Nadal

RAFAEL NADAL is edging ever closer to a 14th French Open title.The Spaniard came through a gruelling four-set quarter-final as he beat arch rival Nova.

First-set tie-break: Rafa Nadal 7-6 *Alex Zverev Rafa Nadal* 7-6 2-1 Alex Zverev I didn't say that bad word. Rafa Nadal* 7-6 2-3 Alex Zverev I didn't say a bad word. Rafa Nadal* 7-6 3-4 Alex Zverev He is holding his right ankle. Rafa Nadal* 7-6 4-5 Alex Zverev Rafa Nadal* 7-6 5-6 Alex Zverev Surely he cannot continue. He is having a medical timeout. He is so much pain.

The pair will meet today (Friday) for a place in the final in Paris, but despite the Spaniard going for his 14th French Open title this year, Nadal has been ...

The Spaniard will be pleased to face Zverev in the afternoon session, after a scheduling row that saw Nadal and Djokovic play into the early hours of the morning. "We always talk about Zverev’s weakness at the baseline, the forehand down the line but he doesn’t have to hit a forehand down the line against Rafa as he can hit cross-court with a lot of topspin and set it up for his backhand. Mats Wilander has claimed that Alexander Zverev’s game matches up “perfectly” against Rafael Nadal ahead of their French Open semi-final.

After the high of beating arch-rival Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal heads into his French Open semi-final against Germany's Alexander Zverev today aiming to ...

Nadal drops the ball short in front of his opponent, which gives Zverev ample time to wind up and release that stinging forehand into a minute pocket of space at the back of the court. Zverev switches up his forehand, almost volleying to strike Nadal off-guard, and the Spainard sends his return into the net. A chippy shot just over the net sends Nadal to 40-0, and he completes an important hold in the first set. Nadal takes the opportunity of his serve to punish Zverev in an effort to subdue his opening conviction. Zverev puts too much power on his forehand and goes long, squandering the opportunity to take the game, then double faults to give Nadal the advantage. He wastes it with a wild, looping ball destined to go out of play, and puts Nadal on the advantage after netting the next attempt. Nadal gains the advantage, and keep Zverev deep until his return dies on the wrong side of the net. A let-cord which veers out gives Zverev the advantage, and Zverev sneaks the point after an impressive show of skill at the net which ends with him taking time to power a well-thought-out forehand past Nadal. At deuce, Nadal plays a shot from behind, before redirecting in anticipation of Zverev's return, but Zverev simply powers the shot back to win the advantage. The game is capped by an incredible rally, with both Zverev and Nadal playing out of their skins and surprising one another with their reach and versatility. Sensational play from Nadal, and Zverev has to wait for a mis-hit from him to get into the points in this game. Unable to extinguish Nadal in a short rally, he's pushed to play the ball out at the sidelines.

Rafael Nadal was struggling for much of the opening set of his huge French Open semi-final clash with Alexander Zverev but came up with some magic.

"I think he has the perfect game to play against Rafa. Can he beat him? "It is absolutely huge. He can’t blame himself for that [not winning the point].”

Follow all the action from the men's semi-finals at Roland Garros.

Zverev breaks his serve for the third time in this set and crucially, after his hold of serve, it moves him 4-2 ahead. A big serve up the middle is followed by a smash, and a roar, as he puts the pressure on Nadal to hold serve and force a second tiebreak. The umpire gives him a warning, which sparks Zverev to approach him in anger. Nadal, remember, has still not held serve in this set and puts away a simple smash at the net to get back to 15-30. It brings Nadal back into it, just, but this is turning out to be a proper slog. He reacts put winning the next couple of points, but another double fault from Zverev brings up a nervy point at 30-30. Break point Nadal - and would you believe it, another double fault from the World No 1 chucks the service game away. With the second set of the match heading for a tie-break after three pulsating hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Zverev went over his right ankle and was left screaming in agony after what looked to be a horrendous injury. Nadal, fresh off his hold of serve, pings a winner into the corner to move 0-30 on the Zverev serve. But he’s not just going to win one, he’s going to win more than one. But he’s not just going to win one, he’s going to win more than one. It means Nadal is through to his 14th French Open final, but his thoughts were with his opponent after the match.

Rafael Nadal has advanced to the French Open final after Alexander Zverev fell during a point, injured his right ankle and stopped playing.

Nadal saved Zverev's fourth set point with the help of a drop shot. His racket flew out of his hand and landed behind him after one wild swing mistakenly sent a ball zipping past the chair umpire until it landed 10 feet wide of the court. Zverev then was taken off the court in a wheelchair. Several minutes later, he came back out using crutches and said he needed to retire from the match. When Zverev did try a drop shot in the match's eighth game, it was merely so-so, and Nadal not only reached it but ripped a down-the-line backhand passing winner. Playing on his 36th birthday at an event he first won at 19, Nadal emerged to claim a tight-as-can-be, draining first set that lasted 1½ hours by a 7-6 (8) score.

