Rafael Nadal – News Stories About Rafael Nadal - Page 4

Aug 26, 2008 6:59 AM CDT

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...

Merely Mortal,
Federer Starts
US Open

Aug 25, 2008 7:33 AM CDT

Merely Mortal, Federer Starts US Open

4-time champion faces uphill battle to defend title

(Newser) - The US Open starts today, and Roger Federer will defend his title at Flushing Meadows from an unfamiliar position—the No. 2 seed. Although he's won the tournament 4 years straight, a torrid 2008 has left the Swiss champion extremely vulnerable. "That twinkling star over his head has been...

Federer's Grass
Now Nadal's
Shade of
Green

ANALYSIS

Jul 7, 2008 11:44 AM CDT

Federer's Grass Now Nadal's Shade of Green

Victories in French, Wimbledon finals give Spaniard upper hand—if not No. 1 ranking

(Newser) - A year meant to land Roger Federer in the record books, surpassing Pete Samparas’ Grand Slam total, has instead left Sandra Harwitt, writing on ESPN.com, wondering if the 12-time winner remains the game’s top player. After their epic Wimbledon final, it’s abundantly clear Rafael Nadal “continues...

Nadal Triumphs at Wimbledon

Jul 6, 2008 3:41 PM CDT

Nadal Triumphs at Wimbledon

Defending champ Federer falls in 5-set nail-biter

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal edged out defending Wimbledon champ Roger Federer today in a five-set nail-biter, NBC Sports reports. Nadal clinched the 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7 upset by breaking Federer four times; Federer broke Nadal only once in 13 chances. Today's match was the sixth Grand Slam title match...

Nadal's Ready For Federer

OPINION

Jul 5, 2008 5:23 PM CDT

Nadal's Ready For Federer

World No. 2 isn't done improving his grass game

(Newser) - Those who dismiss Rafael Nadal's grass game forget that the 22-year-old has improved every year he's been on the scene, and his growth as a competitor is far from finished, writes Greg Garber for ESPN. "Give him time," says Nadal's uncle and coach. In Sunday's Wimbledon final against...

Federer, Nadal Back
in Wimbledon Final

Jul 4, 2008 12:21 PM CDT

Federer, Nadal Back in Wimbledon Final

World's top two players each cruise through semis in straight sets

(Newser) - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will meet in their third consecutive Wimbledon final after commanding semifinal victories today. Federer outplayed Marat Safin 6-3, 7-6 (6-3), 6-4 with a nearly flawless performance, leaving him one win from his sixth consecutive Wimbledon title and 13th Grand Slam championship. It was his 65th...

Federer, Safin, Nadal Reach Wimbledon Semifinals

Jul 2, 2008 4:13 PM CDT

Federer, Safin, Nadal Reach Wimbledon Semifinals

Dark halts last match to fill men's final four

(Newser) - Five-time champion Roger Federer outclassed Mario Ancic—the last man to beat him at Wimbledon—in straight sets today to reach the semifinals and extend his grass-court winning streak to 64 matches on the first day of significant rain delays at the All England Club. In the bottom half of...

Venus Wins With Record
Serve at Wimbledon

Jun 28, 2008 1:57 PM CDT

Venus Wins With Record Serve at Wimbledon

Defending champ advances to fourth round after dispatching Sanchez

(Newser) - Venus Williams served her way into history today, dispatching Spaniard Maria Sanchez 6-1, 7-5 and finishing with a 127-mph delivery, the fastest ever by a woman at Wimbledon. “I was happy with that one,” gushed the defending champ, aiming for her fourth title. She and number two seed...

Could Nadal Dominate Wimbledon?

Jun 20, 2008 10:41 AM CDT

Could Nadal Dominate Wimbledon?

Stage may be set for clay-court wizard to win on grass ... finally

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal has long since proven his skill on clay, and now the four-time French Open winner appears to have a serious shot at the Wimbledon crown. Rafa was on his game last week at the Queen's Club, beating Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic and proving that he doesn't have...

Nadal Tops
Federer, Wins
4th French Open

Jun 8, 2008 10:58 AM CDT

Nadal Tops Federer, Wins 4th French Open

Spaniard easily overcomes world's No. 1

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal won his fourth consecutive French Open title today, easily beating the world’s No. 1 player, Roger Federer. Nadal swept six early games in the match and won 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. Federer hoped to win the Open and become the sixth man to win all four major titles....

