CNN
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Rafael Nadal will miss the French Open for the first time since he made his debut in 2005 after the 14-time champion announced on Thursday that he has withdrawn from the tournament due to injury, adding that “next year is my last year” in professional tennis.

The Spaniard suffered a hip injury during his second-round Australian Open defeat to Mackenzie McDonald in January and initially said he hoped to be fit again within six to eight weeks.

However, in an update posted on social media on April 20 and then again on Thursday, the 22-time grand slam champion said his recovery process was taking longer than anticipated.

Nadal also revealed that he will be away from the court for the next “few months” as he continues to recover, meaning the 36-year-old will also likely miss Wimbledon.

“My ambition is to try to stop to give myself an opportunity to enjoy next year, that’s probably going to be my last year on the professional tour,” Nadal told a press conference at his Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, Spain.

“That’s my idea, even then I can’t say 100% because you never know what can happen – but my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy and try to say goodbye to all the tournaments that have been important for me in my tennis career during [next] year, and just try to enjoy that, being competitive and enjoying being on the court, something that today is not possible.

“I really believe, if I keep going now, I will not be able to make that happen. I don’t know if I stop if I will be able to make that happen, but I know the chances are much higher.”

The ‘King of Clay’ said he intended to return for the Davis Cup Finals, which get underway in September.

Roland Garros

Nadal has lost just three times at the French Open since his victorious debut appearance in 2005, undoubtedly one of the most dominant records in all of sport.

In 2009, he suffered one of the biggest upset in tennis history after losing in the round of 16 to Robin Söderling, before being beaten Novak Djokovic in 2015 and 2021.

In 2016, Nadal withdrew ahead of his third-round match against compatriot Marcel Granollers due to a wrist injury.

Nadal has not played since the Australian Open and in March dropped out of the world’s top 10 for the first time since 2005.

“Rafa, we can’t imagine how hard this decision was,” Roland Garros wrote on Twitter.” We’ll definitely miss you at this year’s Roland-Garros. Take care of yourself to come back stronger on courts.

“Hoping to see you next year in Paris.”

CNN
 — 

It felt like the beginning of the end of an era at the French Open when Rafael Nadal announced his absence from the tournament earlier this month.

Having struggled with a hip injury since the Australian Open, Nadal – a 14-time champion at Roland-Garros – is missing the second grand slam of the year for the first time since his debut in 2005.

He also announced that next year will be his last in professional tennis, which, when it comes, will be a defining moment in the history of the clay-court major – a competition Nadal has dominated for so long.

For now, there is the more pressing matter of who will win this year’s French Open in Paris when it gets underway on Sunday and concludes on June 11.

In the United States, the French Open is available to watch on NBC, streaming service Peacock, Tennis Channel, and Bally Sports. In European territories except France, the tournament is aired on Eurosport.

A list of international broadcasters and the full draw are available on the French Open website.

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz is a clay-court specialist and was unbeaten in 12 matches before suffering a shock defeat against world No. 115 Fábián Marozsán at the Italian Open.

If he is to capture his second grand title, the 20-year-old may have to get past Novak Djokovic – a two-time French Open champion – in the semifinals.

Victory in Paris would see Djokovic win his 23rd grand slam title and overtake Nadal at the top of the men’s all-time list, further staking his claim as the greatest male tennis player in history.

But the Serbian, victorious at the Australian Open at the start of the year, has struggled this clay-court season, failing to get beyond the quarterfinals of three events and missing another with an elbow injury.

“A new generation is here already,” Djokovic said after his quarterfinal defeat at the Italian Open.

“I mean, Alcaraz is No. 1 in the world from [May 22]. Obviously, he’s playing amazing tennis. I think it’s also good for our sport that we have new faces, new guys coming up. It’s normal.

“We’ve been saying this for years, that we can expect it to come, that moment to come when you have kind of a shift of generations.”

