rafa nadal tour valldoreix 2023

X EDICIÓ RAFA NADAL TOUR BY SANTANDER

31/03/2023|08:00 - 08/04/2023|17:30

Circuit juvenil de tenis solidari que va nèixer al 2014 impulsat pel tenista i  a benefici de la Fundación Rafa Nadal . Inclou les categories sub-12, sub-14 i sub-16, tant femenines com masculines.

Data: Divendres 31/03/2023  al Dissabte 09/04/2023

Lloc: Club Esportiu Valldoreix

Tancament inscripció: Dimarts 21/032/2023 a  les 18,00h.

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Tot a punt per a una nova edició del Rafa Nadal Tour del CE Valldoreix

El club valldoreixenc acollirà una temporada més una prova d'aquest prestigiós circuit per a tenistes entre les categories sub-12 i sub-16.

El Club Esportiu Valldoreix serà escenari una temporada més del prestigiós Rafa Nadal Tour , i és que les instal·lacions del club valldoreixenc acolliran la 3a fase del circuit, entre el divendres 31 de març i el dissabte 8 d'abril. Amb això, el torneig, que se celebrarà entre les categories sub-12 i sub-16, ja compta amb unes 400 inscripcions. Joan Carles Pradell , president del CE Valldoreix, ha celebrat la confiança que hi té dipositada el circuit Rafa Nadal Tour en el club valldoreixenc, en la presentació de la prova, que ha tingut lloc el divendres 17 de març: "El torneig ajuda al desenvolupament dels nostres jugadors i volem agrair iniciatives com aquesta que donen contingut al tennis català i espanyol". La competició, que es disputarà en terra batuda, tindrà una fase prèvia per determinar els 48 tenistes que formaran el quadre de les categories sub-12 i sub-14 (amb 35 entrades directes, 8 classificats de la fase prèvia i 5 invitacions). En el cas de la categoria sub-16, seran 24 tenistes els que formaran el quadre final (amb 17 entrades directes, 4 de la prèvia i 3 invitacions). El vocal de l'EMD de Valldoreix, Bernat Gisbert , ha assenyalat la importància que té per Valldoreix acollir un torneig d'aquestes dimensions: "Volem agrair a l'organització la confiança dipositada en el CE Valldoreix, un club en un entorn natural que ajuda a situar Valldoreix en el mapa. Per nosaltres és un orgull i una satisfacció". Així doncs, Valldoreix tornarà a ser un any més la 3a fase d'aquest prestigiós torneig, un torneig que donarà punts per aconseguir una plaça per al Màster de Mallorca, punt final del circuit, en el qual participaran els 7 primers del rànquing un cop acabat el circuit. A més, i com va succeir en les edicions anteriors, hi haurà activitats de valors per analitzar el comportament dels jugadors dins i fora de les pistes i determinar així el 8è participant en el Màster de Mallorca. Finalment, Josep Francesc Fernández , director del Rafa Nadal Tour, ha ressaltat que el CE Valldoreix és la prova amb més inscripcions de tot el circuit: "El CE Valldoreix ha estat amb nosaltres des de la creació del circuit, sent sempre la prova amb més inscripcions. A més, com altres anys, comptem amb les activitats de valors, que han ajudat a millorar les conductes dels tenistes, no només en l'àmbit esportiu".

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El Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander completa su tercera etapa en Valldoreix 

El circuito nacional juvenil “Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander” ha celebrado su tercera etapa en el Club Esportiu Valldoreix de Barcelona, con victorias de Cristina Díaz Adrover y Miguel Avendaño en cadetes, Neus Torner y Keoni Puig en infantiles, y Lucía Rodríguez y Aleix Galindo en alevines.

La mallorquina Cristina Díaz Adrover y el madrileño Miguel Avendaño han superado en las finales Sub’16 a la barcelonesa Inés Costa Oliden 6-2 6-1 y al también barcelonés de Mataró Hugo Díaz Ávila 6-2 4-2 y abandono.

En Sub’14, la barcelonesa Neus Torner y el alicantino Keoni Puig han sumado su segundo triunfo del año venciendo en la final a la ovetense Eugenia Menéndez 6-3 6-4, y al valenciano Andrés Santamarta 5-7 6-2 [10-5].  

La grancanaria Lucía Rodríguez Dominguez y el barcelonés Aleix Galindo han completado el palmarés con sus victorias en Sub’12 sobre la castellonense María Diago 6-0 6-2 y el portugués Adolfo Abascal 4-6 7-6(6) [10-4], logrando en el caso del catalán su segundo éxito.

La competición se trasladará a las pistas del Club Español de Tenis de Rocafort, en Valencia, del 29 de mayo al 6 de junio.

Foto: Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander.

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THE THIRD STAGE OF THE RAFA NADAL TOUR BY SANTANDER IN VALLDOREIX FOR UNDER-12, UNDER-14, AND UNDER-16 TENNIS PLAYERS WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF COMPETITIVENESS HAS CONCLUDED

This Saturday, March 30th, marked the conclusion of the third stage of the Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander at the Club Esportiu Valldoreix, featuring categories for under-12, under-14, and under-16 players.

• The Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander continues to establish itself as the premier youth tennis circuit in the country.
• The circuit is charitable in nature, with the entire registration fee being allocated to the development of projects by the Rafa Nadal Foundation in Spain and India.

This year marks the eleventh edition of the Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander across eight Spanish cities (Barcelona, Seville, Valldoreix, Gran Canaria, Valencia, Madrid, Gijón, and Mallorca), where competitors vie for victory in the under-12, under-14, and under-16 male and female categories.

Rafael Nadal stated, “It wasn’t just about creating another tournament, but one with added value,” and it is with this philosophy that the eleventh edition has been launched with the same passion as always.

The youth circuit, known as the Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander, has solidified its position as a leader in the country, not only for its sporting excellence but also for its charitable commitment by allocating the total registration value to projects by the Rafa Nadal Foundation. This sporting event not only values the tennis prowess of the participants but also their attitudes and behaviors, both on and off the court, through activities focused on values.

