Latest Rafael Nadal News

Alcaraz, Djokovic 'not otherworldly' in French Open wins over foes making Slam debuts
PARIS (AP) — You might assume that the opponents for Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in the French Open's first round would come away from their straight-set losses Monday feeling too overwhelmed by the play of the two tournament favorites. You would be wrong. ...

Djokovic enters French Open with chance to top absent Nadal with record 23rd Slam title
PARIS (AP) — For quite some time, Novak Djokovic has made his long-term goal clear: He wanted to focus on accumulating Grand Slam titles in order to surpass the totals of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. With the French Open set to start Sunday without either Nadal (who is injured)...

Post-Serena, women's tennis heads to French Open led by Big 3 of Swiatek, Sabalenka, Rybakina
PARIS (AP) — All of those questions about who would step to the fore once Serena Williams walked away from the tennis tour — joining more recent No. 1 Ash Barty in retirement — seem to be getting answered with three names: Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. As the...

FRENCH OPEN 2023: Alcaraz seeded 1st; Djokovic 3rd; no Nadal
PARIS (AP) — With 14-time champion Rafael Nadal out of the tournament, here are top men to watch at the French Open, which begins at Roland Garros on Sunday: ___ CARLOS ALCARAZ Seeded: 1 Career-Best...

FRENCH OPEN 2023: Alcaraz, Djokovic on same half of draw; Swiatek-Gauff could be in quarterfinals
PARIS (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz and the man he just replaced atop the rankings, 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, were placed in the same half of the French Open field in Thursday's draw and could face each other in the semifinals. Alcaraz is seeded No. 1 at a Grand Slam...

FRENCH OPEN 2023: Nadal’s absence changes complexion of Roland Garros
There’s a reason a statue of Rafael Nadal stands outside Court Philippe Chatrier on the southwest outskirts of Paris. No player ever lorded over any Grand Slam tennis tournament the way Nadal has ruled the French Open, winning it year after year after year for a...

FRENCH OPEN 2023: Try the AP’s quiz about the clay-court Grand Slam tournament
How well do you know the French Open, the Grand Slam tennis tournament that begins Sunday at Roland Garros in Paris? Give this AP quiz a try: ___ 1st Round: Rafael Nadal, a 14-time champion at the French Open, will be sitting out the tournament this year because of a...

Medvedev makes his mark on clay by beating Rune for Italian Open title
ROME (AP) — Daniil Medvedev hadn’t won a single match in his three previous appearances at the Italian Open. Now he’s won the tournament. The Russian beat rising 20-year-old Danish player Holger Rune 7-5, 7-5 on Sunday for the first clay-court trophy of a career...

3-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray pulls out of clay-court French Open
Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray has withdrawn from the clay-court French Open, organizers said Sunday. The 36-year-old British player lost in the 2016 final to Novak Djokovic and reached four other semifinals at Roland Garros in western Paris. Play begins...

Analysis: Rafael Nadal might never play again; he also might surprise us and win something
Whenever it comes to a close — and even if it already has — Rafael Nadal’s superlative tennis career will be admired for achievements such as 22 Grand Slam titles, currently tied for the most by a man, and a record 14 French Open championships. As it should be. Nadal’s...