Djokovic’s failure to win a title since the Australian Open and Alcaraz’s surprise defeat in Rome perhaps gives hope to some of the other challengers in Paris this year.

Daniil Medvedev – last week’s Italian Open champion – is on an excellent run of form and has the benefit of being on the opposite side of the draw to Alcaraz and Djokovic.

Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas, both former French Open finalists, will be hopeful of having deep runs, while sixth seed Holger Rune looks to be a star for the future having ousted Djokovic at the Italian Open.

In the women’s draw, two-time French Open champion Iga Światek is the favorite, though she has not displayed the same dominance on clay compared to last year, when she cruised to the title as part of a record-breaking, 37-match winning streak.

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, ranked second and fourth in the world respectively, have emerged as fierce rivals to Światek at the top of the women’s game and both have beaten the Polish star in the past month.

That trio, which some are now calling the “Big Three,” have triumphed at the past four grand slams: Światek at the French and US Opens, Rybakina at Wimbledon and Sabalenka in Australia.

“The conditions in Paris should favor Światek, she feels comfortable there and is proving she is definitely playing at a high level of tennis,” said Eurosport expert and former world No. 7 Barbara Schett ahead of the tournament.

“I think it’s good for Iga to have these two players [Sabalenka and Rybakina] that can challenge her and make her stay at the No. 1 spot,” Schett added.

Światek, who has spent more than a year as world No. 1, could be dethroned by Sabalenka at the top of the rankings after the French Open. She begins her campaign against Spain’s Cristina Bucșa.

Women’s tennis has been blighted by controversies in recent weeks, placing renewed focus on the scheduling of the women’s draw at Roland-Garros.

At the Madrid Open: ball girls on the main court were instructed to wear crop tops and short skirts and players in the doubles final were not permitted to speak after the match.

The ball girls’ skirts were later changed for long shorts – although the crop tops remained – and tournament organizer Gerard Tsobanian said it was “unacceptable” not to give the finalists the chance to speak to fans at the end of their match.

Then at the Italian Open, the final between Rybakina and Anhelina Kalinina was rescheduled due to rain and didn’t start until 11 p.m. local time on Saturday – a situation former player Rennae Stubbs described as an “abomination.”

The WTA, however, said that moving the match later was the “right thing to do” in a statement to Reuters.

Questions about scheduling may persist in the coming weeks given the way night sessions were scrutinized at last year’s French Open.

Only one of the 10 games scheduled as a night session in 2022 featured a women’s match – the second-round contest between Alizé Cornet and Jelena Ostapenko. Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo explained how men’s tennis has more “appeal” than the women’s game, to which Światek responded by labeling Mauresmo’s comments “disappointing.”

There is no shortage of star appeal at this year’s French Open.

Alongside the talented trio of Światek, Sabalenka, and Rybakina, the likes of Jessica Pegula, Caroline Garcia, Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur – none of whom have won a grand slam – will be vying for the title at Roland-Garros.

CNN
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Novak Djokovic got his French Open campaign off to a winning start with a dominant victory over American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round.

The No. 3 seed beat Kovacevic in straight sets, 6-3 6-2 7-6(7-1), at Roland Garros as he begins his quest for a third title at the grand slam.

The victory continues his undefeated record in first round French Open matches, moving to 19-0 for his career.

The Serbian also matched a record first set by Roger Federer, becoming the second player in the Open Era to win 65 consecutive first-round matches at grand slam events – between Roland Garros 2006 and 2023.

Without 14-time champion Rafael Nadal in the men’s draw, there is a big opportunity for many players to step up and claim the Coupe des Mousquetaires.

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz is one of the favorites as the top seed, but Djokovic also has a great chance to win a 23rd grand slam title, which would see him overtake Nadal at the top of the men’s all-time list and further staking his claim as the greatest male tennis player in history.

If Djokovic is able to claim a third French Open title, he would return to the top of the men’s world rankings. He also now has 86 wins at the grand slam, second only to Nadal’s 112.