After nine days of intense competition, with 541 participants and 535 matches played in the third stage of the Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander, held at the Club Esportiu Valldoreix, champions have been crowned in the under-12, under-14, and under-16 categories.

The winners of the Rafa Nadal Tour by Santander in Valldoreix are as follows:

• Indira Delgado, in the under-16 female category
• Yago Castellanos, in the under-16 male category
• Liliana Chetry, in the under-14 female category
• Ian Barroeta, in the under-14 male category
• Caterina López, in the under-12 female category
• Austin Feltham, in the under-12 male category

During this third stage, players also participated in values-focused activities that contribute to their ranking points, allowing four participants to compete in the masters.

As the official tour sponsor, Banco Santander manufactures trophies for each stage’s winners using recycled tennis balls from previous editions, thus contributing to the circuit’s sustainability.

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Rafael Nadal’s 2023 tennis schedule: Where is he competing next after Sunshine Double withdrawal?

A look at Rafael Nadal’s 2023 tennis schedule and his results so far this campaign…

The 22-time Grand Slam winner kicked off his tennis year at the inaugural United Cup in Sydney, but he found it tough going as he lost his two singles matches as Spain failed to get out of the group stage.

Next up was his title defence at the Australian Open and, after stuttering to an opening-round win against Jack Draper, he was humbled by American Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets in the second round.

He also picked up a hip injury and there are plenty of question marks over his fitness.

What’s to follow…

Nadal was due to make his first appearance at the Dubai Tennis Championships in 15 years at the end of February, but the hip injury that he picked up in Melbourne ruled him out of the tournament.

He was expected to be out of action for up to eight weeks and was initially expected to return for the Indian Wells Masters, but he has confirmed that he will miss the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in California as well as the second leg of the Sunshine Double, the Miami Open.

Naturally his biggest aim is to be ready for the clay-court season, which will culminate in an assault for a record-extending 15th title at Roland Garros.

Confirmed and unconfirmed events

Monte-carlo masters – april 10-16.

If he is fit, then you can put your money on Rafael Nadal appearing at the season-opening clay Masters event, the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he will be gunning for a 12th title.

Last year he missed the tournament as he was still recovering from the rib injury he picked up at the Indian Wells Open.

Barcelona Open – April 17-23

The Barcelona Open is another tournament that is synonymous with Nadal, but he also missed the 2022 edition due to injury.

However, he has already been confirmed for the 2022 tournament alongside defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and he will be hunting for a 13th title at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona.

Madrid Open – April 24-May 7

Nadal made his return from injury at the Madrid Open last year as he reached the quarter-final. He is a five-time champion in the Spanish capital with his last title coming in 2017.

Italian Open – May 8-15

The Rome Masters 1000 event is usually the key tournament ahead of Roland Garros and you can expect 10-time champion Nadal to be in the main draw if he is fit.

Last year he wasn’t 100%, but still entered and lost in the third round. Yet, he still went on to win at Roland Garros.

French Open – May 28-June 11

Roland Garros is considered Nadal’s backyard and he hasn’t missed an edition since making his debut in 2005.

The defending champion will be aiming to win a record-extending 15th title on the clay courts of Paris.

And in case you didn’t know, Nadal has lost just three matches at Roland Garros (2009, 2015, 2021) while in 2016 he withdrew from the third round due injury.

Wimbledon – July 3-16

During the early days of his career, Nadal played a couple of warm-up events to prepare for the grass-court Grand Slam, but these days he takes a break between the French Open and Wimbledon.

That is if he does play at SW19.

Last year he reached the semi-final before withdrawing due to injury while in 2021 he missed the tournament as he was recovering from his foot problem. His last Wimbledon title was in 2008.

Canadian Open – August 7-13

Nadal has in the past used the Citi Open (July 31) to prepare for the ATP Masters double assault in North America, but it is not a regular event on his calendar.

He is likely to play at the Canadian Open where he is a four-time champion, although he has missed the last two editions due to injury.

Cincinnati Open – August 14-20

Although one of the highlights of the ATP Masters calendar, Nadal has is not a regular visitor to Mason, Ohio. He missed four consecutive tournaments from 2018 to 2021 before finally making his return last year, losing in the second round.

Nadal’s only title win at the Cincinnati Open came in 2013.

US Open – August 28-September 10

The final Grand Slam of the season starts on the final Monday in August and Nadal is likely to feature if he is fit.

After winning his fourth title at Flushing Meadows in 2019, the Spaniard missed the next two events due to injury and returned last year only to lose in the fourth round against Frances Tiafoe.

Shanghai Masters – October 2-9

Nadal has in the past played at the China Open, but given that he is playing a reduced schedule these days it is unlikely that he will make the trip to China, which is set to return to the calendar following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Shanghai Masters is another event that will return following a three-year absence and Nadal hasn’t played there since 2017.

Paris Masters – October 30-November 5

The Paris Masters along with the ATP Finals and Shanghai Masters are the big titles that are absent from Nadal’s CV and his best performance in Paris-Bercy came in his debut event in 2007 when he finished runner-up.

He lost in the second round last year while he missed the 2021 tournament because of injury.

ATP Finals – November 12-19

Nadal hasn’t made the best of starts to the 2023 season so plenty of things need to fall into place before the ATP Finals can be penciled in.

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Carlos alcaraz's younger brother jaime wins rafa nadal tour junior event, 'don't laugh' andreeva, fritz, korda, jabeur, sinner and more try out the one-handed backhand, paula badosa announces that she and stefanos tsitsipas have ended their romantic relationship, "you’ll be back": felix auger-aliassime writes madrid message for injured jiri lehecka, nicolas moreno de alboran opens up about recent health battle with dengue fever complications, photos: rafael nadal waves goodbye in emotional madrid ceremony as tributes pour in on social media, pedro cachin asks rafael nadal for his shirt after madrid defeat: "dream come true", jannik sinner's carota boys fan club reveal their favorite things about him, 'it's all about to click': an optimistic naomi osaka signs off from madrid, 'if we're both fit enough, why not' carlos alcaraz and rafael nadal reaffirm paris olympic doubles hopes in madrid, carlos alcaraz's younger brother jaime wins rafa nadal tour junior event, flashback: last year, jaime alcaraz participated in the img future stars exhibition event in greece..

