PARIS: Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal, absent from the courts for almost a year with a hip injury, announced Friday that he would return to competition in Brisbane next month ahead of the Australian Open.
“Hello everyone, after a year away from competition, it’s time to come back. It will be in Brisbane the first week of January. I’ll see you there,” the 22-time Grand Slam winner said in a post on social media.
Former world number one Nadal has not played since his defeat in the second round of the Australian Open last January, a tournament he won in 2009 and 2022.
“I think I don’t deserve to end like this,” said Nadal, referring to his Melbourne exit last year.
The 37-year-old has undergone surgery twice since and having slumped to 663rd in the world after a year without playing declared in September that the 2024 season was going to be his last.
Nadal will try to return to the highest level in Australia with the aim of competiting at the French Open which he has won a record 14 times.
He has been overtaken in the number of Grand Slam tournaments won by Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic, who now has 24 major titles.
The Spaniard had already experienced a 2021 season undermined by a foot injury, and was eliminated by Djokovic in the semifinal of the French Open.
Nadal confirms Brisbane return ahead of Australian Open
https://arab.news/p74xu
Nadal confirms Brisbane return ahead of Australian Open
- “Hello everyone, after a year away from competition, it’s time to come back,” the 22-time Grand Slam winner said
- “I think I don’t deserve to end like this”
Zverev crashes as Tsitsipas, Draper advance in Monte Carlo
- World No. 2 Zverev has struggled for any kind of form since his defeat by Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final
- Berrettini has won 17 of his past 18 matches on clay
MONTE CARLO, Principality of Monaco: Top seed Alexander Zverev crashed out in his opening match of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday falling to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini as defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas and Britain’s Jack Draper both advanced.
World No. 2 Zverev has struggled for any kind of form since his defeat by Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final at the end of January, winning just six of 12 matches.
But with a first-round bye in the absence of world No. 1 Sinner, who is suspended for a doping violation until May 4, Zverev was among the favorites.
After a controlled start to the game, the German slumped to a 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 defeat to 34th-ranked Berrettini, at the end of a high-flying match, which had included an impressive 48-stroke rally won by the Italian.
“It’s been the worst period since my injury (the) last few months,” said Zverev who has suffered a string of early exits of late, including at Indian Wells.
“I played a great first set, and once I got broken in the second set I play ten levels down. My ball is much slower. I stop hitting the ball.
“The same story the last few months. Nothing changes. So it’s me who lost the match, once again.
“I thought my level was terrible, but that’s just my opinion.”
Defending champion and three-time Monte Carlo winner Tsitsipas advanced past 38th-ranked Australian Jordan Thompson. After a lacklustre US tour, the Dubai winner won through 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in his second round tie.
Indian Wells champion Draper, seeded fifth, eased past 45th-ranked American Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-1.
Novak Djokovic — the winner in 2013 and 2015 — and Carlos Alcaraz start their campaigns on Wednesday.
Zverev won the first set against former Wimbledon runner-up Berrettini but a break of serve in the sixth game of the second set allowed the Italian to level the match.
Berrettini broke at 3-all in the final set before blowing a chance to close out victory on his own serve, but he broke again for a 6-5 lead after an astonishing 48-shot rally.
The 34th-ranked Berrettini made no mistake with his second opportunity though, advancing to a last-16 meeting with Lorenzo Musetti or Jiri Lehecka.
“The game plan was the same but I changed my attitude and the way I was believing in my strokes,” Berrettini said.
“I told myself to be more aggressive and if I am going to lose this match, I am going to do the right things and luckily it worked.”
Berrettini has won 17 of his past 18 matches on clay. Last season, he captured clay-court titles in Marrakech, Gstaad and Kitzbuehel. However, he hasn’t played at the French Open since 2021 due to injuries.
“I have missed the biggest tournament on clay for the past three years and that was tough and now I want to enjoy it. I feel really comfortable on clay,” said the former world number six.
For Zverev, last year’s Roland Garros runner-up, it was another disappointing outcome on clay after quarter-final exits in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. His next tournament will be on home soil in Munich.
Meanwhile Tsitsipas let a 5-2 lead slip in the second set, before getting past Thompson to set up a third round meeting with either Portugal’s Nuno Borges or Spaniard Pedro Martinez.
