Francisco Roig, one of Rafael Nadal’s coaches since 2005, was next to the Majorcan when the player knew he was going to become World No. 1 again. The Catalan coach, who has been alongside Nadal for the entire US Open Series, thinks that this achievement will be an extra boost for the Spaniard, a reward for his hard work and dedication. “Being World No. 1 is a consequence of good results,” said Roig to ATPWorldTour.com in Cincinnati. “Since January, Nadal has had a spectacular year. He is very happy and ready to give his best at the US Open. Being No. 1 also means that he is playing great again, winning important matches and especially important tournaments. In some ways,...
A LOOK BACK Acqua Dolomia Tennis Cup (Cordenons, Italy): Swedish 21-year-old Elias Ymer secured his third Challenger title with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Roberto Carballes Baena in Cordenons. It was the third straight week a #NextGenATP player had won a Challenger title with Michael Mmoh in Lexington, Alexander Bublik in Aptos and now Ymer in Cordenons all triumphing. Ymer had fallen to No. 293 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, but continued his resurgence and did not drop a set all week. Odlum Brown VanOpen (Vancouver, Canada): After being sidelined for nearly three years due to hip surgery and other injuries, German Cedrik-Marcel Stebe claimed his second ATP Challenger Tour title of the season in Vancouver on Sunday. A former No....
He was 15 years old, but already had the trademark spirit that brought him all the way to the World No. 1 position where he stands today. It was a Monday, the 17th of September in 2001. The clay of the Real Club de Tenis Betis was burning early in the morning. An unranked youngster, who was already touted to carry an enormous potential, was about to debut at an ATP Challenger Tour event, in search of his first point in the Emirates ATP Rankings. His name was Rafael Nadal. "Who’s your opponent?" "A wildcard… Rafael Nadal." "Oh! That guy plays well, but he’s really young." This conversation is remembered by Israel Matos Gil, Rafa’s opponent in the first round,...
After his 2016 season, few predicted that Rafael Nadal would be returning to No. 1 on 21 August 2017. The Spanish star had to end his 2016 season early because of a nagging left wrist injury, yet here he is, back at the top of the Emirates ATP Rankings. Spanish tennis legends, as well as current players from Spain, talked with ATPWorldTour.com about Nadal's ascension to the top. Read more stories in our Rafa Returns To No. 1 tribute... Rafael Nadal: The Humble Champion Coach Roig: 'Rafa Has Been Through A Lot' The Day Nadal Won His First Emirates ATP Rankings Point Manolo Santana “Rafa is a fighter, a warrior, and has always managed to show his best level after...
A tennis champion is one who doesn’t just win matches, collects trophies or plays in an aesthetically pleasing way, but in the eyes of fans globally embodies professionalism, commitment and sportsmanship on and off the court. In an era when superlatives are thrown around, when players are categorised and all-time lists are compiled, there are those gilded few, in living memory, from Ken Rosewall and Rod Laver to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who are lionised. Not just for who they are, but what they represent. Nadal has sat on a pedestal, living in the spotlight for much of the past 17 years – from the tennis prodigy who practised three times a week from the age of 14 with...