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2016 Carlos Alcaraz winning the Rafa Nadal Tour by MAPFRE U14 pic.twitter.com/cqt21QZz6S — 9-7 in the 5th (@97InThe5th) February 18, 2020

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Spaniard Nadal started his clay comeback in Barcelona, losing in the second round, and then played in Madrid, where he made the last 16 before losing to Jiri Lehecka in an emotional farewell.

Keep track here of all the latest scores , and see what's in store.

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Nadal faces Medvedev meeting as Swiatek, Rybakina kept apart

Nadal has been drawn in the same quarter of the draw as the second seed and 2023 champion Daniil Medvedev. The pair would meet in the quarter-finals, should they each reach that stage at the Foro Italico.

Nadal, who has said this will be his final appearance at the event, will face a qualifier in his first-round match in Italy, with seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz in wait, should he prevail.

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Medvedev will either face Borna Coric or Jack Draper in the opening match as the 28-year-old looks to repeat his terrific run in Rome last year when he claimed his first tour-level title on clay.

Medvedev and Nadal's potential semi-final opponents include Madrid champion Andrey Rublev, who will play against Emil Ruusuvuori or Marcos Giron in his opening match.

The 26-year-old Rublev is seeded to meet Monte Carlo winner Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals, but first may have to battle past a home favourite, Matteo Berrettini or Matteo Arnaldi, in the fourth round.

No. 1 Novak Djokovic will take on Roman Safiullin or a qualifier in his first competitive appearance since Monte-Carlo last month. The six-time champion in Rome could meet Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals, with Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov also in the top half of the draw.

The #IBI24 @WTA draw is OUT 👇 pic.twitter.com/MkN1xgBL8c — Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 6, 2024

Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, former two-time champion Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber make up a strong women's draw.

Swiatek is on the opposite half of the draw to No 4 and defending champion Rybakina.

The No 1 seed is projected to face No 3 Gauff in the semi-finals, while Rybakina will come up against No 2 Sabalenka at the same stage.

Katie Boulter has a first-round bye and will play Giorgia Pedone or a qualifier in round two.

However, home favourite Jannik Sinner (hip), Carlos Alcaraz (forearm) and Brits Raducanu and Murray will not be taking part in the Italian capital this year. Murray has been practising on clay as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

Raducanu's current plans are to compete in Strasbourg , but she is also entered into qualifying for the French Open unless she receives a wild card into the main draw.

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When is the Italian Open?

Qualifying starts on Monday, May 6 ahead of the action proper commencing on Wednesday, May 8.

The finals will be held on the weekend of May 18.

As with the Madrid Open, the 32 seeds get a first-round bye so they enter the tournament in the second round.

Play will start at 10am UK time every day until Thursday, May 16 when it begins at midday. There will be evening sessions starting at 6pm each day until finals weekend, when play starts at midday on both days.

The Dunlop Fort Clay Court ball will be used at the tournament.

What is the schedule?

Qualifying: Monday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 7

Main Draw: Wednesday, May 8 - Sunday, May 19

Singles Finals: Saturday, May 18, not before 5pm & Sunday, May 19 not before 5pm

Who are the Brits taking part?

Harriet Dart and Heather Watson both lost in first-round qualifying so Boulter headlines the women's singles draw.

The British No 1 was narrowly beaten by 19-year-old American Robin Montgomery in three sets at the Madrid Open.

Boulter will be looking to string together a deep run in Rome ahead of her maiden main draw appearance at Roland Garros in just a matter of weeks.

On the men's side, Cameron Norrie is set to play off the back of a successful few weeks in Spain having reached the quarter-final of the ATP 500 event in Barcelona before going on to make the third round at the Madrid Open.

Jack Draper will be joining Norrie in the main draw, after recently making the quarter-final at the BMW Open in Munich.

Dan Evans could also be set for a return to the court, after a calf injury forced him to miss the ATP 1000 event in Madrid.

Who are the defending Italian Open champions?

Medvedev won the 2023 singles title, his first clay-court trophy, with a 7-5 7-5 victory against Holger Rune.

Rybakina won the second WTA 1000 title of her career last year, defeating Anhelina Kalinina in the final 6-4 1-0 ret. Kalinina retired in the final with a left thigh injury.

Where is the tournament taking place?

The tournament will once again be held at one of the country's biggest sports complexes - the Foro Italico.

Located in the heart of Rome, the stadium is home to two iconic courts and has the capacity to hold over 10,500 spectators.

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What's coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

In the run-up to the second Grand Slam of 2024 - the French Open at Roland Garros from May 26 - you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the clay-court season.

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Rafael Nadal’s last tennis match in Madrid: Defeat, but a win

Imagine having done the same thing for something like 30 years, being better at it than just about anyone who has ever lived, and then one day, it’s all completely new. 

And so it is for Rafael Nadal in this through-the-looking-glass spring . For years, no place felt more like home than a red clay court. He could lose matches sometimes. Everyone does. But he almost never played poorly.

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He could leave his guts on the court with an effort that would leave most of the population unable to walk for weeks. Then he would wake up in the morning and, within a few hours, be able to start preparing to do it all over again. And then, sometimes, he really would do it all over again.

Those days are done, perhaps never to return. Nearly a year and a half since a debilitating hip injury, nearly a year since major surgery to try to fix it, nearly two years since he was a mainstay of the professional tour, each match, each day, has become an experiment and a riddle for Nadal . 

How much can he push? How long can he go? How does his body feel when he opens his eyes for the first time each morning, when he rolls out of bed, when he leans over to pick up his 18-month-old son, Rafa, when he walks onto the court for a warm-up session and strokes the ball for the first time? 

The latest test came Tuesday night against Jiri Lehecka, the talented young Czech with the limber physique and easy power that Nadal, always the brutalist, never had. But nothing about the match really had anything to do with the contrasts he and Nadal presented, or really even the score. 

This was all about the latest of Nadal’s experiments.

