Rafael Nadal

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Nadal Captures 5th French Open

Roundly defeats Robin Soderling at Roland Garros

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal has reclaimed his crown as the King of Clay. Chasing down shots all over the court, the relentless Spaniard won his fifth French Open title today and avenged his lone Roland Garros defeat, beating Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Nadal improved to 38-1 at Roland Garros, with the...

Soderling Bounces Defending Champ Federer

Swede snaps 6-year streak of Grand Slam semis at 23

(Newser) - There will be a Grand Slam semifinal without Roger Federer for the first time in 6 years. French Open upset specialist Robin Soderling struck again today, rallying past defending champion Federer in a rainy quarterfinal, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4. That ended Federer's record streak of reaching the semifinals in 23...

Nadal Drops Out, Roddick Dumped at Aussie Open

Croatian Marin Cilic prevails in marathon match

(Newser) - Defending champ Rafael Nadal dropped out of the Australian Open today with a knee injury, and Andy Roddick was knocked out by Croatian Marin Cilic. The 14th seed Cilic beat the four-time semi-finalist 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3 in a marathon match lasting 230 minutes. The seventh-seeded American struggled with...

Henin Fights Into Semifinals
 Henin Fights Into Semifinals 
AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Henin Fights Into Semifinals

Belgian, 27, in first Grand Slam since ending retirement

(Newser) - Former world No. 1 Justine Henin reached the semifinals in her Grand Slam comeback, beating Nadia Petrova 7-6 (3), 7-5 Tuesday to take out the last seeded player in her half of the Australian Open draw. The 27-year-old Henin, unranked and playing on a wild-card entry at Melbourne Park after...

Earthquake Relief a Hit With Tennis Stars
 Earthquake Relief 
 a Hit With Tennis Stars 
haiti earthquake

Earthquake Relief a Hit With Tennis Stars

Federer throws together 'Hit for Haiti,' raises big bucks

(Newser) - Stars of the tennis universe got together today to hit a few—and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Haiti earthquake relief. Less than a day before the start of the Australian Open, Roger Federer threw together "Hit for Haiti," a slate of doubles matches enlivened by...

Del Potro Routs Nadal for First Grand Slam Final

Nadal admits strained abdomen hampered play

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal looked lost, swallowed up by the huge serves and crushing forehands coming at him from the 6-foot-6 opponent across the net. That was Juan Martin del Potro, who made his first Grand Slam final, handing Nadal a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 loss today at the US Open—the worst...

Injured Nadal Won't Defend Wimbledon Title

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal announced today that he will not defend his Wimbledon title, the BBC reports. A nagging knee injury and losses in exhibitions today and yesterday appear to have convinced the world’s No. 1 tennis player to bow out of the tournament, to begin Monday. “He is having...

Nadal Falls in 4th Round
 Nadal Falls in 4th Round 
French Open

Nadal Falls in 4th Round

23rd seed Soderling breaks Rafa's 31-match French Open win streak

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal's unbeaten run at the French Open is over. The four-time defending champion has lost to Robin Soderling of Sweden in the fourth round, ending his record 31-match winning streak at Roland Garros. Soderling, seeded 23rd at this year's tournament, ran Nadal ragged on center court with his hard...

Tennis Elite No Longer Sees Red Over Clay

(Newser) - Clay has long been the red-headed stepchild of the tennis world, with top pros like John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, and Pete Sampras almost taking pride in never winning a French Open. The term “clay-court specialist” was a veiled insult. Now, though, world No. 1 Rafael Nadal is a clay-court...

Nadal Denies Federer, Wins Open

Tennis was sometimes sloppy, but drama always finely tuned

(Newser) - Roger Federer fell short of a record-tying 14th major title when his final shot went long, giving the game, set, match, and Australian Open title to Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard's third straight finals victory over Federer came in a tough and sometimes sloppy five sets, and marks his first Grand...