Rafael Nadal reached the final of Roland-Garros for a record 14th time after third seed Alexander Zverev suffered a horrific-looking ankle injury deep in ...

He came back onto court on crutches and the match was done. The German then broke Nadal for the fourth straight time to go up 5-3. But serving for the set, he began with a double fault and though he led 30-15, he hit two more double faults to let Nadal back in again.

Rafael Nadal is through to the French Open final after Alexander Zverev suffered an ankle injury and was forced to withdraw from their semi-final match.

Zverev went a mini break down before regrouping and getting Nadal on the run. Available to download now on - iPhone & iPad and Android "He was having an unbelievable tournament and he's a very good colleague on the Tour.

Rafael Nadal will play for his 14th French Open title and 22nd Grand Slam crown after Alexander Zverev suffered a horrific right ankle injury during the ...

So all the best to him and all the team.” Soon a wheelchair was brought out and Zverev was taken off the court. He later came out on crutches and embraced Nadal, as the Spaniard patted his face in encouragement.

Rafael Nadal has reached the final of the French Open after opponent Alexander Zverev was forced to retire injured.

He continued: “Difficult to say a lot of things today in this situation. Despite reaching the final, Nadal will not be satisfied with his game after keeping himself ahead solely on his endless fighting spirit and clutch play. After a short time, and as Nadal also went off court, Zverev returned to the court on crutches and saluted the crowd while his retirement was confirmed. By 5-4 to Zverev, eight of the first nine games of set two had been service breaks. For much of the first set, Zverev was on fire. After Zverev badly missed an easy volley at 3-6, Nadal pulled off an outrageous angled forehand passing shot winner on the following point.

Alexander Zverev has been forced to retire from his French Open semi-final against Rafael Nadal after the German rolled his ankle and had to leave the court ...

“He was playing [an] unbelievable tournament and he’s a very good colleague on the tour. With the match heading for a tie-break after three pulsating hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Zverev went over his right ankle and was left screaming in agony after what looked to be a horrendous injury. Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

Rafael Nadal beat Alexander Zverev 7-6(2) 6-6 when the German had to retire hurt towards the end of the second set in their French Open semi-final.

"For me, to be in the final of Roland-Garros one more time is a dream. It’s one of the biggest challenges on the tour today when he’s playing on this super-high level. With the scores at 5-5, the German appeared to have a chance to break for the second time before Nadal held on - as the players took a break, the Spaniard received cautionary words about the speed of his service game. He initially left the court for a medical break. Nadal came over to his aid as it became apparent that play would not restart any time soon. It took a full hour and a quarter before the pair moved onto the tie-break.

Nadal had claimed the 91-minute opening set in an epic tiebreaker, 10-8, and had clawed back from a deficit in the second set, with another tiebreaker ...

After a few minutes’ pause, Zverev returned to the court on crutches, Nadal beside him. “Very tough,” Nadal told his interviewer, seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander, reporting for Eurosport. “Very sad for him, honestly. He was playing unbelievable tournament.

Rafael Nadal is into the French Open final after semifinal opponent Alexander Zverev retired from their semifinal with an injury.

“To be in the final of Roland Garros one more time,” Nadal said, “it’s a dream without a doubt.” Zverev rolled the ankle on game point for Nadal to force a tiebreak after Nadal won the first set 7-6 (8). The match was more than three hours old when Zverev screamed in pain and was taken off the court in a wheelchair. Rafael Nadal advanced to the French Open final after Alexander Zverev retired from their semifinal match with a right ankle injury in the second set.

The German third seed fell at the end of the second set and left the court in a wheelchair.

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. In fact had the wall not been there to stop him Nadal would probably have stood in the crepe stand outside. By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

Rafael Nadal has taken an early lead in his Roland Garros semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev Friday, winning the first set 7-6(8) as he looks to ...

The injury brought an early end to a match that was on course for being one of the best of the season. The last retirement in a Grand Slam semi-final or final came at the 2018 US Open, when Nadal retired against Juan Martin del Potro after the second set, with the Argentine leading their semi-final clash 7-6, 6-2. Of course for me, as everyone knows, to be in the final of Roland Garros for another time is a dream, without a doubt. Nadal then saved four set points in the tie-break, battling back from 2/6 to clinch a mammoth first set after one hour and 31 minutes. The intensity did not drop in a pulsating second set that reached another tie-break before a match that promised to become the best of the year was cruelly truncated. He held four set points in a dramatic first-set tie-break before Nadal produced a jaw-dropping combination of offense and defense to claim the opener.