Over 12,000 fans, an inside-out forehand, and a dream: Rafael Nadal makes magic in Madrid

A little more than 24 hours before he and Lehecka took the court, Nadal had gone three sets and more than three hours against Pedro Cachin of Argentina. In both matches, the most important numbers on the scoreboard were counting the elapsed time. How many rolling backhands and bullwhip forehands could Nadal endure, or even want to endure, with his lodestar, the French Open, starting in 26 days.

The first set went 57 minutes, with Lehecka surviving three tight service holds and capitalizing on a cluster of Nadal errors in the 11th game to break, before serving out the set. Lehecka then broke Nadal’s serve in the first game of the second set. Nadal’s balls started to fly long and into the net without it bothering him all that much, and it was hard not to think of how he had described his game plan moving forward the night before, after his three-hour fist-fight with Cachin. 

“Trying without doing crazy things, but trying,” he said, which is what Lehecka’s 7-5, 6-4 win that lasted a little over two hours ultimately looked like.

A third set and another hour might have qualified as a crazy thing under the circumstances.

Cachin, a 29-year-old journeyman who knows his way around a clay court, had given Nadal as much as he could handle and more than anyone had expected, digging in for long fights for points, forcing him to scramble across the baseline. A few years ago, this would have been another day of certainty for Nadal: the clay, the winning, the looking ahead to the next match knowing — within a very small margin — what version of himself would take the court. 

Instead, he walked the corridors of the Caja Magica Monday night, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head, and telling everyone who would listen that he had no idea what the future held. 

“I never recovered too bad after tough matches, I think even at 36 years old or 35,” said Nadal, who is now nearly 38. “Today is a completely different story. It’s not only about injuries. First thing is injuries. Second thing is about… I never spent almost two years without playing tennis tournaments.”

Everyone knows what this is all about for Nadal — figuring out whether it’s going to be worth his while to put his name in the draw at the French Open, the tournament he has won 14 times, where his record at Roland Garros is a ridiculous 112-3. He’s not going to go merely for an ovation and a bouquet, or to gaze at the nine-foot statue of him outside Court Philippe Chatrier.

Ghosts of clay courts past: Rafael Nadal's comeback is really about his legacy

He knows his tennis is there, but he will only go if he believes his body will be there, too. This is best-of-five-set tennis, on clay, and matches are affairs that generally last close to three hours, maybe longer. His serve in its current iteration, slowed by injuries to his midsection, isn’t allowing him to grab many quick and easy points. Nearly everything he gets, he has to earn the hard way. Late in the second set on Tuesday night, 40 per cent of Lehecka’s serves had gone unreturned, allowing him to speed through holds of serve already rendered tricky by the booms of “Rafa, Rafa, Rafa” about his ears every time he stood up to the line. Asked about how he dealt with them, the Czech world No 31 could only puff out his cheeks and say, “I don’t know.”

Nadal’s figure was six per cent.

He will have a day off between matches at the French Open, unlike the 24-hour turnaround from Cachin to Lehecka, but still, the past days in Madrid have brought his first experience in what feels like forever of the grind-recover-grind routine the sport demands. 

Ten days ago in Barcelona, he couldn’t do it, winning a match then essentially folding after losing the first set of a second. Had he pushed for more in that moment, he might have been back where he was in January, in a tuneup tournament in Brisbane ahead of the Australian Open. There, in his third match, he pushed too soon. He went to sleep with a tweak. In the morning, an MRI revealed it was a tear. Three months of recovery and many more moments of doubt ensued.

Maybe this was it? He could swing a racket, but anything close to trying to replicate the intensity of top-level competition was out of the question. Same with an intense three-hour training session. He just wasn’t strong enough. 

Madrid has been different. His strength is back, but it’s not chartable: he still doesn’t have any idea what will happen from one day to the next. 

“It’s unpredictable, that’s it, and you need to accept the unpredictable things today,” he said earlier this week. “I need to accept that.”

Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and the hunt for a graceful and glorious exit

In a sense, Nadal has been preparing for this moment for more than 20 years, ever since doctors detected a congenital defect in his foot that nearly derailed his career before it ever got started. He had to accept then an extremely uncertain future. Anything that followed was a kind of gift. 

The experience begat ‘Zen-Rafa,’ the player who years ago compared an opponent’s aces to the rain, something he had no control over and simply accepted. Now he was back where it all started and not just because he said Madrid is where he felt for the first time, back in 2003, that he could compete at the highest level.

Sure, Nadal would have preferred to win once again in this packed metal bandbox in front of 12,000 people who love him as they love little else. He is as big a sports hero as this country has ever produced, which Raul Gonzalez Blanco, the legendary Real Madrid and Spain striker, knows well. He was there watching against Cachin.

But Nadal knew he had already won by being able to answer the bell against Lehecka, something he could only hope he would be able to do when he closed his eyes the night before. Picking up some easy points on his serve marked another win. Those classic, loop-one-ball-then-crush-the-next-one combinations, the quick bends for the short-hop winners, the perfect slice volley when he followed his serve into the net midway through the second set — win, win, win. 

The moment when he sprinted to the baseline from his chair, one game from defeat, and 12,000 people stood and roared, and the noise rattled all around the metal building — that may have been the biggest win of all. They did it again on match point, then chanted his name when he sprayed a final backhand wide on what is likely his final match in the city.

He described the night as “very positive in many senses, not only sporting but also emotionally.”

“It’s been a gift to spend 21 years here,” Nadal told the crowd during a celebration on the court after the match. “The emotions, of playing in Madrid, playing on this court, are going to stay with me forever.”

Still, as much as Nadal has accepted the uncertainty of the future and soaking up the love, he is also making plans. He is playing himself into form now, trying to pass tests with every match so he can dream of magic, not just at the French Open but after, too. 

The Olympic Games are at Roland Garros. He wants to at least play doubles there with Carlos Alcaraz, who is well on his way to taking over from Nadal in the Spanish tennis imagination. Last week he committed to play the Laver Cup, the Team Europe vs Team World competition that his friend and rival Roger Federer created. That’s in September. 

Madrid brought four matches in six days. Assuming his body comes through all this, he will head to Rome for the Italian Open next week for another series of tests. Then comes the decision about the French Open.