“I really didn’t know what to expect, you don’t know what your opponent is capable of,” said Tsitsipas.
“He showed a good first set, he seemed to be playing quite reserved and wasn’t giving me much to work with. I was just trying to find something to reignite that consistency within my game.”
Dane Holger Rune, the 10th seed, retired due to illness against Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
Rune, the Monte Carlo runner-up in 2023, called for the doctor after losing the opening set before shaking hands with his opponent while trailing 6-2, 3-0.
Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, a two-time Monte Carlo semifinalist, defeated Chilean Nicolas Jarry 6-3, 6-4, on his seventh match point.
Three talking points ahead of clay-court season
- Djokovic will be bidding to finally clinch his 100th title before the French Open starts on May 25
PARIS: Czech teenager Jakub Mensik and Aryna Sabalenka emerged victorious at the Miami Open last weekend, but their attentions will now turn to the European clay-court swing with all eyes on Roland Garros.
Novak Djokovic will be bidding to finally clinch his 100th title before the French Open starts on May 25, after a narrow miss in Miami.
Iga Swiatek is hoping a return to her favorite surface can bring an up-tick in form, while several youngsters are looking to back up impressive starts to the year.
Here, AFP Sport takes a look at three talking points ahead of the European clay-court season:
The men’s buildup to the French Open starts this weekend at the Monte Carlo Masters, where Djokovic is aiming to lift the title for the first time since 2015.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion has not won a tournament since the Paris Olympics and questions about his future were raised after successive shock defeats by Matteo Berrettini and Botic van de Zandschulp, following an injury-enforced retirement from his Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev.
But Djokovic, who turns 38 in May, returned to form in Miami by cruising into the final without dropping a set, before being edged out by Mensik.
“Miami really brought me a lot of joy and really good sensations on and off the court,” said the former world No. 1.
Djokovic, who has won three French Opens, could set an outright record of 25 Grand Slam titles in Paris this year.
Swiatek has endured a difficult spell, punctuated by a doping ban, and has not reached a final since sealing her fourth Roland Garros crown last year.
The Pole has still been consistently reaching the latter stages of events, but has lost the aura she had when world number one.
Sabalenka has established herself at the top of the rankings, but Swiatek remains the “Queen of Clay.”
The 23-year-old won a history-making hat trick of Italian, Madrid and French Open titles last season so will have plenty of ranking points to defend in the coming months.
“I don’t want to think about this too long,” she said after a surprise quarterfinal loss to Filipino wildcard Alexandra Eala in Miami.
“It’s nice to learn from losses but there are other things ahead and I am happy we are going to play on clay.”
Mensik, Eala, Mirra Andreeva and Joao Fonseca have all shown why they are among the most highly rated young players in the sport this year and will be expecting to continue to challenge the best.
Mensik rose into the world’s top 25 with his victory over Djokovic, while 17-year-old Andreeva has established herself in the women’s top 10 off the back of WTA 1,000 triumphs in Dubai and Indian Wells.
Eala, a former US Open junior champion, defied her status as a wildcard by reaching the Miami semifinals, while 18-year-old Brazilian Fonseca has already won an ATP title and is closing on the top 50.
Fonseca, Mensik and Eala are set for their debuts at Roland Garros, while Andreeva has already made her mark on the Paris clay, having reached the semifinals in 2024.
American Learner Tien and Australia’s Maya Joint, 19 and 18 respectively, have also broken into the top 100 this year.
Czech teenager Jakub Mensik shocks Novak Djokovic to win Miami Open
- The 19-year-old, ranked 54th in the world, claimed his first title on the ATP Tour with an outstanding display of powerful tennis
- The match between the 37-year-old Djokovic and Mensik was the biggest age gap difference in a Masters 1000 final and the biggest age gap of any tour-level final since 1976
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Czech teenager Jakub Mensik upset Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) to win the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, denying the Serb his 100th career title.
The 19-year-old, ranked 54th in the world, claimed his first title on the ATP Tour with an outstanding display of powerful tennis.
The final was delayed by almost six hours due to heavy rain and when the players emerged it was clear that Djokovic had an eye infection. He used eye-drops during a changeover in the first set.
