abdominal Archives

Tennis December 3, 2022 By mariam

Rafael Nadal: ‘I will play until my body says enough’

Tennis By mariam December 3, 2022

Despite all the setbacks, Rafael Nadal will finish the season inside the top-2. Thus, Rafa will become the oldest player to achieve that since the start of the ATP ranking in 1973! Nadal has been playing on the Tour for two decades, and he remains hungry to compete and prove himself against the rivals from the top.

Rafa became a father for the first time in October and still wants to combine his personal and professional life, rejecting the retirement calls and hoping to play for a few more years. Nadal embraced the South American swing after ending the official season, playing six matches in different countries and enjoying every minute of it.

The Spaniard claimed four ATP titles in 2022, making a perfect start and delivering his first Australian Open crown since 2009. Nadal conquered Acapulco in February before fracturing his rib in Indian Wells. He reached the final but lost to Taylor Fritz in straight sets for his first defeat in 2022.

The veteran skipped his favorite events in Monte Carlo and Barcelona and lost crucial points in the year-end no. 1 battle. Rafa returned to action in May and failed to impress in Madrid and Rome. He experienced early losses and gathered dark clouds over his Roland Garros chances.

With a foot injury bothering him again, Nadal needed injections to endure all the efforts in Paris. The king of clay defeated Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud for his 14th Roland Garros title, extending his incredible legacy.

Hoping for more at Wimbledon, Rafa advanced into the last four despite a seven-millimeter abdominal tear. The Spaniard prevailed over Taylor Fritz in the quarter-final in a five-setter and withdrew ahead of the Nick Kyrgios clash.

Rafael Nadal is eager to extend his career as long his body allows him.
Nadal needed months to recover, experiencing an early US Open loss to Frances Tiafoe and staying away from the court for two months. Rafa returned at the Paris Masters, seeking form and momentum but falling in the second round to Tommy Paul from a set and a break up.

Eager to get more matches by the end of the year, the Spaniard entered his 11th ATP Finals and fell to Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime. With no rhythm or encounters in his legs, Rafa lost the crucial points and embraced four consecutive losses for the first time since 2009!

The legend ended his losing streak in the last match, beating Casper Ruud 7-5, 7-5 to deliver his first victory as a father and wrap up the season with positive signs. “I still like to train and compete. The love of the people pushes me to continue. I will play until the body says enough, and it’s not happening right now,” Rafael Nadal said.

Tennis November 9, 2022 By mariam

Rafael Nadal arrives in Turin ahead of ATP Finals

Tennis By mariam November 9, 2022

The 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal is in Turin, seeking the most notable title he misses in his collection. Rafal made an early exit at the Paris Masters and intended to come to Turin early and prepare for the ATP Finals.

Nadal will play at the ATP Finals for the 11th time, standing on a mediocre 20-16 score and never finding the winning formula at the premium indoor event. The Spaniard skipped many ATP Finals events due to injuries, and his best runs came in 2010 and 2013 when he lost finals to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Also, he was the semi-finalist four times, including his last visit to London in 2020, when he had a massive chance to beat Daniil Medvedev. Rafa is still in the year-end no. 1 contention, standing 1000 points behind Carlos Alcaraz and needing a deep run in Turin to pass the young compatriot and collect his sixth year-end no. 1 honor. Nadal missed the last year’s ATP Finals and looks eager to compete next week despite an abdominal injury. Rafa skipped the second part of 2021 and made a fresh start this year to return to where he belongs.

Rafael Nadal has arrived in Turin.
The Spaniard conquered the Australian Open and Roland Garros and reached the Wimbledon semi-final.

Instead of chasing the third consecutive Major crown, Nadal withdrew ahead of the Nick Kyrgios clash due to a seven-millimeter abdominal tear. He lost the ground, and we are yet to see Rafa at his best four months later! Nadal skipped Toronto and lost in the Cincinnati second round.

He won three matches at the US Open, but the pain prevented him from serving at his best. Frances Tiafoe toppled Nadal in four sets in the fourth round, and it was the Spaniard’s last singles match until the last week. Rafal returned at the Paris Masters and experienced a 3-6, 7-6, 6-1 loss to Tommy Paul in two hours and 32 minutes in the second round.

Nadal was a set and a break in front before Paul bounced back in the second set and claimed it in the tie break. Struggling physically, Nadal faded from the court in the decider, losing serve three times and hitting the exit door.

Rafa will be the top seed in Turin after Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal, and he needs to reach the final at least to stand a chance in the year-end no. 1 battle.