That’s both imminent and a ways away. Nadal, who, in all his greatness has still somehow always managed to come off as a normalish guy, is day to day, as the saying goes — just as we all are.

(Top photo: Manuel Queimadelos/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

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Matthew Futterman is an award-winning veteran sports journalist and the author of two books, “Running to the Edge: A Band of Misfits and the Guru Who Unlocked the Secrets of Speed” and “Players: How Sports Became a Business.”Before coming to The Athletic in 2023, he worked for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Star-Ledger of New Jersey and The Philadelphia Inquirer. He is currently writing a book about tennis, "The Cruelest Game: Agony, Ecstasy and Near Death Experiences on the Pro Tennis Tour," to be published by Doubleday in 2026. Follow Matthew on Twitter @ mattfutterman

The week in tennis: Stephens wins clay-court title, and questions surround Nadal and Djokovic

• D'Arcy Maine, ESPN.com

While speaking to the media during a news conference in Miami last month, Sloane Stephens admitted she didn't know how much longer she would be playing professional tennis. The 31-year-old said she still had goals she wanted to achieve but spoke about her career largely in the past tense.

But on Sunday, in the final at the inaugural WTA 250 Open Capfinances Rouen Metropole in France, Stephens proved she's far from done just yet.

The 2017 US Open champion won the eighth title of her career, and first in over two years, with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 victory over Magda Linette . It capped off an extraordinary week that saw her defeat former top-10 players Caroline Garcia and Karolina Pliskova . While she had largely cruised into the final -- dropping just one set in four matches -- she had to dig deep and needed six match points to pull off the comeback against Linette. Ultimately, she got the job done in two hours and 10 minutes.

That magic moment 🤩 @SloaneStephens finishes off a brilliant week as the champion in Rouen 👏 #OpenRouen pic.twitter.com/0Jdq6tglWU — wta (@WTA) April 21, 2024

While she has long been known for her prowess on the surface and reached the French Open final in 2018, it marked Stephens' first title on the red clay and first indoors.

"Coming here was kind of a last-minute decision, so I'm really happy to be through and win another title," Stephens said . "It's my first title indoors, I think, so that's really nice and really cool, and just a really nice way to start off the clay-court swing."

Today feels amazing 💖 Thank you so much for all the love and support this week! Happy to be holding the title! Clay court szn I'm here 💁🏾‍♀️🏆 pic.twitter.com/9zis0TlSh6 — sloanestephens (@SloaneStephens) April 21, 2024

Here's what else you might have missed from around the tennis world last week:

Ruud awakening

Casper Ruud has played in three major finals and been ranked as high as No. 2 in the world, but somehow he had never won a title higher than a 250-level, the lowest tier of ATP events. Until Sunday, that is.

In the final at the 500-level Barcelona Open, Ruud defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-3 for his 11th ATP trophy and the biggest title of his career. He had lost all seven of his previous finals at 500-level or higher events, and the win came just seven days after Tsitsipas beat Ruud in the Monte Carlo final, making the triumph even sweeter for Ruud.

"This has been worth all the wait," Ruud said. "All the finals I've lost have been tough, disappointing of course, but every time you reach a final it's nonetheless a good week, so you can't be too hard on yourself.

"But this one's been a long time coming, and super happy to do it here in Barcelona in front of a packed stadium today, and on Rafa Nadal Court. It's special to me as I looked up to him all my childhood and came here myself as a 13-year-old boy to watch him and the others play here, so it's a great feeling."

Ruud celebrated the milestone -- and his first title of 2024 -- by doing a cannonball into the pool on site. As you do.

Making a splash in style! 💦💣 @CasperRuud98 #BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/bsfmeCDeK3 — Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 21, 2024

Rybakina's new ride

A day after ending Iga Swiatek 's 10-match win streak, Elena Rybakina secured her third title of the season with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Marta Kostyuk in the Stuttgart final.

Rybakina, who also won at Brisbane and Abu Dhabi this year, needed just over an hour to seal the victory and cap off her latest impressive tournament run. Rybakina played three sets in all three of her matches heading into Sunday. But she left nothing to chance with the trophy on the line against Kostyuk, who had defeated a trio of top-10 players during the week, including Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals.

Rybakina, 24, now has won a tour-leading 26 matches this season -- and also leads in titles and final appearances (5) -- and the Stuttgart result further bolstered her confidence as the French Open approaches.

"I always believe in myself, of course, but it's not only depends on me," Rybakina said, according to the WTA . "There are a lot of great players, tough opponents. But I know if I feel fresh, if I'm physically ready, healthy, I'm playing my game, of course I have all the chances to win a Grand Slam on any surface."

As is tradition at the tournament, Rybakina was gifted a Porsche from the event's title sponsor. But there was just one tiny problem: She doesn't have a driver's license. So instead of getting to drive off the court in her new ride, Rybakina sat in the passenger seat and was driven out.

She previously said this might be the motivation she needed to finally get her license. In the meantime, she said her mom and her coach could take turns driving her new car.

Sign Elena up for driving school ASAP 🏎️ #PorscheTennis pic.twitter.com/C2Z7lkJNO0 — Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) April 21, 2024

If at first you don't succeed

Entering the BMW Open in Munich, 33-year-old Jan-Lennard Struff had never won an ATP title and had an 0-3 record in finals.

But Struff stormed through the draw -- defeating the likes of Felix Auger-Aliassime and Holger Rune , both in straight sets -- and advanced to the final. And on Sunday, playing in front of a supportive home crowd, Struff seemed unfazed by his past record or results. He defeated Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-3 to win his first ATP tournament.

Winning the trophy just days before his 34th birthday, Struff became the third-oldest first-time champion in ATP history.

"[It feels] unbelievable, and to do it on home soil is just incredible," Struff said on court after the match. "I waited so long. I'm 33 years old and played so long on tour. It's just an amazing feeling to do it here in Germany."

First title at 33! 🔥 Winning it in style 🥰 @Struffitennis | #BMWOpen pic.twitter.com/dfUBDq0Ynt — ATP Tour (@atptour) April 21, 2024

His early birthday celebration nearly included two titles, but he and partner Andreas Mies ultimately fell in the doubles final later in the afternoon.

