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Mail & Guardian
rafael nadallatest news & developments
Red carpet: South African billionaire Johann Ruper

Laureus awards at 25: Has Rupert blown the whistle?

The future of the ‘Oscars of sport’ remains unclear as the South African billionaire seemingly loses interest in the Laureus project

Novak Djokovic claims he did not say he was “anti-vax” when in Australia “because no one asked me for my stance and opinion on vaccination”.(Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Djokovic prepared to miss out on Grand Slam history to avoid vaccination

World number one Novak Djokovic has claimed he is not anti-vaccination but would rather skip Grand Slams than be forced to get a Covid jab.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal poses with the trophy after winning against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in their men’s singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

Nadal ‘doesn’t care’ if he’s best ever after record 21st Slam

The 35-year-old Spaniard roared back from two sets down to defeat Russian second seed Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final

Winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia is congratulated at the net by Rafael Nadal of Spain after their match on Court Philippe-Chatrier during the semi finals of the singles competition at the 2021 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on June 11th 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Nadal says justice has spoken over Djokovic ‘mess’

The Spanish great also said that he would have preferred it if his rival and defending champion Djokovic had been playing in the first Grand Slam of the year

Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has tested positive for Covid-19.

Nadal tests positive for Covid in latest blow for tennis legend

The Spanish former world number one said he took the test when he returned to Spain from Abu Dhabi where he took part in an exhibition tournament last week.

Kevin Anderson and Lloyd Harris played an exhibition match in Soweto on February 2. A match that gave South African tennis hope. (Lefty Shivambu/Gallo)

Do we finally have a reason to be excited about tennis in SA?

After years of struggle, the sport seems to be taking some genuine steps in the right direction at local level

Young guns: Dominic Thiem will meet Alexander Zverev in the Australian Open semifinals today. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Video

Aussie Open may herald new era

“The young guns are missing a bit of guts. A bit of balls. A bit of ‘Okay, I’m here and I want to win and I’m going to do whatever it takes’.” John McEnroe It’s been 19 years…

Rafael Nadal celebrates with the championship trophy after beating Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the men’s singles final on day fourteen of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament. (Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports)

Nadal wins 19th Slam title by edging five-set US Open thriller

At four hours and 50 minutes, the match finished four minutes short of equaling the longest final in US Open history

Nick Kyrigios at the Citi Open. (Rob Carr/M&G)

Nick Kyrgios can play, he just doesn’t want to

The Australian has outrageous talent with a racquet, although his tongue and antics steal the show more often than his talent

Roger Federer in action during his semi-final match against Spain’s Rafael Nadal. (Adrian Dennis/Pool via Reuters)

‘Stars align’ as Federer seeks to break Djokovic spell in Wimbledon final

Whoever emerges as champion on Sunday, it will yet again confirm the dominance of the ‘Big Three’ of Federer, Djokovic and Nadal

Federer, 37, is the oldest man in the semi-finals of a Slam since 39-year-old Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open. (Hannah McKay/Reuters)

Federer, Nadal braced for Wimbledon epic

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal battle for a place in the Wimbledon final on Friday

‘I believe that Chris probably did some good work out there, and I don’t see him doing negative things or enough negative things to not continue in the position,’ says Rafael Nadal. (AFP)

Tensions rise as Nadal backs under-pressure ATP boss

Rafael Nadal says he didn’t believe it is healthy to chop and change the ATP leadership

With the help of an aware and critical audience, they must monitor themselves and one another, as they have done in the past. (Gemma Ritchie/M&G)

Federer, Djokovic aim for seven

Murray and Nadal’s fitness may be a problem in the Oz Open — but youngsters are waiting in the wings

No stopping Novak: The world’s highest-ranked tennis player made history by rising from number 22 to number one last season. He is now the oldest year-end world number one. (Ibraheem Al Omari/Reuters)

Big four in tennis still the ones to beat, says Djokovic

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and himself — were still the favourites to win Grand Slam titles in 2019

Australian Open organisers said Serena Williams was among the entries for the opening Grand Slam of the year as she attempts to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24. (Reuters/Toby Melville)

Serena, Nadal and Murray all confirmed for Australian Open

Serena Williams will make her return to the Australian Open for the first time since winning in 2017 when eight-weeks pregnant

City of Johannesburg mayor, Herman Mashaba. (Gallo)

Federer, Nadal and Djokovic face Wimbledon centre court dilemma

Despite being a three-time champion, Djokovic has featured just once on Centre Court in the opening four rounds

It was Maria Sharapova earliest exit at a Slam since a first round defeat at the 2010 Australian Open.

Former champs Sharapova, Kvitova crash out, Nadal, Djokovic through

Sharapova, playing Wimbledon for the first time in three years, gave up the match on her 11th double fault

Serena Williams beat Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in 2015 to win Wimbledon for the sixth time and complete the ‘Serena Slam’ as the holder of all four major tennis titles.

Serena Williams seeded for Wimbledon, Murray misses out

The 36-year-old — who was not seeded for the French Open — has made only a tentative return to action

Nadal join’s Margaret Court as the only other player to have won the same major 11 times.

Rafael Nadal lifts record 11th French Open title

Spain’s Rafael Nadal beat Austria’s Dominic Thiem in three straight sets for his 17th Grand Slam trophy

Samantha Crous

Federer eyes fresh ‘fairytale’ as Grand Slam rivals falter

The 36-year-old is coming off an extraordinary 2017, when he won a fifth Australian Open title and a record eighth at Wimbledon.