Tennis November 1, 2022 By mariam

RAFAEL NADAL: I’M NOT RETURNING FOR PARIS MASTERS AND ATP FINALS TO FIGHT CARLOS ALCARAZ FOR WORLD NO. 1

Tennis By mariam November 1, 2022

Rafael Nadal has only played the Laver Cup since losing in the fourth round of the US Open, but will be back in action this week at the Paris Masters. Nadal, 36, has a chance to finish as year-end No. 1 ahead of Carlos Alcaraz if he performs well in Paris and at the ATP Finals in Turin. He has spoken about the world No. 1 position and leaving his new-born son at home.

Rafael Nadal says he has not returned to the tour to battle Carlos Alcaraz for the world No. 1 spot, but to be “competitive” at every event he plays.
Nadal, 36, has only played Laver Cup doubles alongside Roger Federer since losing in the fourth round of the US Open in early September.
It was not known whether he would play again this season as he battled an abdominal injury in the summer and recently became a father for the first time.
However, he is playing this week’s Paris Masters and has a shot at becoming year-end No. 1.
To do that he would likely need a good week in Paris – one of two Masters events he has never won, along with Miami – and also at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
“To be clear, I will not fight anymore to be No. 1,” said Nadal ahead of his opening match on Wednesday against either Tommy Paul or Roberto Bautista Agut.
“I did in the past. I achieved that goal a couple of times in my career and I have been very, very happy and proud about achieving that.
“But I am in a moment of my tennis career that I don’t fight to be No. 1. I just fight to keep being competitive in every event that I play.”

Nadal became world No. 1 for the first time in the summer of 2008 and has finished five seasons top of the rankings, the same as Roger Federer.
Reflecting on his decision to play and leave his new-born son, Nadal said: “It has always been difficult to leave home, to be honest. Now it’s different again.
“After only three weeks knowing him you start missing him. It’s a new experience, all the changes are difficult in this life and you need to adapt to it, but we are lucky today with technology we can make video calls any time we want, so that helps.”
Nadal has made the semi-finals in his two previous appearances at the Paris Masters in 2019 and 2020.
He has only won two titles on indoor hard courts (2005 Madrid and 2019 Davis Cup) and he has a 22-23 win-loss record against top-10 players on the surface.
Asked about his fitness coming into the tournament in Paris, where he has won the French Open 14 times, he said: “I’m good, I’m happy to be on the tour again, in a city very important for me, as everyone knows.
“Let’s see on the competitive level how I manage. In older bodies like my one, it’s easier to know how the things are going when you are playing tournaments in a row.
“When you are coming back from a period of time outside of competition, it’s difficult to know how you’re going to be playing, how your body is going to respond because it’s obvious that the tour level is different.”

Tennis October 26, 2022 By mariam

Novak Djokovic fires warning to Rafael Nadal and co ahead of Paris Masters

Tennis By mariam October 26, 2022

Novak Djokovic is full of motivation ahead of the Paris Masters, where Rafael Nadal will be making his return.

Novak Djokovic has fired a confident warning to his rivals, including the likes of Rafael Nadal, ahead of next week’s Paris Masters. The world No 7 has just two tournaments left of the season and is feeling better than ever, having won two titles in a row after a lengthy break from the tour.
Djokovic was unable to play the entire North American hard-court swing as a result of his unvaccinated status but he hasn’t let that affect his game as he returned at the Tel Aviv Open a month ago and won the title without dropping a set, before then lifting another trophy the following week in Astana. He will now play the Paris Masters and ATP Finals before the end of the season.

And the 35-year-old is full of belief after winning back-to-back titles, with his last defeat coming in the French Open quarter-final back in June. It will come as worrying news to the rest of the field in Paris next week, with Djokovic arguably fresher than anyone after an unexpected three-month stint away from competition during the tournaments in America.

“I’m going to Paris. I am preparing for the last two tournaments of the year, the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals. I feel good,” the 21-time Grand Slam champion told Sportal. “These last two competitions, in Astana and Tel Aviv, and the titles won have raised my level of confidence as well as my motivation.”
The Serb is the reigning champion in Paris after defeating Daniil Medvedev in last year’s final, while he crashed out in the semi-finals of the 2021 ATP Finals after going undefeated in the round-robin stage. While it has been a season like no other for Djokovic, his rivals have been warned that he is full of motivation to end it on a high.

Djokovic’s words also come as a caution to Nadal, who will be returning to action in Paris after being sidelined since the US Open. The Spaniard sustained a 7mm abdominal tear at Wimbledon and was still feeling the effects in Flushing Meadows as he lost in the round of 16.

With the exception of one Laver Cup doubles match appearance alongside Roger Federer for the Swiss star’s last dance, Nadal has not been seen on the tour since early September as he recovered from his injury and welcomed his first child with wife Mery Perello. But his coach confirmed that he would be back in action for the last two events of the season.