Rafa's return

After 681 days since he had last competed on clay, Rafael Nadal officially made his return in Barcelona. It was his first match since sustaining a muscle injury in Brisbane at the start of the season.

The 37-year-old was victorious in his opener, defeating Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-3 before falling to Alex de Minaur in the second round. While not the outcome he wanted, Nadal seemed grateful to have been able to play and expressed optimism about the rest of the clay season.

"The main thing today was not necessarily to win but to come out feeling good from this tournament, and that's what happened," Nadal said after the loss to de Minaur. "Sometimes it's difficult to play when you know that you maybe can't fight all the way to the end of the match, which was the case today. But I hope to be able to do that in a few weeks ... That's the way that I need to proceed today and to give me a chance to be ready at least to compete at Roland Garros."

Nadal, who was sidelined for most of 2023, has previously said this will likely be his final year on tour, and it's clearly made playing at the French Open one last time his ultimate goal. The 14-time Roland Garros champion said he was planning on playing in Madrid and Rome prior to heading to Paris.

See you in Paris, @RafaelNadal 👀 @bcnopenbs | #BCNopenBS pic.twitter.com/wBXQ2LRTY4 — ATP Tour (@atptour) April 18, 2024

Djokovic withdraws

While Nadal will be in the draw in Madrid this week, his longtime rival Novak Djokovic will not: The 24-time major champion and current world No. 1 withdrew from the 1000-level event over the weekend.

It's been a challenging and unexpected season for Djokovic. He has a 9-3 record so far and has yet to win a title. He lost to Ruud in the semifinals in Monte Carlo in his last tournament earlier this month. Djokovic has not said if he plans to play in Rome, the final clay tuneup ahead of the French Open.

But it seems as if Djokovic is more vulnerable on the court than he has been in years. And each loss only makes players less intimidated and more convinced they can beat him.

"I think what really motivated me and helped me a bit today was that I thought about [that] he lost a match in Indian Wells to Luca Nardi , and he showed there that he's also vulnerable sometimes," Ruud said after his victory over Djokovic.

And now one of the biggest questions as the year's second major quickly approaches has to be: Can Djokovic regain his dominant form and get his season back on track?

Garbine's goodbye

After a career that saw her win the titles at Wimbledon and the French Open, as well as reach the world No. 1 ranking, Garbine Muguruza announced her retirement from the sport on Saturday during a news conference in Madrid. The 30-year-old had been taking an indefinite break from competition and hadn't played a match since January of last year.

"I feel that it is time to retire and open up a new chapter in my life," Muguruza told reporters.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Laureus (@laureussport)

One of the most decorated Spanish women in tennis history quickly was saluted on social media by several of her compatriots, including Carlos Alcaraz , Carla Suarez Navarro and Paula Badosa , who credited her for inspiring her own tennis career.

"You were the mirror where I looked at myself since I was little," Badosa wrote in Spanish. "Thank you Garbi for giving so much to Spanish tennis."

Fuiste el espejo donde me mire desde pequeñita. Gracias Garbi por dar tanto al tenis español. Fue un placer compartir contigo estos años. Feliz vida, te lo mereces 💖 @GarbiMuguruza pic.twitter.com/bMJT60OPeq — Paula Badosa (@paulabadosa) April 20, 2024

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Rafael Nadal to begin quest for 11th Italian Open title against qualifier

Should Nadal get through to the second round in the Italian capital, where he has won the title a record 10 times, he could face world number nine Hubert Hurkacz. read more

Rome : Rafael Nadal was drawn on Monday with a qualifier in the first round of the Italian Open as the 22-time Grand Slam winner continues his comeback from injury on clay in Rome.

Should Nadal get through to the second round in the Italian capital, where he has won the title a record 10 times, he could face world number nine Hubert Hurkacz.

Also on Nadal’s side of the draw are last year’s winner, world number four Daniil Medvedev, and the beaten finalist Holger Rune.

The 37-year-old last won in Rome in 2021 and dropped out last year with injury ahead of the tournament.

Since making his comeback in April after three months on the sidelines, Nadal, who sits at 305 in the men’s ATP tour rankings after hardly playing in 2023, has been knocked out in the second round in Barcelona and reached the last 16 in Madrid.

This season is expected to be Nadal’s last, even though he has not decided exactly when he will be hanging up his racquet.

Numerous physical issues have hampered him over the past two years and he has said that he will only compete at Roland Garros later this month if he feels competitive.

Nadal’s old rival Novak Djokovic will face either a qualifier or Russian Roman Safiullin in the second round as he guns for a seventh title in Rome with key rivals sidelined.

Both home hope Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, ranked two and three in the world respectively, have been forced to withdraw from the tournament with injury.

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Rafael Nadal Nets First Top 20 Win Since 2022 With Victory at Madrid Open

• Author: Tim Capurso

Rafael Nadal defeated world No. 11 Alex de Minaur 7–6 (6), 6–3 in the second round of the Madrid Open on Saturday, earning his first ATP Tour victory vs. an opponent ranked inside the top 20 since November of 2022.

Nadal, 37, at times showed flashes of the form that helped him win 22 Grand Slams in his career. The Spaniard had his signature, lefty forehand-down-the-line shot working well, in addition to his crosscourt backhand, which he fired for winners multiple times.

Nadal, with a raucous crowd behind him, won a thrilling, 77-minute first set in a tiebreak, then quickly broke de Minaur's serve to grab a second set lead he would not relinquish.

When told during a post-match interview that it seemed like "the old Rafa Nadal was back," Nadal pushed back on the notion.

Are we beginning to see the return of the old Rafael Nadal? 🤩 @RafaelNadal #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/cKrwHWYYmN — Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 27, 2024

"No, no, no not yet," Nadal said with a laugh. "It needs time, and I think for moments have been good level of tennis. I was able to do positive things but still on and off."

Nadal missed nearly the entire 2023 season after requiring surgery on his hip, an injury that had the decorated tennis pro pondering retirement going into 2024. On Wednesday, Nadal would not fully commit to playing in the French Open, a tournament he has won a record 14 times.