Nadal Makes Aussie Open Final
 Nadal Makes Aussie Open Final 

Nadal Makes Aussie Open Final

Wins in longest match in tournament history

(Newser) - Top-ranked Rafael Nadal outlasted fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (1), 6-4 today to reach the Australian Open final after the longest match in the tournament's history. The fans were riveted as the left-handed Davis Cup teammates went at each other for 5 hours and 14...

Federer Tops Roddick on Way to Finals

Swiss ace dominated in 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 win

(Newser) - Roger Federer moved within one victory of his 14th Grand Slam title, blasting Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 today to reach the Australian Open final. The second-ranked Federer outplayed Roddick—who’d trained specifically to play him and top seed Rafael Nadal—in every phase of the game, ripping winners...

Nadal, Serena Reach Semis in 110° Heat

Extreme temperatures force delays at Australian Open

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal cruised into the semifinals of the Australian Open, winning his fifth straight-set victory at Melbourne Park over France's Gilles Simon, 6-2, 7-5, 7-5. He will face fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, while Roger Federer will play Andy Roddick. Nadal's victory came as the heat in Melbourne reached 110°, forcing...

Murray Bombs Out, Serena Catches a Break

Men's favorite loses in five while Williams opponent concedes

(Newser) - Andy Murray's dream of winning a Grand Slam will have to wait, as the Scot tapped by many as the likely winner of the Australian Open went out in the fourth round. Spain's Fernando Verdasco overpowered the No. 4 seed to win 2-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. Murray has been...

Rafa, What's With the Collar? And ... Sleeves?

Nadal dons polo, ditches capris in Nike makeover

(Newser) - When Rafael Nadal emerged a few weeks ago without his signature capris and—gasp!—wearing a polo shirt, many fans of the top-ranked tennis player began grumbling. And now his Australian Open outfits, though a bit less Roger Federer-esque, are still no longer pirate chic, but more “retro...

Venus Ousted in Round 2 of Aussie Open

Sixth seed loses to Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro

(Newser) - Venus Williams has never won an Australian Open, and she won't win this one. The seven-time Grand Slam champ lost today in the second round to unseeded Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, AFP reports. "I haven't quite figured out the areas of my game that went wrong, but I...

Nadal Takes Top Seed
 Nadal Takes Top Seed 

aussie open slideshow

Nadal Takes Top Seed

(Newser) - When the first tennis Grand Slam of the year gets under way in Australia Monday, a familiar name won't be atop the seedings. Roger Federer will be the No. 2 seed after four straight years in the top spot at Melbourne, the AP reports. Spaniard Rafael Nadal will be No....

Murray Stuns Nadal at US Open
 Murray Stuns Nadal at US Open

Murray Stuns Nadal at US Open

(Newser) - No one ever seems to run Rafael Nadal ragged, and yet Andy Murray did just that in the US Open semifinals. Murray finished a stunning, rain-interrupted 6-2, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4 victory today at Flushing Meadows to reach his first Grand Slam final and stop the No. 1-ranked Nadal's 19-match...

On Night of Upsets, Blake Falls to Friend
On Night of Upsets, Blake Falls to Friend
US OPEN

On Night of Upsets, Blake Falls to Friend

Nadal advances easily, but other leaders get unwelcome shocks

(Newser) - Despite James Blake's hometown support in Flushing Meadows and recent victory over Roger Federer, the No. 9 seed couldn't move on to the fourth round of the US Open. Standing in his way was Mardy Fish, the friend for whom Blake will serve as groomsman next month, the New York ...

Tough 1st Round Tests Nadal
 Tough 1st Round
 Tests Nadal

Tough 1st Round Tests Nadal

World's new No. 1 showed fatigue in 3-hour match

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal moved on to the second round of the US Open last night, but the world's new No. 1 seed had a tougher fight than expected against a qualifier. The Spaniard took three hours and two tiebreakers to defeat Bjorn Phau, 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4). After winning the...

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