Rafael Nadal secured his 10th French Open title and looked back to his best – could he even hunt down Federer’s 18 grand slam titles?He made the relentless pursuit of La Decima look routine in the end, but it should not be forgotten how hard Rafael Nadal has fought to restore his dominance in Paris. It felt like the end of an era when Novak Djokovic toppled the king of clay in an embarrassingly one-sided quarter‑final in 2015. But spending some time away from the tour after being struck down by a wrist injury at the end of last year rejuvenated his mind and body. Backing up that crushing forehand with a devastatingly improved backhand, Nadal played some of his...
After five hours longer on court, ‘Diesel’ Wawrinka may be running on empty in the French Open men’s final as Nadal seeks historic 10th titleRoland Garros is where the Open era of professional tennis began in the fabled summer of 1968, when students took to the streets of Paris and Ken Rosewall picked up 15,000 francs, roughly £2,000, for beating his friend and rival Rod Laver in the final of the French Open. Related: Rafael Nadal returns to special French Open seeking record 10th title Related: Stanislas Wawrinka shocks Rafael Nadal to win Australian Open title Continue reading...
The decision to deny Maria Sharapova a wildcard is a bold statement by the new FTF president and one that has embarrassed the Russian all over againMaria Sharapova has had to fight for virtually every point in her tennis career, every break in her curiously combative life, whatever the misguided perception of the Russian as a bird in a gilded cage.Nothing changed for her on Tuesday night. With the unexpected weight of moral probity falling heavily on her neck, the former world No1 was denied a wildcard of any kind – qualifying tournament or main draw – into the French Open at the end of the month. Related: Maria Sharapova denied wildcard for the French Open after returning from ban...