“Before arriving in Turin, you have to play matches in Paris, which are similar,” Carlos Moya told IB3. Addressing the fact that Nadal has never won the Paris Masters or the ATP Finals, he added: “He has not been able to win it, but he has achieved good results and has come close to doing so on several occasions, We always have hope and illusion, because Rafael is competitive anywhere.”

Tennis October 26, 2022 By mariam

RAFAEL NADAL’S SEASON ISN’T OVER: NEW FATHER TO PLAY PARIS MASTERS AND ATP FINALS

Tennis By mariam October 26, 2022

The world No. 2 also plans to play a series of exhibitions in Latin America during the offseason.Rafael Nadal’s season isn’t over, according to coach Carlos Moya, who says the Spaniard plans to play both the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals in Turin.

There were doubts about whether the 36-year-old, who recently become a father, would play any more tournaments this season, having recently revealed he re-aggravated an abdominal injury at the US Open. He has not competed since, except for a Laver Cup appearance alongside the retiring Roger Federer in doubles.

But Moya told Spain’s IB3 that Nadal is aiming to be back on the courts for Bercy prior to the ATP Finals, two events he has not won in his illustrious career.

“It is better to arrive in Turin with matches because the conditions will be similar,” said Moya.
Nadal returned from injury to win the Australian Open and French Open this season and extend his Grand Slam singles title count to a record 22, but also experienced frequent injuries that kept him off the courts.

The world No. 2 plans to play a series of exhibitions in Latin America during the offseason.

Tennis October 24, 2022 By mariam

Rafael Nadal confirms Paris and Turin in his schedule

Tennis By mariam October 24, 2022

The 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal will compete in Paris and Turin, as his coach Carlos Moya confirms. Rafa has been training well at home in Mallorca for the last couple of weeks, hoping to leave an abdominal injury behind and fight for notable indoor titles.

Nadal has been battling an abdominal injury since Wimbledon, losing his rhythm and experiencing an early US Open loss. Nadal went home to Mallorca, welcomed his first child and hit the practice court, working on his game and preparing for Paris in Turin.

The Spaniard shared a video with his fans, calling it a work in progress and looking eager to fight for the titles he is missing. World no. 2 skipped the second part of 2021 after a foot injury and made a stunning comeback in 2022.

The 36-year-old is ranked 2nd on the ATP ranking list behind his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, winning two Major titles and passing his greatest rivals, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Rafael Nadal will return to action next week in Paris.
Rafa lifted his first Australian Open crown in 13 years in January, performing an incredible comeback against Daniil Medvedev from 6-2, 7-6, 3-2, 40-0 down.

Nadal conquered Acapulco and rattled off 20 consecutive victories before fracturing his rib in Indian Wells. He lost the final to Taylor Fritz and skipped his favorite events in Monte Carlo and Barcelona on clay. The Spaniard did not play well in Madrid and Rome after an extended break, and more problems arose above him ahead of Roland Garros.

Struggling with foot pain, Rafa needed injections to endure the best-of-five efforts in Paris, overcoming challenges and securing his 22nd Major crown. Hoping for more at Wimbledon, Nadal experienced a severe abdominal injury, dealing with a seven-millimeter tear and still winning five matches.

Rafa withdrew ahead of the semi-final clash with Nick Kyrgios following an epic quarter-final duel against Taylor Fritz that went down to the wire, heading home and hoping to recover ahead of the US Open. There was no time for that, and Nadal suffered a fourth-round loss to Frances Tiafoe in four sets.

After missing a chance to become world no. 1 in New York, Rafa returned to Mallorca to spend time with his wife and a new family member, as they became parents on October 8. Nadal flew to London and competed alongside Roger Federer at the Laver Cup, returning home the following day and not playing in the previous weeks.

Rafa will give his best to fight for the titles in Paris and Turin, never winning these events before and hoping to change that in the upcoming weeks.

Tennis October 6, 2022 By mariam

Rafael Nadal extends his impressive ranking record

Tennis By mariam October 6, 2022

Rafael Nadal is back inside the top-2, enjoying his 580th week in the exclusive group. Rafa is in his best position since May 2021, looking good to wrap up the year in the top-2 as he has nothing to defend in the rest of the year.

At 36 years and four months, Rafa is the third-oldest top-2 player since 1973, moving closer to Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer, the only players left in front of him. Also, Nadal is back inside the top-2 over 17 years after cracking the group for the first time, earning another record that will take some beating in the future!

Rafa tops the charts ahead of Roger Federer, as the Swiss had 15 years between the first and last top-2 appearance. Novak Djokovic stands third with 12 seasons, followed by Jimmy Connors, who is on 11. Nadal claimed 11 ATP titles in 2005, including Roland Garros and four Masters 1000 crowns.

He turned 19 in June and became Roger Federer’s closest rival at the top. Rafa found himself in the top-2 at the end of July and stayed there for four years to kick off a notable streak at such a young age. Recovering from an injury, Rafa returned to the top in 2013, conquering the year-end no.