But the 36-year-old has struggled this clay-court season, failing to get beyond the quarterfinals of three events and missing another with an elbow injury.

In the opening two sets against Kovacevic though, Djokovic showed no signs of rust or nerves, calmly dissecting the 24-year-old.

However, Kovacevic – who was a self-professed Djokovic fan as a child and posed for a picture with the Serbian as a seven-year-old at the 2005 US Open – rallied in the third set, breaking Djokovic when he was serving for the match.

Djokovic was the subject of boos from the watching fans when he cupped his ears to the crowd after going up 4-3 in the third set.

Kovacevic eventually battled hard enough to force the third set to a tiebreak which Djokovic won tidily.

The 22-time grand slam champion will now face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in the second round.

CNN
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On a sun kissed but windy Parisian afternoon Novak Djokovic broke one of Rafael Nadal’s French Open records as he progressed to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.

A straightforward 6-3 6-2 6-2 win over Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas on Sunday ensured Djokovic progressed to the last eight at the French Open for a record 17th time, surpassing the absent Rafael Nadal on 16.

The win also inched the Serb closer to a men’s record 23rd career grand slam. Djokovic is currently level with Nadal, who announced Saturday that he would be out of action for at least five months after undergoing hip surgery, on 22 grand slams.

Varillas is ranked 94th in the world but at Roland Garros became the first Peruvian in 29 years to reach the fourth round of a grand slam.

He was no match for world No.3 Djokovic, however, who will next play Russian Karen Khachanov, the 11th seed.

It has been a controversial week for the Serb who made headlines after sending a political message about Kosovo earlier in the tournament, something which he later said he stood by.

After his first round victory on Monday, Djokovic wrote “Kosovo is the [heart symbol] of Serbia. Stop the violence” on a TV camera lens in response to violent clashes in Kosovo. Tensions have been rising in the past week in Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

“Of course, I’m aware that a lot of people would disagree, but it is what it is,” Djokovic said on Wednesday after his second-round victory against Hungary’s Márton Fucsovics. “It’s something that I stand for. So that’s all.”

“A drama-free grand slam, I don’t think it can happen for me,” he added on Wednesday. “You know, I guess that drives me as well.”

CNN
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For years, the ‘Big Three’ of men’s tennis – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – have hoovered up grand slams, each providing their own reasons to be crowned as the greatest men’s player of all time.

Now, with Federer retired and Nadal injured, Djokovic has an opportunity to stake his own claim in that unending debate and win a record 23rd grand slam title on Sunday at the French Open, surpassing the mark he currently holds with Nadal.

Standing in Djokovic’s way is Casper Ruud, who has now reached three of the last five grand slam finals, including last year’s final at Roland Garros where he was dismantled 6-3 6-3 6-0 by Nadal.

If Djokovic can win on Sunday, he will also return to the top of the world rankings and become the first male player to win each grand slam tournament at least three times. Such pressure, however, is familiar to the Serb, he said after his semifinal victory.

“History is always something that’s hovering over me, but I’m very happy to be in this position to write history of this sport,” he said, according to the ATP Tour. “I’m just thinking about winning the next match.

“Pressure is always on my shoulders, so it’s not going to be different. But it’s part of my sport, part of my life, all that I do. I think that having pressure is a privilege. But it’s a source of motivation, as well. Great motivation to play well and to reach Sunday.”

It has been a relatively straightforward route to the final for Djokovic, as he has dropped just two sets – one against Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals and one against the No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals.

That match against Alcaraz had been billed as a classic, but in the end, Djokovic coasted to victory after the young Spaniard suffered from cramp at the beginning of the third set, with the match finely poised at a set apiece.

The Serb has been imperious in grand slams during the last three years, a loss to Nadal at the French Open last year the only blemish at the majors in which he has been able to compete.

But lining up against such a dominant player is a familiar position for Ruud as he faces an opponent seeking to break or extend their record grand slam title total for the second consecutive year.