Tennis Pro, 15, Youngest Winner Since '02

Apr 14, 2008 10:59 PM CDT

Tennis Pro, 15, Youngest Winner Since '02

Ryan Harrison expected to move up 500 spots in rankings

(Newser) - Fifteen-year-old Ryan Harrison beat Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 6-4, 6-3 in the U.S. Clay Court Championship on Monday to become the 10th player in the Open Era to win a main-draw match before his 16th birthday. Harrison is also the youngest player to get a main-draw win on the...

Roddick Puts US in
Davis Cup Semis

Apr 13, 2008 6:46 PM CDT

Roddick Puts US in Davis Cup Semis

US will face Spain next - Roddick vs. Nadal

(Newser) - Andy Roddick proved dominant again in the Davis Cup, sending the defending champion United States past France today and into the semifinals against Spain. Roddick defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 for the deciding. This was Roddick's second singles victory in three days. This marks the sixth straight Davis Cup...

Davydenko Beats Nadal
in Key Biscayne Final

Apr 6, 2008 8:08 PM CDT

Davydenko Beats Nadal in Key Biscayne Final

ATP investigation proves to be no distraction

(Newser) - Nikolay Davydenko became the first Russian to win the Sony Ericsson Open men's title when he finished off Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-2 in today’s final. The title was Davydenko's first this year while playing under the cloud of an ATP investigation into heavy wagering on a match he lost...

Davydenko to Face Nadal in Key Biscayne title match

Apr 5, 2008 12:30 AM CDT

Davydenko to Face Nadal in Key Biscayne title match

Beats Andy Roddick, 7-6 (5), 6-2

(Newser) - Nikolay Davydendo beat Andy Roddick 7-6 (5), 6-2 Friday night, setting up a title showdown with Rafael Nadal in the final of the Sony Ericsson Open. Earlier Friday, No. 2-seeded Nadal beat Tomas Berdych 7-6 (6), 6-2. Davydenko's victory denied Roddick a chance to savor his emotional win 24 hours...

Roddick Serves Out Nadal

Mar 6, 2008 10:26 PM CST

Roddick Serves Out Nadal

Heads to Dubai semifinals sans coach Jimmy Connors

(Newser) - Andy Roddick advanced to semifinal action at the Dubai Tennis Championships today, upsetting Spaniard Rafael Nadal in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-2, reports the AP. The No. 1 American-born player aced his way to victory, serving 17 of them throughout the match. "I knew I was going to hit...

Unseeded Tsonga Crushes Nadal

Jan 24, 2008 4:42 PM CST

Unseeded Tsonga Crushes Nadal

French phenom roars into Australian Open final in straight set upset

(Newser) - ESPN's Bonnie Ford called it the "Tsonga Tsunami": a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 wipeout of world #2 Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open semifinals which stunned the tennis world Thursday in Melbourne. Using a wide array of shots to score winners from everywhere on the court, Tsonga made Nadal -whose...

Sharapova Shocks No. 1 Henin to
Reach Semis

Jan 22, 2008 7:31 AM CST

Sharapova Shocks No. 1 Henin to Reach Semis

Nadal and Tsonga advance for men

(Newser) - First-ranked Justine Henin saw her 32-match win streak extinguished as an exultant Maria Sharapova put the Belgian away 6-4, 6-0, AP reports. The No. 5 Sharapova will need another upset to get through the semifinals of the Australian Open, where she will face No. 3 Jelena Jankovic. "I really...

Nadal, Sharapova Advance

Jan 20, 2008 1:33 PM CST

Nadal, Sharapova Advance

Williams, Henin, Ferrero taste victory

(Newser) - Spain’s Rafael Nadal quickly advanced to the Australian Open’s fourth round today, when a calf injury forced French opponent Paul-Henri Matthieu to drop out; Nadal was ahead 6-4, 3-0. Justine Henin made short work of her opponent, Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei, 6-2, 6-2, as did Maria Sharapova, who...

Roddick Bounced Down Under

Jan 18, 2008 11:20 AM CST

Roddick Bounced Down Under

Mauresmo upset on women's side

(Newser) - Andy Roddick was knocked out of the Australian Open today, losing a 4-hour, five-set epic to Philipp Kohlschreiber despite notching a personal best 42 aces. “It's the best that happened to me in tennis,” Kohlschreiber said of bouncing the sixth-seeded American. “I enjoyed every second.” Another...

Top Women's Seeds Advance at Melbourne

Jan 14, 2008 10:02 PM CST

Top Women's Seeds Advance at Melbourne

Serena, Sharapova, Henin move on in '08's first Grand Slam event

(Newser) - Top seed Justine Henin started the '08 Grand Slam season the way she ended last year's - with a victory; this time with a two-set win over Aiko Nakamura of Japan, reports AP. Defending champion Serena Williams, sporting bright fuchsia on this day, took to the new blue Plexicushion surface...