Rafael Nadal has wished Alexander Zverev 'a very fast recovery' after his opponent suffered a horror injury in their French Open semi-final.

all the best to him and all the team.’ I wish him all the best and a very fast recovery. To see him crying, it is a very tough moment.

Rafael Nadal was leading 7-6 6-6 in a dramatic French Open semi final with Alexander Zverev, when the German player was forced to retire hurt after going ...

And as fatigue appeared to creep into Nadal's game, he failed to hold for the third successive time whilst in contrast, Zverev was upping the ante. He couldn't take it, but when a second opportunity came, a Zverev forehand went long and the contest was levelled. Zverev duly left the court in a wheelchair, and minutes later came back out on crutches to collect his belongings as he agonisingly had to retire.

The German third seed fell at the end of the second set and left the court in a wheelchair.

In fact, had the wall not been there to stop him Nadal would probably have stood in the crepe stand outside. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

France Tennis French Open Spain's Rafael Nadal walks alongside Germany's Alexander Zverev who retired with an ankle injury in the semifinal match at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Friday, June 3, 2022.

The second set also was headed to a tiebreaker after another 1 1/2 hours when Zverev tumbled behind the baseline and lost a point that allowed Nadal to hold serve for 6-all. The oldest champion so far was Andres Gimeno, who was 34 in 1972. “That’s why I was not able to create the damage that I wanted.” Later, an errant backhand let Nadal break for the first time, making it 4-all and sending red-and-yellow Spanish flags flapping in the stands. A trainer came out to attend to him, and Nadal walked around the net to check on Zverev, too. So I wish him all the best and a very fast recovery.” The crowd gave him a standing ovation. “He's a perfect example of how you should behave on court: Never give up and never complain. His black outfit, arms and legs caked with rust-colored clay, Zverev was helped up by a trainer, then taken away from the court in a wheelchair. Zverev crumpled to the ground, wailing in agony and clutching at his lower leg. Now he will try to become the oldest champion at a tournament he’s already won a record 13 times, facing first-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud on Sunday. “Even if for me it’s a dream to be in the final of Roland Garros, of course that way is not the way that we want it to be.

The world number three's participation at Wimbledon this month is in major doubt following the incident in Paris.

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Spaniard celebrates his 36th birthday by reaching another RG final, but not in the way he was hoping to get there.

I played, I fighted, I did all the things possible to give myself at least a chance to be where I am. “And here I am. That injury sidelined him for weeks leading up to Roland-Garros, and he had been approaching his best level once again when the foot became a factor again.

Rafael Nadal is feeling good after spending nearly 12 hours on court over the course of his past three matches at Roland Garros 2022.

"So with that conditions, I was not able to push him back. His coach, Carlos Moya, was spotted enjoying the open air as he scouted Nadal's potential final opponents. "My ball was not bouncing as usual here, no?" "He started the match playing amazing, honestly. Have been a lot of up-and-downs during the match, but a good level of tennis with great points. "Of course today the conditions have been very hot, super humid.

The 36-year-old 21-time Grand Slam champion reached his 14th French Open final after Alexander Zverev suffered a horrific right ankle injury during their ...

Still, he plans to take some time off. “In that sense it’s not their fault what’s happening in this moment with the war.” Zverev, the world No. 3, left the court Friday in a wheelchair and returned on crutches, meaning his status for Wimbledon is also in the air.

The world number three's participation at Wimbledon this month is in major doubt following the incident in Paris.

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With a win in Sunday's French Open final, Rafael Nadal will claim his 22nd Grand Slam singles title. Here's a look at some of the other significant numbers ...

21: The number of Grand Slam singles titles Nadal has won entering Sunday’s final, putting him one ahead of Roger Federer and Djokovic for the men’s record. 24: The number of matches Nadal has won over Federer in his career, against 16 losses. 209: The number of weeks Nadal has spent as the ATP Tour’s top-ranked singles player, the sixth-best figure ever. 0: The number of times Nadal has lost in a French Open final. 7: The number of events Nadal has played in 2022, already matching his totals from 2020 and 2021. 13: Nadal’s number of singles titles at the French Open heading into Sunday, a men’s record for an individual Grand Slam tournament. Combined with his prize money, that made him the world’s fifth-highest-paid tennis player last year. 8: The number of times Nadal has played on his birthday at Roland Garros, including Friday, when he turned 36. $1.05 million: The retail price for Nadal’s signature watch with Richard Mille when it was first introduced in 2020. $23 million: Nadal’s annual earnings off the court from endorsements, appearances, memorabilia and licensing fees, according to Forbes estimates. That makes Nadal the heavy favorite. It might have been a surprise, then, that it was his opponent—third-seeded Alexander Zverev—who retired from the match with an injury, and that Nadal emerged with a victory.