Latest Rafael Nadal News

Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini lift Italy past Australia and back to the Davis Cup final

Nov. 23, 2024 13:33 PM EST

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Top-ranked Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini won matches Saturday in front of a supportive crowd to lift defending champion Italy past Australia 2-0 and back into the Davis Cup final. Sinner extended his tour-level winning streak to 24 singles sets in a row...

Andy Murray will coach Novak Djokovic through the Australian Open

Nov. 23, 2024 11:52 AM EST

The recently retired Andy Murray is going to team up with longtime rival Novak Djokovic as his coach, they both announced Saturday, with plans to prepare for — and work together through — the Australian Open in January. It was a stunning bit of news as tennis moves toward its...

AP Week in Pictures: Global

Nov. 23, 2024 08:24 AM EST

Nov. 15-21, 2024 A new volcanic eruption started on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. Indigenous communities attended the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. A Palestinian girl waited for food, in Deir al-Balah, on Gaza Strip. An...

The man who ended Nadal's career helps the Netherlands beat Germany to reach the Davis Cup final

Nov. 22, 2024 16:56 PM EST

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — The last man to face — and beat — Rafael Nadal in professional tennis, 80th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp, converted his 10th match point Friday to finally close out a 6-4, 6-7 (12), 6-3 victory over Daniel Altmaier and help the Netherlands reach its first Davis Cup...

Rafael Nadal retired after the Davis Cup. It's a rare team event in tennis

Nov. 22, 2024 08:52 AM EST

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Rafael Nadal wanted to play his last match before retiring in Spain, representing Spain and wearing the red uniform used by Spain's Davis Cup squad. “The feeling to play for your country, the feeling to play for your teammates ... when you win, everybody...

Jannik Sinner leads Italy back to the Davis Cup semifinals and a rematch against Australia

Nov. 21, 2024 17:18 PM EST

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner won matches in singles and doubles to lead defending champion Italy to a 2-1 comeback victory over Argentina on Thursday, earning a return trip to the Davis Cup semifinals. “I’m here trying to do the best I can in the singles,”...

Spain and tennis having to cope with the retirement of the great Nadal

Nov. 21, 2024 10:42 AM EST

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — As Rafael Nadal prepared to serve in what turned out to be the last tennis match of his career, a woman's voice broke the silence from the stands: “You make Spain proud!” Not long after that, Nadal was wiping away tears from his face and waving goodbye to...

Rafael Nadal's legacy is a relentlessness that inspired Carlos Alcaraz and plenty of others

Nov. 20, 2024 11:42 AM EST

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Not surprisingly, Rafael Nadal couldn’t take a step around the grounds of the Davis Cup Final 8 in recent days without hearing requests for a handshake or a selfie. And that was just from the other professional tennis players, to speak nothing of the fans. ...

From Novak Djokovic to Iga Swiatek, players reflect on Rafael Nadal's career and retirement

Nov. 20, 2024 11:09 AM EST

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — As Rafael Nadal retires from tennis, current and former players — from Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic to Iga Swiatek and Taylor Fritz and so many more — have been sharing their thoughts on what the owner of 22 Grand Slam titles meant to them and to their sport. ...

An emotional Rafael Nadal retires at the Davis Cup after he loses and Spain is eliminated

Nov. 20, 2024 07:59 AM EST

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Rafael Nadal bit his lower lip and his reddened eyes welled with tears as he stood alongside his Davis Cup teammates for Spain's national anthem Tuesday before what he — and everyone — knew might be the last match of his career. Hours after Nadal's 6-4, 6-4...