Rafael Nadal | GlobalPost

Nadal moves closer to No. 4 ranking

Agencia EFEMay 13, 2013 13:32

Madrid, May 12 (EFE).- Spain's Rafael Nadal closed the gap between himself and countryman David Ferrer in the ATP rankings by 1,000 points with his win over the weekend against Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in the final of the Mutua Madrid Open. Nadal, the world No. 5, rolled over Wawrinka 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday, taking his third title at the Masters 1000 event and inching closer to Ferrer, who is in the No. 4 spot. The 26-year-old Nadal, an 11-time Grand Slam champion, has 6,895 ranking points, while Ferrer has 6,920.

Tennis: Nadal through, Azarenka out of Madrid

Agence France-PresseMay 13, 2013 11:06

Rafael Nadal made a comfortable start to his quest for a third Madrid Masters title on Wednesday but Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka slumped to a shock exit. Nadal eased past Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-4 and will next face either compatriot Nicolas Almagro or Mikhail Youzhny of Russia for a place in the quarter-finals. One break in each set was enough for Nadal as he overcame some impressive variety and touch shown by Paire early on to break when the world number 37 was serving at 2-3 down in the opening set, before eventually sealing it 6-3.

Tennis: Nadal to face Wawrinka for Madrid title

Agence France-PresseMay 13, 2013 11:04

Rafael Nadal reached a seventh consecutive final since returning from a seven-month injury layoff with 6-0, 6-4 win over compatriot Pablo Andujar at the Madrid Masters on Saturday. The 26-year-old will next face Stanislas Wawrinka who beat Tomas Berdych 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. World number 113 Andujar was blown away in the opening set, winning just nine points, as Nadal broke three times to take it 6-0. Victory extended Nadal's incredible run to 31-2 since returning from the tendinitis problem in his knee.

Tennis: Nadal, Serena, Sharapova through, Murray out

Agence France-PresseMay 13, 2013 11:03

Rafael Nadal overcame a stiff test from compatriot David Ferrer to reach the Madrid Masters semi-finals Friday, but there was no such luck for Andy Murray who was beaten 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 by Tomas Berdych. Defeats for Murray and Ferrer mean that the world's top four have all been eliminated following earlier exits for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. World number five Nadal, who is now the favourite for a third title in the Spanish capital, had to come from a set and a break down to win 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0 over world number four Ferrer.

Nadal beats Wawrinka in Madrid final

Agencia EFEMay 12, 2013 14:45

Madrid, May 12 (EFE).- Spain's Rafael Nadal defeated Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 6-4 Sunday in the final of the Mutua Madrid Open, taking his third title at the Masters 1000 event. The world No. 5 won the 40th clay-court title of his career and tied Swiss great Roger Federer with three titles in Madrid. "Perhaps this victory is special after such a complicated season," Nadal said. The 26-year-old Nadal, an 11-time Grand Slam champion, was off the ATP Tour for seven months due to a serious knee injury.

Tennis: 'Killer' Nadal wins Madrid title for fifth triumph of 2013

Agence France-PresseMay 12, 2013 14:00

Rafael Nadal sealed his fifth title in seven tournaments since returning from a seven-month injury layoff as he claimed a third Madrid Masters title with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Stanislas Wawrinka on Sunday. Nadal now has 55 career titles with 40 coming on clay, an astonishing record that prompted Wawrinka to describe the Spaniard as a "killer" on clay courts. Nadal, who holds a 9-0 career record over Switzerland's Wawrinka, rolled through the first set thanks to two early breaks in little over half an hour.

French Open: This year's high-tech tennis apparel

Agence France-PresseMay 12, 2013 11:45

The French Open will be getting under way at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris on Sunday, May 26. Several tennis champs will be competing, starting with the current World No. 1-ranked player Novak Djokovic, who was a finalist at Roland Garros in 2012. Here's what the six favorites in men's singles, including reigning title-holder Rafael Nadal, will be wearing on the court.

Tennis: Nadal, Serena, Sharapova through, Murray out

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 22:45

Djokovic ousted by Dimitrov in Madrid

Thomson ReutersMay 11, 2013 17:35

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic was dumped out of the Madrid Open in the second round on Tuesday when he went over on his ankle and incurred the wrath of the locals on the way to a shock 7-6 6-7 6-3 reverse to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. The world number one, who had a bye in the opening round, was already a break down to the unseeded 21-year-old in the second set when he twisted the same ankle he hurt playing for Serbia in the Davis Cup last month.

Tennis: Federer ousted by Nishikori in Madrid, Nadal cruises

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 17:15

Defending champion Roger Federer was dumped out of the Madrid Masters on Thursday by world number 14 Kei Nishikori as the Japanese came through 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in their third round clash. Second seed Federer, who had just returned to the tour after a two-month break, joins world number one Novak Djokovic in being eliminated early in the Spanish capital and his lack of match practice showed. One break was enough for Nishikori to take the opening set 6-4, but Federer roared back in the second to take it 6-1.