Mensik started strongly, breaking Djokovic’s first serve game to go 2-0 up and the tall, big-serving Czech was dominating until, at 4-2 Djokovic broke back when Mensik found the net.
The set remained on serve from then on, but in the tie-break Mensik’s powerful serve, with two aces, put him in charge from the outset. He opened up a 5-0 lead and although 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic fought back the youngster sealed the set with an overhead volley.
It was the first set that Djokovic had lost in the entire tournament. Twice he lost his footing and ended up on his back, and he changed his footwear between sets.
Mensik had beaten Djokovic by the exact same margin in the first set of their only other meeting in Shanghai before losing in three sets.
This time, however, the momentum appeared to be with him.
The second set was a nip and tuck affair, though, with neither player able to break. Once again Mensik’s power proved decisive in the tie-break and when Djokovic went long on a return to hand him victory he fell to his back in celebration.
“To be honest I don’t know what to say. It feels incredible, obviously,” Mensik said in his on-court interview.
“It was probably the biggest day of my life and I did super, which I’m really glad (about), to show the performance and keep the nerves outside of the court before the match.
“I feel just super happy and I think that the feelings will come later,” he said.
Mensik has made no secret of the fact that he grew up with Djokovic as his idol and after receiving the trophy he said that he started his career in the hope of emulating the Serb.
“There is no harder task for a tennis player than to beat you in the final of a tournament,” he said.
“I am pretty sure that this was just the first of many,” Mensik added, before revealing that he had been close to pulling out of the tournament before his first match due to a knee injury before last minute physiotherapy produced the desired results.
After the match Djokovic admitted he had not felt at his best.
“It’s unfortunate for me. Two tiebreaks, just very weird match, weird day with rain delay and all the things that (were) happening. Honestly, yeah, I didn’t feel my greatest on the court, but it is what it is. Nothing to take away from his victory,” he said.
Asked specifically about his eye problem, the Serb said: “I really prefer not to talk about — there are quite a few things, but I prefer not to... just congratulate him. That’s it. I don’t want to sound like I’m giving excuses here for my loss.”
Djokovic said he had spotted Mensik’s talent a few years ago and invited him to train at his club.
“I saw him play when he was 15 or 16 and invited him, we had some training blocks together. He was training at my club in Belgrade, and, you know, to see his development and evolution is really great, amazing,” he said.
“Never really happy to lose, but he’s one of the very few players that I would be happier to lose to, to be honest.”
The match between the 37-year-old Djokovic and Mensik was the biggest age gap difference in a Masters 1000 final and the biggest age gap of any tour-level final since 1976.
Aryna Sabalenka beats Jessica Pegula in Miami Open final for 19th tour title
- The No. 1 seed from Belarus knocked off fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 for her first Miami Open title in a rematch of the 2024 US Open final
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Aryna Sabalenka entered the Miami Open final against Jessica Pegula with 18 career titles on her elite resume.
The Miami Open crown had proved elusive until Saturday.
The No. 1 seed from Belarus knocked off fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 for her first Miami Open title in a rematch of the 2024 US Open final.
Sabalenka fired up her lethal forehand in posting 22 winners on that wing to win the $1.1 million first prize. Sabalenka hit a backhand passing shot on match point after which she raised both hands to the air and looked up to the sky.
“Thank God the rain stopped,” Sabalenka said. “It was like Miami was crying that I won this tournament. I enjoyed playing here, every minute of it.”
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had won the US Open over Pegula, also in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5, but in 2025, Sabalenka’s finals luck had run out.
The 26-year-old power player had reached the finals of four of six events this year, though only copped one title (Brisbane) before Miami. Sabalenka lost in the finals of the Australian Open and at Indian Wells — the event that preceded Miami.
“You’re the best player in the world for a reason,’’ Pegula said to Sabalenka during the trophy ceremony. “You keep challenging everyone to get better. The level of tennis you’ve been able to play is amazing.’’
Sabalenka now lives in Miami but Pegula had the crowd support. Pegula, a 31-year-old Buffalo native, has lived in Boca Raton since she was 13 and is daughter of Terry Pegula, owner of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance as the league owners meetings takes place Monday in nearby Palm Beach.