If he can maintain the form he displayed Saturday while staying healthy, it's likely he'll be on the court at Roland Garros when the French Open begins on May 20.

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Tennis News Today: Iga Swiatek shares Rafael Nadal inspiration behind Madrid Open win; Paula Badosa & Stefanos Tsitsipas part ways; Diego Schwartzman announces shock retirement

I ga Swiatek opened up about drawing inspiration from tennis legend Rafael Nadal to win her maiden Madrid Open title against Aryna Sabalenka. In other news, Paula Badosa announced her separation from boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas after less than a year of being together.

Meanwhile, Diego Schwartzman revealed his plan to retire from competitive tennis in 2025 after making a last appearance in his home tournament. Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian shared his thoughts on Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap feud after being dissed by the former in the past.

Also, Iga Swiatek addressed the topic of women tennis players competing against men following Madrid Open win. Taylor Fritz's girlfriend Morgan Riddle shared a sneak peek into her Miami Grand Prix Paddock adventure.

On that note, here's a recap of today's top tennis news:

Iga Swiatek talks about Rafael Nadal's influence in her victory over Aryna Sabalenka in Madrid Open final

Iga Swiatek talked about how Rafael Nadal's mental fortitude during his 2022 Australian Open comeback win against Daniil Medvedev inspired her 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7) victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the 2024 Madrid Open final.

"Honestly, one of the things that came to mind is that Rafa had a couple of matches like that. The boys have three sets at least, so I guess they have more time for that to happen. I remember when he played against Medvedev in Australia and something clicked," Swiatek said in her post-match press conference (via Punto de Break).

Swiatek revealed she found hope by channeling Nadal 's ability to manage pressure during the intense match.

"He also suffered from being tense and from stress. I'm not sure because I haven't talked to him, but I've felt that. That has given me hope. I would say that looking only at the finals, this has been the most intense and craziest I have ever played. That it's final makes it even crazier," she added.

Iga Swiatek is now expected to participate in the upcoming Italian Open where she is a two-time champion (2021 and 2022).

Paula Badosa parts ways with boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas

Paula Badosa announced the end of her relationship with boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas, less than a year after they went public during the 2023 French Open. Sharing the news on Instagram, Badosa reflected on their time together, emphasizing that their parting was mutual and friendly.

"After careful consideration and many cherished moments together, Stefanos and I have decided to amicably part ways. We have shared a journey filled with love and learning, and it is as friends with immense mutual respect that we now choose to move forward on our own paths," Badosa wrote on her Instagram story.

"We are grateful for the support of our friends, family, and all who have been part of our story. As we transition into this new chapter of our lives, we continue to wish each other nothing but the best in our endeavors. We kindly ask for privacy during this time, and we thank you for your understanding and respect," she added.

Both Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas faced early exits at the 2024 Madrid Open. Badosa lost 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to compatriot Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, while, sixth-seeded Tsitsipas faced a 6-4, 6-4 defeat against Thiago Monteiro in the second round.

Diego Schwartzman announced his plans to retire from professional tennis in 2025

Diego Schwartzman announced his retirement following a 14-year-long professional tennis journey. The former World No. 8 disclosed details about his farewell tournament through a heartfelt message on Instagram, accompanied by nostalgic photos from his career.

"What a trip! How many moments I never imagined, how many anecdotes I never dreamed, how many people I met that helped me grow, that taught me so much, that made me a player and a much better person than anyone ever thought I would be including myself," Schwartzman wrote.

Additionally, Schwartzman revealed the venue of his final professional match.

"Let this 2024 be that way, hopefully getting the opportunity to compete in the tournaments I enjoy the most. And in 2025, in Argentina, to be able to have my final moment, the most beautiful closure I can imagine," he added.

Diego Schwartzman recently faced an exit against Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the qualifying round at the Madrid Open. The Argentine will face Ramos-Vinolas again in the upcoming Italian Open qualifier.

Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian reacts to Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap feud

Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian weighed in on the Drake-Kendrick Lamar rap feud , considering his own history with the Canadian rapper. The rappers' decade-long tension exploded with diss tracks like "Like That" and "Push Ups," which were met by counter-tracks from the Canadian rapper.

Ohanian joined the fray with a Simpsons meme suggesting the American rapper dominated the fight.

Kendrick Lamar's latest release, ‘Not Like Us,' directly warns Drake against disrespecting Williams , emphasizing their shared upbringing in Compton. This adds another layer to the conflict, considering Ohanian's own past conflict with Drake, who once called him a "groupie" (a person who is an ardent admirer of someone famous and follows them on tour) in a song.

Iga Swiatek addresses the women vs. men tennis debate following Madrid Open victory

Iga Swiatek shared her view on the potential outcome of women facing men in tennis, echoing Serena Williams' sentiments from a 2013 talk show appearance.

Swiatek addressed the topic in a post-match press conference after winning her maiden Madrid Open title against Aryna Sabalenka, acknowledging that women would likely be outmatched by men but stressed the importance of focusing on the emotional aspect of the sport rather than making direct comparisons.

"If we had to play against a man, we would lose. It's not about that. It's about how two tennis players play against each other. I think we can have great matches. I'm number one, but I see these players in the Top 10 who can play very intense battles," Swiatek told the press.

"It's about the emotions it awakens in people, we shouldn't compare the level of tennis, but what it generates in you when you watch it. I think people can learn a lot from watching women's tennis, it can be interesting and emotional," Iga Swiatek added.

Serena Williams discussed the differences between men's and women's tennis on Late Night with David Letterman in 2013, particularly in light of Andy Murray's proposed exhibition match against her. Williams admitted she wouldn't stand a chance against Murray and predicted a quick match, possibly ending within 10 minutes.

Taylor Fritz's girlfriend Morgan Riddle shares highlights of her day from the Miami GP paddock

Taylor Fritz's girlfriend Morgan Riddle took to Instagram to give her followers a glimpse into her day at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix's paddock.

While fulfilling her media responsibilities, Riddle shared snapshots of her encounters, including meeting Susie Wolff, the wife of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team's leader Toto Wolff, and renowned British makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury. The social media influencer also captured the paddock's staircases, which brought back memories of the magical world of Harry Potter.

