Topic - Rafael Nadal

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Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in the gardens of Government House the morning after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. Novak Djokovic has made his long-term goal clear: He wanted to focus on accumulating Grand Slam titles in order to surpass the trophy total of rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. With the French Open set to start Sunday, May 28, 2023 without either the injured Nadal or the retired Federer, Djokovic gets the chance to finally lead the career standings alone with a men’s-record 23 if he winds up with the championship two weeks from now. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)

Djokovic enters French Open with chance to top absent Nadal with record 23rd Slam title

By Howard Fendrich - Associated Press

Spectators take photos on their smartphones of a new statue of Spain's Rafael Nadal on day two of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Monday, May 31, 2021. This year's French Open will be the first since 1998 with neither Rafael Nadal nor Roger Federer in the field. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File) **FILE**

Rafael Nadal’s absence changes complexion of French Open

By Howard Fendrich - Associated Press

Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a shot in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Jack Sock of the U.S. to win in four sets 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Monday, June 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) **FILE**

Rafael Nadal might never play again; he also might surprise us and win something

By Howard Fendrich - Associated Press

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, wipes the sweat from his face during his second round match against Mackenzie McDonald of the U.S., at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. Nadal has pulled out of the French Open because of a lingering hip injury that has sidelined him since January and says that he expects 2024 to be his last year on the tennis tour. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) **FILE**

Rafael Nadal’s career timeline is filled with wins, losses, rivalries and injuries

By Howard Fendrich - Associated Press

Spain's Rafael Nadal lifts the trophy after winning the final match against Norway's Casper Ruud in three sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0, at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Sunday, June 5, 2022. Rafael Nadal will hold a news conference at his tennis academy in Spain on Thursday, May 18, 2023, amid media reports that he is going to miss the French Open for the first time since he won the first of his record 14 titles there on his debut in 2005. Nadal has been sidelined by an injured left hip flexor since January, when he lost in the second round of the Australian Open. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

Rafael Nadal to miss French Open with hip injury, expects 2024 to be last year of tennis career

By Joseph Wilson and Howard Fendrich - Associated Press

Spain's Rafael Nadal lifts the trophy after winning the final match against Norway's Casper Ruud in three sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0, at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Sunday, June 5, 2022. Rafael Nadal will hold a news conference at his tennis academy in Spain on Thursday, May 18, 2023, amid media reports that he is going to miss the French Open for the first time since he won the first of his record 14 titles there on his debut in 2005. Nadal has been sidelined by an injured left hip flexor since January, when he lost in the second round of the Australian Open. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

Rafael Nadal to hold news conference amid reports out of Spain that he will miss French Open

Associated Press

Rafael Nadal of Spain serves to Jack Draper of Britain during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 16, 2023. The uncle and former coach of Rafael Nadal says that the 22-time Grand Slam winner plans to be back fit in time to play the French Open next month. Toni Nadal told Spain’s Radio Marca on Friday April 28, 2023 that his nephew will soon be ready to return from an injury layoff that has sidelined him since January. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

Nadal to miss Italian Open as well due to hip injury

Associated Press

Rafael Nadal of Spain serves to Jack Draper of Britain during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 16, 2023. The uncle and former coach of Rafael Nadal says that the 22-time Grand Slam winner plans to be back fit in time to play the French Open next month. Toni Nadal told Spain’s Radio Marca on Friday April 28, 2023 that his nephew will soon be ready to return from an injury layoff that has sidelined him since January. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

Nadal’s uncle expects him to play at French Open

Associated Press

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, poses with the trophy after winning the final Godo tennis tournament against Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, April 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Alcaraz follows Nadal as repeat Barcelona Open champion

Associated Press

Spain's Rafael Nadal returns the ball against David Goffin of Belgium during their match at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Nadal said Thursday, April 20, 2023, that he will miss the Madrid Open because his recovery from a hip injury is going much slower than expected. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

Nadal out of Madrid Open after slow recovery from hip injury

Associated Press

Spain's Rafael Nadal gestures during a match against Japan's Kei Nishikori during the Godo tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, April 22, 2021. Rafael Nadal says that he will miss the Barcelona Open after not recovering from a nagging hip injury. The 22-time Grand Slam winner has been sidelined since January with a left hip flexor injury that he suffered in the Australian Open. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort, File)

Nadal to also miss Barcelona Open with nagging hip injury

Associated Press

Rafael Nadal of Spain follows his shot to Andrey Rublev of Russia during their quarterfinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Friday, April 16, 2021. Nadal pulled out of the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, saying he is not yet able to compete at the highest level. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been sidelined with a left hip flexor injury since the Australian Open. The Monte Carlo Masters begins on April 8. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)

Nadal, Alcaraz pull out of clay-court Monte Carlo Masters

Associated Press

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates after defeating Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, in the men's singles final at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Sunday, March 19, 2023, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) **FILE**

Alcaraz rises to No. 1 while Nadal falls out of top 10 for first time in 18 years

Associated Press

Serbia's Novak Djokovic looks up during the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, March 1, 2023. Djokovic has pulled out of the Miami Open because he can’t travel to the United States as a foreign citizen who is not vaccinated against COVID-19. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)

Unvaccinated Novak Djokovic can’t travel to U.S., out of Miami Open

Associated Press

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during a press conference following his win over Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Novak Djokovic clearly not done dominating tennis

By Howard Fendrich - Associated Press