“It’s still cool to see this transform from a Dolphins-Bills game to a tennis stadium,’’ Pegula said.
Neither player could hold serve well in the first set. Sabalenka broke Pegula’s serve four times and won it 7-5, winning the last eight points of the set.
Pegula was up a break at 3-2 but couldn’t hold it in a topsy-turvy set that also saw Pegula break Sabalenka’s serve three times.
At 5-5, Sabalenka held serve at love for 6-5 lead, then broke Pegula at love after hitting three straight winners – two at the net.
Sabalenka leads the series vs. Pegula 7-2 and has won the last three meetings.
The men’s doubles final, first on the card, was stopped by rain in the second set with No. 1 seed Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic leading No. 6 Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 7-6, 3-2. 30-30. Arevalo/Pavic closed out the championship quickly 7-6, 6-3, but the rain delay caused the 3 p.m. women’s final to begin more than one hour tardy.
Jessica Pegula ends Alexandra Eala’s fairytale run, sets up final with Aryna Sabalenka
- The 19-year-old Eala, ranked 140th in the world, had only two WTA main draw victories to her name before arriving in Miami
- Filipina phenom proceeded to beat three Grand Slam winners in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world number two Iga Swiatek
MIAMI GARDENS, United States: Philippines sensation Alexandra Eala’s remarkable run at the Miami Open came to a brave end with a three-set loss to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals on Thursday.
In an enthralling battle over 2hrs 24mins, fourth-seeded American Pegula emerged with a 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 6-3 win to seal a place in Saturday’s final against world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka blasted her way into the final with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.
The 19-year-old Eala, ranked 140th in the world, had only two WTA main draw victories to her name before arriving in Miami.
She proceeded to beat three Grand Slam winners in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world number two Iga Swiatek.
The lowest-ranked semifinalist in the tournament’s history, Eala seriously threatened to go one step further with another accomplished and effervescent display.
The tide looked to have turned against her when Pegula broke to go 3-1 up in the second set, but Eala broke back and her fist pump and look of determination was a sign of things to come.
Eala broke Pegula three times in the set and was broken twice herself but crucially was able to hold when serving for the set at 6-5.
Both players protected their serve better in the deciding set but Eala’s forehand let her down when the American broke to go 5-3 up and she served out for a victory that brought her visible relief.
“Of course there is disappointment right after the match,” said Eala.
“But there are just so many times in tennis where you have to dig through the dirt to look for the positive and I’m just enjoying because there is so much positive around me and I don’t know how many times that happens,” she added.
Playing with a strapped thigh from the outset, Eala turned her ankle mid-way through the second set but said she had not been impacted by the injury.
“I literally gave everything I had, I’m half tape, I’m like a mummy. I did everything and I have no regrets,” she said.
“To have a week like this, the stars need to align and they did this week, and hopefully I can keep that up — that is my goal now, to keep this up,” she added.
Pegula said it had been difficult to play an opponent like Eala.
“I let her back in the match at 3-1 up (second set) and she just started ripping her balls, going for her shots and you just have to weather the storm with people like that. She competes really well,” said the American.
Sabalenka needed just 71 minutes to wrap up her win against the sixth seed Paolini.
The Belarusian, beaten in the Indian Wells final earlier this month by Mirra Andreeva, will appear in the Miami final for the first time in her career.
“I’m super happy with the level I played today. Of course super happy to be in my first Miami Open final,” said Sabalenka.
Sabalenka was never behind against Paolini. She served six aces and broke the Italian’s serve four times.
“I definitely would say that this was one of the best matches in the season so far. I don’t know. I was just so focused on myself, on the things I had to do today,” she said.
“It felt like everything was just going smoothly my way.”
Sabalenka will be keen to banish the memory of defeat in the Indian Wells final and in the Australian Open final, where she lost to Keys.
“The lessons (of those defeats) was I believe focus on myself, not on what’s going on the other side,” she said.
“I think in those finals I was more focusing on my opponents than on myself. I think I just have to bring the same attitude, the same mindset that I had today, I think I have to bring it in the finals,” she said.
“I really feel this time I’m going to do better than I did in the last two finals,” added the 26-year-old.
She is only the sixth woman to reach the finals of both stops on the American ‘Sunshine Swing’ in the same season.
