more than even 14-time champion Rafael Nadal managed. But Djokovic said he would not repeat his jaunt around the notoriously busy Place Charles de Gaulle, where 12 avenues converge. 'At one point we had cars all over the place. It was quite an adrenaline experience, but I don't think I will repeat that,' he said. 'Probably in all other streets, it's much more safe. But, yeah, we were crazy enough to get into that roundabout. It was fun but at one point but also a bit dangerous.' Djokovic will play 23-year-old Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic for a spot in the last 16. Misolic withstood a comeback from Canadian 27th seed Denis Shapovalov to prevail 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 4-6, 6-3. The three-time French Open champion issued a playful appeal to tournament organisers not to schedule his next match on Saturday night, to avoid a clash with the Champions League final. Paris St-Germain will be bidding for a first European crown against Inter Milan. Kick-off in Munich is roughly 30 minutes after the evening session begins at Roland Garros. 'It's going to be PSG that I will support. I will definitely watch it if I'm not playing night session,' said Djokovic.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Jannik Sinner crushes Richard Gasquet at Roland Garros to end Frenchman's career
Italy's Jannik Sinner, left, speaks to retiring opponent Richard Gasquet after Sinner's victory in their second round match at the French Open. Photo: ALAIN JOCARD/AFP World number one Jannik Sinner sent Frenchman Richard Gasquet into retirement with a 6-3 6-0 6-4 hammering in the battle of generations at the French Open to ease into the third round. It was the second time in as many years in Paris that the 23-year-old beat local hero Gasquet, who said he would end his career that started over two decades ago and yielded 16 tour-level singles titles after his home Grand Slam. With his team watching on in matching white T-shirts that read "Merci Richard" the 38-year-old Gasquet soaked up his ovation and video messages from peers including Novak Djokovic and the recently retired Rafa Nadal on the big screen. "I'd like to thank Jannik for his kindness and the player that he is and I know he'll have a great career," Gasquet said. "I have great memories with all of you. You all supported me in defeat and victory ... I began playing in a club in the south and travelled and played across France. So I remember all the tournaments I played in, not just Roland Garros. "We always had a welcome here that was extraordinary. I'd like to thank the federation. Tennis finishes for me today." Gasquet, who made his French Open debut in 2002 when top seed Sinner was still in a crib, drew huge roars from the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd when he unleashed his single-handed backhand on the Italian early in the match. Fans were slightly more subdued when Sinner raced ahead 4-1 and won the opening set, before they were almost silenced when he dished out a bagel in the next set to leave Gasquet with a mountain to climb. Sinner faced more resistance in the first eight games of the next set as Gasquet mounted an unlikely comeback attempt, but he broke for a 5-4 lead and promptly closed out the match, before paying tribute to his opponent. "We have a good relationship off the court. We're different generations, but it's your moment," Sinner said. "Congrats to your family, your team. Without great people around each player, it's impossible to make such an incredible career. You played in such an incredible era of tennis and everyone will recognise you, even after your retirement." Victory ensured US and Australian Open champion Sinner became the first man born in 1990 or later to record 16 straight wins at Grand Slams. He will next play Czech Jiri Lehecka. US Coco Gauff plays a backhand return to Czech Republic's Tereza Valentova during their women's singles match at the French Open. Photo: DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP Second seed Coco Gauff moved into the French Open third round by beating unseeded Czech Tereza Valentova 6-2 6-4 although the American did not have things all her own way. Gauff came under threat from the 18-year-old Valentova's powerful serve but found a way past her thanks to her relentless returning and powerful groundstrokes. "She's very young and I knew it would be a tough match," 2022 runner-up Gauff said. The 21-year-old took the opening set in 35 minutes but a string of service breaks, three in total, made the second a lot more competitive as her Czech opponent refused to go down quietly. Gauff, a finalist in Madrid and Rome this year, will next take on Marie Bouzkova. In the men's draw, a fatigued Alex De Minaur lost his second round match and called for the tennis calendar to be shortened, warning that a failure to take action soon could result in players burning out physically and mentally. The season kicked off with the United Cup mixed team tournament in December, 33 days after the Davis Cup Finals ended in Spain, and the gruelling nature of the circuit has come under a harsh spotlight in recent years. "No one's got a solution," De Minaur said after his 2-6 2-6 6-4 6-3 6-2 defeat by Alexander Bublik. "But the solution is simple: you shorten the schedule, right? What's not normal is that for the last three, four years I've had two days off after the Davis Cup and I've gone straight into pre-season, straight into the new season again. "Once you start, you don't finish until November 24. So it's never ending. The way it's structured ... I had to deal with that. I'm still dealing with that right now. "The solution is you shorten (the tour), because what's going to happen is players' careers are going to get shorter and shorter because they're just going to burn out mentally. There's just too much tennis." Twice French Open finalist Casper Ruud said after his shock exit this week that the ATP's ranking system was like a "rat race" and players felt compelled to compete in the men's tour's mandatory events even if they are carrying injuries. The seventh seed lost to unseeded Nuno Borges, with the Norwegian saying he had been struggling with knee pain. New Zealand's best doubles players, Michael Venus and Erin Routliffe, are through to the second round of the mixed doubles after beating Joe Salisbury of Britain and Tereza Mihalikova of Slovakia 7-5 6-3. The fifth seeds will play Briton Neal Skupski and American Desirae Krawczyk in the second round on Saturday. Venus and Nikola Mektić of Croatia will also be playing in the men's second round doubles on Saturday night, against Yuko Bhambri of India and American Robert Galloway. Lulu Sun and Yuan Yue of China will play second seeds Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani of Italy in the second round of women's doubles on Saturday night. Paolini and Errani beat Routliffe and former singles number one Victoria Azarenka in the first round. - Reuters/RNZ Sport
