Two down, one more to go. Rafael Nadal may have stumbled in his bid to sweep all four “Big Titles” on clay, a feat he accomplished in 2010 when he won the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the Mutua Madrid Open, the Internazionali BNL d'Italia and Roland Garros. Nadal fell to Dominic Thiem in the Madrid quarter-finals earlier this month. But the 31-year-old Spaniard has still added two more Big Titles – a combination of Grand Slam, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and Nitto ATP Finals crowns – to his haul as the European clay-court season enters its final three weeks. Winning Two Out Of Three Masters 1000 Titles On Clay Player Year(s) Rafael Nadal 2005-09, 2012-13, 2017-18 Novak Djokovic 2011, 2015...
Start at the end. Start with knowing exactly what happens at the pinnacle of our sport in a clay-court final, and it becomes much clearer what you need to focus on in practice to also reach these lofty heights. In other words, let data from the match court make the practice court smarter. Rafael Nadal defeated Alexander Zverev 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in a riveting Internazionali BNL d’Italia final on Sunday. Zverev had a real chance at victory, up an early break in the third set, before rain threw a curveball into the match, allowing Nadal to reset and win the final five games. It was a high-quality final, with several long, grueling rallies bringing the Italian crowd to their feet...
It's only the fifth month of the 2018 ATP World Tour season, but already No. 1 in the ATP Rankings has changed hands four times. Rafael Nadal started the season at the top spot. Roger Federer took over on 19 February, then Nadal again on 2 April, only for Federer, once more, to take back control on 14 May. Nadal wrestled back No. 1 on Monday. The four changes at No. 1 this season are the most since 2003, when there were five. The all-time record for most changes is 10, which happened in 1983. No. 1 Rafael Nadal, +1 Nadal is back at No. 1 in the ATP Rankings. It's a familiar spot for the Spaniard, who's beginning his 174th...
1. Rafa Back On Top Rafael Nadal is back at No. 1 in the ATP Rankings. The Spaniard, who won his eighth Internazionali BNL d'Italia title on Sunday (d. Zverev), begins his 174th week at the peak of the mountain. Read & Watch: Rafa Reigns In Rome, Returns To No. 1 Nadal also remains alone atop the all-time ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles leaderboard. The Spaniard passed Novak Djokovic last month after winning his 11th Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters crown to capture his 31st Masters 1000 title. And with his eighth Rome crown, Nadal now has 32 Masters 1000 titles to Djokovic's 30. 2. Novak Is Back? Speaking of Novak, is the Serbian officially “back”? It sure seemed that way...