“Last year it was against Rafa, this year it’s against Novak, so what can you say? It’s two of the toughest players in history,” Ruud said after his semifinal victory, according to the Guardian. “I’ve got to be the underdog like today, playing without too many feelings, just try to enjoy.”

The 24-year-old Norwegian has never even won a set against Djokovic, losing all four of their matches, and that gulf ensures that he will walk onto court as the underdog, though he can now draw on the experience of two previous grand slam final appearances.

“It’s going to be tough, for sure,” Ruud said, according to the ATP Tour. “He’s playing for his 23rd. I’m playing for my first. So I’m going to just try to play without pressure and just try to enjoy the moment.

“I think that was my mentality last year (against Nadal) as well, and it didn’t go my way. Obviously, I would like to try to do better than last year. Let’s see if I have learned something from the two previous (major finals) that I played last year. It just feels great to be back.”

Despite coming into the tournament after a mixed start to the season, Ruud has found his form, winning against a top-10 player at a grand slam for the first time when he defeated Holger Rune in the quarterfinals, and dismantling Alexander Zverev in the semifinals.

That semifinal performance will galvanize Ruud ahead of the final, as he seeks to upset the odds and take a first grand slam title.

Spain’s iconic tennis player Rafael Nadal has announced his decision to retire from the sport at the age of 38 following next month’s Davis Cup finals.

“I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially,” Nadal, who won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, said in a video posted on social media on Thursday.

“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup representing my country,” the 38-year-old, who won a record 14 French Open titles, added in the emotional message.

“It’s closing the circle because one of my first joys was the final in Sevilla in 2004.”

The Davis Cup knockout phase will be played from November 19-24.

Nadal’s 23-year career has been hampered by injuries and he missed the 2023 French Open and was beaten in the first round by German Alexander Zverev this year.

The ‘King of Clay’ won his last Roland Garros title in 2022 and left Paris on a jaw-dropping 112-4 win-loss record.

Nadal played only 23 matches in the last two seasons.

He will hang up his racket two years after his great rival Roger Federer, leaving 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia as the only member of the ‘Big Three’ still active.

Nadal thanked his family and his team for his stellar career, with a special word for his uncle Toni, who was his coach for most of his time on court.

“I believe that thanks to him, I have also been able to overcome many situations that have been difficult in my sporting career,” he said.

To his fans, Nadal said: “I can’t thank you enough for what you have made me feel. Everything I have experienced has been a dream come true.”

“I leave with the absolute peace of mind having given my best,” he added.

Spain’s tennis legend Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam singles champion, announced on Thursday that he will retire from professional tennis at the conclusion of the season, effective after the Davis Cup final.
In a heartfelt video message, the 38-year-old reflected on his career and the challenges he faced in recent years. “It has been some difficult years, these last two especially,” Nadal said.

“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup representing my country. It’s closing the circle because one of my first joys was the final in Sevilla in 2004,” he added.
Known for his unparalleled dominance at the French Open, where he claimed a record 14 titles, Nadal’s retirement marks the end of an era in tennis, leaving fans and the sport to bid farewell to one of its greatest champions.
He won his last Roland Garros title in 2022 and left the Paris clay on a jaw-dropping 112-4 win-loss record.
Nadal’s career has been hampered by injuries in recent years and he missed the 2023 French Open and was beaten in the first round by German Alexander Zverev this year.
The Davis Cup knockout phase will be played from November 19-24.
Nadal, often referred to as the “King of Clay,” is celebrated as one of the most tenacious and versatile players in tennis history.
Nadal’s two-decade career saw him lift 92 titles and accumulate over $135 million in prize money. His Grand Slam winning-journey began with his maiden French Open victory just days after turning 19 in 2005.
Beyond his clay-court mastery, Nadal was also a versatile competitor, winning four US Open titles and two Australian Opens, with his first in 2009 and a second triumph 13 years later. On the grass of Wimbledon, a surface considered challenging for his game, he secured two championships in 2008 and 2010. His dramatic five-set victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 final, which concluded in near darkness, is widely celebrated as one of the greatest matches in tennis history.
Nadal also won the Olympic gold medal in 2008 and contributed to Spain’s success with five Davis Cup titles. A five-time year-end world number one, he remained in the ATP top 10 for an incredible 17 years, from 2005 until March 2024. During his peak years, he spent 209 weeks ranked as the world’s top player and won at least one title every year from 2004 to 2022.

