Rafael Nadal is ready to begin his campaign for an unprecedented 10th crown at Roland Garros, which starts on Sunday in the French capital. He carries the confidence of a strong clay-court run on the ATP World Tour, which has given him much confidence and great memories. Under the tutelage of former World No. 1 and fellow Mallorcan Carlos Moya, his team is more than satisfied with how things have gone so far. A 10th title in Monte-Carlo, a 10th crown in Barcelona, a fifth trophy in Madrid. And many positive feelings that he carries into the second Grand Slam of the year. At the start of the year, was it unbelievable that Nadal would arrive in Paris is such...
It was one year ago that Andy Murray began to plot his climb to the top spot of the Emirates ATP Rankings on the European clay. A title in Rome was followed by a run to the final at Roland Garros and the Scot was soaring. But Murray is the first to admit that his current clay-court campaign is a bit different. Much has changed for the World No. 1 and after consecutive early defeats at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, he is seeking to rediscover his rhythm on the terre battue of Paris. While he acknowledges that his struggles are real, Murray believes that he needs to embrace them in order to break...
After a year inside the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, Dominic Thiem now feels like he belongs among the elite group. It wasn't always that way, though. For a time, Thiem looked at the Top 10 as a place for his “idols”, not a destination for the 20-something Austrian. “If you come there for the first time at quite a young age, I don't know, you look up to them, to the other ones in the Top 10 and feel strange somehow, because they have been your idols and now you're with them,” said Thiem, who joined the group as a 22 year old after his Roland Garros semi-final run last year. But the Austrian has more than...
After coaching Andre Agassi to a Roland Garros title, ESPN tennis analyst Brad Gilbert believes his former charge has the tennis wisdom to do the same for defending champion Novak Djokovic. Speaking on an ESPN conference call ahead of Roland Garros, the former No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Rankings shared his thoughts on the partnership. Although some have questioned how successful the new coaching arrangement will be, Gilbert said the similarities in their playing styles could spark a successful relationship. “Andre played his best tennis from 29 on. Djokovic just turned 30. Today's 30 is like 25 used to be,” said Gilbert. “A lot of times when I'm watching Djokovic, when he's playing at his best, nobody plays closer...
The season of “La Décima” ascends to its final stage during the next two weeks, and the conquistador, Rafael Nadal, appears primed for more history. Nadal will go for a record 10th title at Roland Garros, the season's second Grand Slam, which starts Sunday. He's approaching unprecedented tennis history: No man or woman has won a Grand Slam title 10 times in the Open Era, since April 1968. But Nadal, who won Roland Garros crowns in 2005-08 and '10-14, has already entered double digits at two tournaments this year. The Spaniard captured his 10th title at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters and at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. Two weeks ago, he also won his fifth Mutua Madrid Open crown. Nadal...