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Rafael Nadal collapsed due to cramps during a press conference at the US Open. This comes minutes after his 3-set victory over David Nalbandian.
Source: sport24.co.za
Novak Djokovic underlined his new status as the world’s top tennis player by shattering Rafael Nadal’s winning streak at Wimbledon to add his own name to the roll of honour at The Championships for the first time.
The 24-year-old Serb, with his country’s president watching from the Royal Box, won 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in two hours 28 minutes to continue his domination of tennis – and Nadal in particular – throughout this most amazing season in his career. Five times in succession he has now defeated the Spaniard in finals, but none were as important or will taste as sweet as this.
Djokovic is the first from his country to capture a Wimbledon singles title and his joy as a Nadal backhand sailed over the baseline was unconfined. He fell flat on his back, arose with both arms uplifted before squatting down with his head in his hands to briefly contemplate what he had achieved.
Rafael Nadal (1) withstood an early Andy Murray (4) assault in their Wimbledon semi-final yesterday to emerge victoriously by three sets to one.
Nadal won 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 to put an end to all Britons’ hope of having a British champion in a Wimbledon final for the first time in 75 years.
Fourth seed Murray played a brilliant first set to get the Centre Court crowd buzzing but the Spaniard took it all in his stride and combining his remarkable big-match temperament and incredible consistency fought back for a fully-deserved victory.
It took just under two hours for Serena and Venus Williams to be bundled out of Wimbledon yesterday, disproving the fact that they can just march back after months of absence and dominate the grass courts once again.
First it was the defending champion Serena who were beaten by 6-3 7-6 by Marion Bartoli from France. Then five-times champion Venus was crushed in straight sets 6-2 6-3 by Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova.
World number one Caroline Wozniacki also departed but the Manic Monday carnage did not extend to the men’s singles although defending champion Rafa Nadal suffered a major injury scare during a scintillating late evening win over Juan Martin del Potro in front of a captivated Centre Court crowd.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal recovered from a slow start and brushed off American Micheal Russell to win his opening match in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
The Spaniard found himself a break down at 4-2 in the first set before clocking up six straight games to take the first set and go 2-0 up in the second.
Rafael Nadal won the French Open and his 10th Grand Slam tennis title on Sunday as he continued his mastery over Roger Federer.
Grinding along the baseline, using every inch of his wingspan to extend points, whipping fearsome forehands this way and that, Nadal flum- moxed Federer yet again Sunday in a riveting, 3 1/2 -hour highlight-filled match, beating him 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-1 for a record-tying sixth French Open championship and 10th major title overall.
“He plays better against the better ones, and that’s what he showed today,” said Federer, owner of 16 Grand Slam trophies. “He’s a great champion, on clay, especially.”
There’s no question that Nadal is as good as it gets in Paris – 45-1 for his career, and the same number of titles there as Bjorn Borg – but the Spaniard already also has shown that he is much more than the King of Clay. And Sunday’s victory will raise more questions about whether Federer truly deserves to be called the Greatest of All Time if he is not even the Greatest of Right Now.
Roger Federer set up a meeting with Rafael Nadal in the final of the French Open tennis final in Roland Garros after ending Novak Djokovic‘s 43-match unbeaten run in spectacular fashion.
Federer, chasing a 17th Grand Slam, sealed a memorable 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5) win in three hours 39 minutes.
The 29-year-old Swiss edged a pulsating first set on a tie-break and took the second with a barrage of groundstrokes.
A clearly rattled Djokovic roared back in the third set but Federer, serving magnificently, was not to be denied.
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