Rafael Nadal

FILE - In this Jan. 30, 2020, file photo, Switzerland's Roger Federer, right, congratulates Serbia's Novak Djokovic on winning their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill, File)

Analysis: No Wimbledon, jumbled season and 'Big 4' legacies

Jul. 1, 2020 6:03 AM EDT

It’s a complete guessing game, but it’s still fun to discuss: Will the legacies of the four most prominent and successful tennis players of today — and maybe ever — be affected by the coronavirus-interrupted 2020 season? And how will Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic...

In this photo taken on Sunday, June 14, 2020, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, centre, poses with volunteers and players after the Adria Tour charity tournament in Belgrade, Serbia. Djokovic’s charity tennis exhibition series combined with an overall softening of coronavirus restrictions in Serbia has led to a spike in the number the positive cases among professional athletes. Two tennis players ranked among the top 40 in the world and five players at Serbia’s biggest soccer club have tested positive for the virus after being involved in sporting events where fans packed into the stands and social distancing was not enforced. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Virus cases at Djokovic's event put sports under scrutiny

Jun. 22, 2020 7:34 PM EDT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Novak Djokovic’s charity tennis exhibition series, combined with an overall softening of coronavirus restrictions in Serbia and Croatia, has been followed by an increase in the number of positive cases among professional athletes. Two tennis players ranked among the top 40 in...

In this photo taken Saturday, June 20, 2020, Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov, right, poses for cameras with Croatia's Borna Coric during their semifinal match at a tournament in Zadar, Croatia. Dimitrov says he has tested positive for COVID-19 and his announcement led to the cancellation of an exhibition event in Croatia where Novak Djokovic was scheduled to play on Sunday. (AP Photo/Zvonko Kucelin)

Coric becomes 2nd tennis player to test positive for virus

Jun. 22, 2020 7:03 AM EDT

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Borna Coric has become the second tennis player to test positive for the coronavirus after participating in an exhibition event in Croatia. Coric, a Croatian player ranked 33rd in the world, was among several dozens of people who were tested for the virus after Grigor Dimitrov...

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov returner the ball to Austria's Dominic Thiem during their match of the Adria Tour charity tournament in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, June 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Dimitrov positive for COVID-19, exhibition event canceled

Jun. 21, 2020 4:59 PM EDT

Grigor Dimitrov has tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the cancellation of an exhibition event in Croatia where top-ranked Novak Djokovic was due to play in the final. Dimitrov, ranked No. 19 and a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist, is the highest-profile current player to say he has the virus. His...

FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2012, file photo, Serena Williams holds the championship trophy after beating Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, in the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament in New York. Serena Williams is planning to play in the 2020 U.S. Open. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion said in a video shown during the U.S. Tennis Association's tournament presentation Wednesday, June 17, 2020, that she “cannot wait to return” to New York for the major championship she has won six times. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)

Prepping on a new court, Serena Williams will enter US Open

Jun. 17, 2020 4:24 PM EDT

Here’s how all-in Serena Williams is on participating in the 2020 U.S. Open: She set up a practice area at her home with the new brand of hard courts being used at Flushing Meadows this year. For all the doubts about which top players will actually enter the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the...

FILE- In this Sept. 6, 2017, file photo, fans fill the stands at Arthur Ashe stadium as Karolina Pliskova, of Czech Republic, plays CoCo Vandeweghe, of the United States, during the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, that the U.S. Open will be played in Queens from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13, but without fans in attendance. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

'Watch it on TV': Gov. Cuomo OKs no-fan US Open tennis in NY

Jun. 16, 2020 6:08 PM EDT

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the go-ahead Tuesday for the U.S. Open tennis tournament to be held in his state starting in late August — but without spectators — as part of the reopening from shutdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic. "You can watch it on TV, and I’ll take that,”...

FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2019, file photo, Rafael Nadal, of Spain, hugs the trophy after defeating Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, to win the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York. The U.S. Tennis Association intends to hold the U.S. Open Grand Slam tournament in New York starting in August without spectators, if it gets governmental support -- and a formal announcement could come this week. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

Plan to hold 2020 US Open without fans awaits government OK

Jun. 15, 2020 4:42 PM EDT

Moving closer to holding the first Grand Slam tournament of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Tennis Association is awaiting the go-ahead from the New York state government to play the U.S. Open in New York starting in August — without fans and with strict health protocols. “We’re ready to...

Barty joins players expressing concern over US Open timing

Jun. 15, 2020 2:05 AM EDT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Ash Barty has joined the ranks of high-profile players concerned over the staging of the U.S. Open while there’s still so much uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic. The women’s No. 1 hasn’t had the chance yet to defend her French Open title because all...

FILE - In this Sept. 2, 2017, file photo, Philipp Kohlschreiber, of Germany, serves to John Millman, of Australia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. A high-ranking official for the U.S. Open tells the Associated Press that if the Grand Slam tennis tournament is held in 2020, she expects it to be at its usual site in New York and in its usual dates starting in August. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

Would players go? A look at issues surrounding the US Open

Jun. 9, 2020 3:36 PM EDT

Novak Djokovic is fretting about “harsh” restrictions on players’ entourages and other “extreme” changes proposed for the U.S. Open — and saying he might not participate if it is played. As of now, defending champion Rafael Nadal would not want to be in Flushing Meadows...

FILE - In this Friday, March 6, 2020 file photo, Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece prepares to return the ball to Alberto Lim of the Philippines during their Davis Cup World Group II play-offs first round singles match in Manila, Philippines. Tsitsipas won 6-2, 6-1. With tennis majors on hold and discussions ongoing over whether the U.S. Open or the French Open can even take place later this year, a new digitally friendly tournament starts Saturday in southern France with four Top 10-ranked players involved. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

New tennis tournament in France aiming for younger audience

Jun. 7, 2020 3:18 PM EDT

PARIS (AP) — With discussions ongoing over whether the U.S. Open or the French Open can even take place later this year, a new digitally friendly tennis tournament starts Saturday in southern France with four Top 10-ranked players involved. Co-founder Patrick Mouratoglou hopes the Ultimate Tennis Showdown...

Latest Rafael Nadal News