CNN
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Defending champion Rafael Nadal will face English youngster Jack Draper in the opening round of the Australian Open in a bid to retain his 2022 crown and extend his grand slam tally.

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz may be missing the tournament through injury, but with the return of Novak Djokovic to the competition, Nadal will be hard pushed to defend his title.

Thursday’s draw was not kind to the 22-time major winner: if he defeats the world No. 40 Draper, he potentially faces current Next Gen ATP Finals champion Brandon Nakashima.

Potentially awaiting the Spaniard later would be a quarterfinal against Daniil Medvedev, who was Nadal’s opponent in last year’s epic five-set final. Medvedev will be looking to make it a third consecutive finals appearance after losing to Djokovic in 2021 and to Nadal in 2022.

A rematch of the 2021 final is on the cards, with Djokovic in the opposite half from Nadal and Medvedev. The nine-time Australian Open champion faces another Spaniard, Roberto Carballes Baena, in the opening round and is on track to face home favorite Nick Kyrgios in the last eight.

The tournament comes 12 months after Djokovic was deported from Australia on the eve of the 2022 edition after former immigration minister Alex Hawke found the tennis star posed a risk to public health and order because, as a celebrity sportsman who had previously expressed opposition to people being compelled to get the Covid-19 vaccine, he could be seen as an “icon” for anti-vaxxers.

The minister’s decision to deport the former world No. 1 meant he was initially banned from reentry for three years.

Nineteenth-seeded Kyrgios is part of a thrilling section of the draw which includes Holger Rune, Dan Evans and Andrey Rublev.

Russian Rublev comes into the Australian Open as the fifth seed, but on Wednesday suffered a shock defeat to world No. 110 Thanasi Kokkinakis in the Adelaide 2. Rublev faces a blockbuster opening round match against former world No. 3 and 2020 Australian Open finalist Dominic Thiem.

Andy Murray features in the other pick of the round as he faces 13th-seeded Matteo Berrettini. The Italian beat the three-time grand slam winner in four sets at the 2022 US Open and has beaten the Scotsman three out of their four ATP meetings.

Following reigning champion Ashleigh Barty’s retirement from tennis last year, Iga Światek has dominated the sport and comes into the tournament as the top seed. The Pole opens against German Jule Niemeier but faces a tasty potential quarterfinal clash with American hot prospect Coco Gauff.

The 18-year-old superstar comes into the tournament in fine form, having won the ASB Classic without dropping a set and is looking to build on her excellent 2022 which saw her reach the Roland Garros final where she was beaten by Światek.

Ahead of any quarterfinal clash with the favorite though, Gauff faces a second round match against 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu who is in a race against time to recover from an ankle injury.

In the other half of the draw, second seed Ons Jabeur starts her 2023 trying to go one better than last year and win a grand slam. The Tunisian made both the Wimbledon and US Open finals but fell at the final hurdle in her pursuit to become the first Arab and North African woman to win a grand slam.

After missing the 2022 Open, Jabeur opens her 2023 account against Tamara Zidanšek and could face Aryna Sabalenka who is coming off the back of winning at Adelaide 1, her 11th career title and first in 19 months.

Elsewhere, American Jessica Pegula has been drawn in the same part of the draw as Maria Sakkari. Pegula recently led Team USA to victory in the inaugural United Cup, which featured a brilliant straight-set win over Światek. Having reached back-to-back quarterfinals in Melbourne and at the top of her game, she will be looking to set up a thrilling semifinal with her United Cup opponent.