1 honor and staying in the top-2 until the end of 2014. Nadal struggled with injuries and a lack of form in 2015 and 2016, barely staying in the top-10 and drifting away from the leading positions. Nadal bounced back in 2017 and claimed two Major titles to become the world’s leading player.

Rafa finished as the year-end no. 1 player for the first time since 2013 and gathered a boost for the upcoming seasons.

Rafael Nadal has been a top-2 contender for over 17 years.
Nadal secured four year-end top-2 honors between 2017 and 2020 to extend his run and become the player with the most weeks in the top-2 since the start of the ranking in 1973!

Rafa could not repeat that in 2021, playing only 29 matches and missing the season’s second part. As many times before, Nadal bounced back in 2022 to extend his remarkable career and write history books. Rafa won his opening 20 matches and conquered the Australian Open and Roland Garros to stand on 22 Majors.

Nadal is 2nd in the ATP Race behind Carlos Alcaraz, hoping to wrap up another season in the year-end top-2, 17 years after achieving that for the first time at 19. The Spaniard has been dealing with an abdominal injury since Wimbledon, and he hopes to compete in Paris and Turin in the season’s

News August 26, 2022 By mariam

‘Rafael Nadal can not be sure about his injury,’ Todd Woodbridge says

News By mariam August 26, 2022

Rafael Nadal will seek his fifth US Open crown in the following two weeks, entering the event as the second seed and having the desired draw. Rafa has played only one match after experiencing an abdominal injury at Wimbledon.

The Spaniard withdrew from Montreal and suffered an early loss to Borna Coric in Cincinnati. Nadal has been training in New York for the last couple of days. He has been working on his game and improving his serve ahead of the first-round clash against Rinky Hijikata.

The doubles legend Todd Woodbridge said no one could guarantee that Rafa’s stomach muscle would be fine. Nadal withdrew ahead of the Wimbledon semi-final clash with Nick Kyrgios after dealing with an injury that prevented him from serving properly.

Rafa returned to the practice court after a suitable rest, doing his best to play in Montreal and earn important points in the year-end no. 1 battle. Still, the Spaniard felt the pain in his abdomen again after working on his serve and decided to skip the Canada Open.

Nadal returned to action in Cincinnati and fell to Borna Coric in three sets. Rafa missed the final months of the 2021 season due to an injury and made a perfect return at the start of the new year. Nadal claimed the first Australian Open crown in 13 years and remained unbeaten until the Indian Wells final.

The Spaniard skipped the beginning of the clay season and did not play at his best in Madrid and Rome.

Rafael Nadal will try to overcome an abdominal injury at the US Open.
Nadal celebrated the 22nd Major crown at Roland Garros, toppling Novak Djokovic in the quarter-final and beating Casper Ruud in the title clash.

After a well-deserved rest, the Spaniard headed to Wimbledon and reached the third straight All England Club semi-final. It came after an epic victory over Taylor Fritz in the quarter-final that required five sets and almost four and a half hours.

Nadal withdrew ahead of the semi-final clash with Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal injury and has played only one match since. Rafa will try to build his form in the US Open early rounds and chase the 23rd Major crown, the third of the season.

“There is no guarantee that Rafa’s stomach muscle will be fine. It would help if you play gently in those types of injuries – coming into a big tournament and competing is hard,” Todd Woodbridge said.

Tennis June 24, 2022 By crownfortune

Daniil Medvedev loses to Bautista Agut in Mallorca quarterfinals

Tennis By crownfortune June 24, 2022

PALMA, Spain – Top-ranked Daniil Medvedev will remain without a title on grass this season after a straight-set loss to Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarterfinals of the Mallorca Championships on Thursday.

Daniil Medvedev lost 6-3, 6-2 after entering the match with an 8-2 record on the surface for the year, with his losses coming in consecutive finals in Germany and the Netherlands.

Daniil Medvedev, who will not play at Wimbledon because of the ban on Russians over the war in Ukraine, needed to come from behind to get past Aslan Karatsev in the round of 16 on Wednesday.

Daniil Medvedev had only one break opportunity against the 20th-ranked Bautista Agut, who had advanced without having to play in the last 16 because Nick Kyrgios withdrew with an abdominal injury.

Second-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas had cruised into the quarterfinals but needed three sets against American Marcos Giron to make it to the last four on Thursday. His 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3 victory came in more than 2 1/2 hours.

“It was a lot of work today. It was not easy,” Tsitsipas said. “I had to deal with the heat, had to deal with my opponent playing great. It was a big physical effort. I had the fighting spirit.”

The sixth-ranked Greek, who leads the tour with 38 wins this season, will next face Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who defeated Germany’s Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-4.