Swiatek expande su hegemonía al conquistar por primera vez Madrid

La número uno del mundo tumba a sabalenka (7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7), 3h 11m), la dos —contra quien había perdido en la final de 2023—, y alza el gran título que le faltaba sobre tierra batida.

La mujer que reina en el tenis desde hace dos años, la joven Iga Swiatek, tenía una espina clavada en Madrid, el último gran título sobre tierra batida que le faltaba por conquistar a sus 22 años. La polaca se la ha quitado este sábado ante Aryna Sabalenka, la número dos del mundo, la misma que la derrotó hace 12 meses en una de las finales más emocionantes de la historia del torneo. Un año después, en un día al fin soleado en el barrio de San Fermín, la de Varsovia se toma la revancha ante la bielorrusa en otro choque formidable en el estadio Manolo Santana: impone su solidez desde el fondo de la pista, impulsada por su juego de pies y sus potentes piernas, y su propuesta supera esta vez a la de su rival, que muestra su manual de siempre, el latigazo tras latigazo de la jugadora que más fuerte le pega a la bola. Sabalenka (25 años), la única que ha logrado arrebatarle el número uno estos últimos dos años —entre septiembre y noviembre de 2023—, está tan cerca de cantar otra vez victoria que tiene en el tercer set tres bolas de partido, pero es Swiatek quien se lleva el tie break definitivo (7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7), 3h 11m), el Masters al fin y al cabo, para robarle la corona y expandir aún más su hegemonía en el circuito. Con el triunfo, ensancha la distancia en el ranking con la bielorrusa y al fin reina en el WTA 1000 de Madrid, donde recibe el trofeo de manos de la fabulosa Garbiñe Mugurza, la ganadora de dos grandes y exnúmero uno que hace dos semanas anunció con 30 años su retirada.

#1GA ➡️🏆🇪🇸 @iga_swiatek secures her 20th career title on the Hologic WTA Tour! #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/jZMjXVjE0V — wta (@WTA) May 4, 2024

No hay sorpresa en el guion del choque: el tenis vertical de Sabalenka, un juego a cara o cruz en una ciudad cuya altitud —unos 650 metros sobre el nivel del mar— ayuda a que las bolas salgan disparadas, frente al martilleo persistente de Swiatek desde el fondo. La número uno logra prevalecer en un partido tan igualado que cuando acabó el segundo set, cada una había ganado 71 puntos (121 a 116 al final).

En la tercera manga, la polaca se impone a un volcán que lanza un repertorio de winners espectacular: Sabalenka cierra el torneo con más de 215 golpes ganadores, su mayor registro desde el Open de Australia de 2023, cuando sumó 247. El orden y la cabeza de Swiatek, la jugadora que a veces parece un reloj suizo con su tenis fiable y constante, desestabilizan en el tramo final a la bielorrusa. La número dos está cerca de abrochar el choque en tres ocasiones, pero la polaca siempre mete una bola más, resiste tres puntos de partido y es ella quien finalmente alza el trofeo a la segunda oportunidad que se le presenta: resta un servicio de Sabalenka, que echa largo el revés, y ya suelta la raqueta, tira sobre la tierra batida, se emociona y se tapa la cara con las manos en la Manolo Santana. “¿Quién va a decir ahora que el tenis femenino es aburrido?”, dice Swiatek a pie de pista, una suerte de dardo a la bielorrusa, que al principio del torneo aseguró que prefería ver el circuito masculino porque era “más interesante” y contó que no veía los partidos de sus rivales, es decir, de la propia polaca o de Elena Rybakina, la tenista que más victorias lleva este curso.

El triunfo refuerza todavía más a la de Varsovia, la tenista que idolatra a Rafa Nadal —en rueda de prensa explica que se inspiró en algunas de las hazañas del balear durante la tensión del tercer set— y que domina el circuito desde que Ashleigh Bartey se retiró en marzo de 2022 con solo 25 años porque el tenis no la llenaba. La australiana, de hecho, la señaló a ella como heredera cuando dio un paso a un lado. Swiatek ha cogido el testigo y lo ha elevado: ya tiene más majors (cuatro) que la propia Barty (tres) y manda en el circuito desde entonces.

La número uno ha conquistado la arena de Madrid en su tercera participación en el Masters. En la primera cayó en la tercera ronda, pero el año pasado ya llegó a la final. Es la guinda que le quedaba sobre la arcilla a una tenista a la que en sus inicios describían como terrícola , pero que es mucho más: en diciembre de 2021 prescindió del que había sido su entrenador los cuatro años anteriores, Piotr Sierzputowski, se juntó con Tomasz Witkorowski y empezaron a llegar los grandes títulos sobre cemento, como el US Open de 2022 —también acumula nueve WTA 1000 (seis sobre dura) y unas WTA Finals—. Solo le queda coronarse en hierba, una superficie en la que en Wimbledon fue campeona júnior en 2018. Su victoria de hoy, además, impide a Sabalenka (dos grandes: Open de Australia 2022 y 2023) levantar su tercer título en el Masters e igualar el récord de la checa Petra Kvitova como la mujer que más veces se ha llevado el torneo.

La de Varsovia ya ha ganado en tres ocasiones Roland Garros (2020, 2022 y 2023) y ha conquistado en otras dos ocasiones el Foro Itálico de Roma (2021 y 2022), el otro WTA 1000 sobre tierra batida del circuito. Con la corona en Madrid —donde todas las entradas estaban vendidas para la final pero había varios sectores de las gradas más altas prácticamente vacíos—, Swiatek, una jugadora con tenis, físico y cabeza para, tal vez, marcar una era en un deporte que perdió hace casi dos años a Serena Williams, uno de sus mayores iconos, cierra el círculo en la arcilla y se proyecta para París como la gran favorita para levantar por cuarta vez la Copa de los Mosqueteros.

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La mejor final en Madrid: Sabalenka discute en su tierra favorita la hegemonía de Swiatek

Swiatek, la número uno que busca en Madrid el único gran triunfo que le falta sobre la arcilla

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