ATP Madrid: Nadal is Mighty in the Magic Box - UBITENNIS
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ATP Madrid: Nadal is Mighty in the Magic Box

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TENNIS ATP Madrid – Rafael Nadal started his title defense in Madrid against Juan Monaco. The World Number 1 simply destroyed the Argentine 6-1 6-0 in the “Magic Box” stadium. Nadal was just spellbinding. Cordell Hackshaw

Interviews, results, order of play and draws of the Mutua Madrid Open

Half way through to the clay court season, world’s number one Rafael Nadal from Spain is in almost desperate need of a confidence boaster as he heads to Paris. In recent months, Nadal has looked well off his game, calling into question whether he will lift La Coupe des Mousquetaires at this year’s French Open for an unprecedented 9th time. It is said that there is no place like home and that adage might just be apropos for Nadal as he began his title defense at the Mutua Madrid Open 2014 today. The recent doubts about him retaining the French crown might have quickly been discredited as Nadal simply destroyed Argentina’s Juan Monaco 6-1 6-0 in the “Magic Box” stadium. Nadal was just spellbinding.

Nadal could not have asked for a more prefect opponent in the form of Monaco. They are good friends often seen together during the off seasons and Nadal has a 4-1 lifetime record against him with that lone loss due to the Spaniard’s retirement from the match in 2007. In their most recent meeting at the 2012 French Open, Nadal lost only 2 games 6-2 6-0 6-0. Nadal knows the Monaco game inside and out.

Monaco won the toss and elected to receive to start the match. The Argentine showed signs of wanting to make this a competitive match as he earned himself a break point in the opening game. However, Nadal raised his game and saved break point and subsequently broke for a 2-0 lead. Monaco would break right back for 1-2 but he would fail to win another game after this as Nadal simply dominated the rest of the way reeling off 10 straight games. Everything was working for the Spaniard, his footwork, his groundstrokes and his trademark intensity. It certainly added more in the Spaniard’s favour as the crowd as firmly behind. Monaco grew increasingly frustrated as he found it difficult to win points much more games in the match. He soon took issue with chair umpire, Carlos Bernardes but that did not help the Argentinian’s cause.

The statistics for the match are astounding for Nadal particularly in the second set. Nadal made 100% of his first serves and only lost 3 points on serve. Monaco, on the other hand, was able to get an impressive 86% first serves in for the set but only won a mere 2/12 points (17%). Thus in other words, of the 29 points played in the 2nd set, Nadal won 24 of them. The match was so one-sided that one is not sure whether it was Nadal playing that great or Monaco playing that horribly. Whatever, the case, Nadal will take this win and move through to the next round to face Jarkko Nieminen for a place in the 4th round. All of the top players who can possibly hurt Nadal are out whether by forfeit or failure as both Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer withdrew from the tournament and Stanislas Wawrinka lost to Dominic Thiem from Denmark yesterday. Thus, this is without a doubt, Nadal’s tournament for the taking and to collect his 4th Madrid title.

Nadal had much to say after the match, giving himself high marks for his performance. Sincerely I think I moved better and played well, better than I normally play on the clay. I was dominating over the points and playing very well. I think I’ve done positive things.” The Spaniard added “I’m just playing here at home with lots of intensity, and I don’t care if Novak, Federer, or Wawrinka are not in the draw. I just look at my side of the draw, and I have to be ready for my next match.” This win put Nadal at 654 overall tour level wins and placed him in the 11th spot on the Most-wins list, just above the great Arthur Ashe. However, the Spaniard is not concerned about these statistical matters, he just want to win titles.

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Rafael Nadal To Play Laver Cup In Berlin

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Rafael Nadal has eased speculation that he might be retiring from the sport soon after signing on to play in the Laver Cup later this year. 

The 22-time Grand Slam champion is the latest player to join the line-up for this year’s team competition which features Europe taking on the rest of the world over three days. It will be Nadal’s fourth appearance in the competition and his first since 2022. He competed in the inaugural edition of the event back in 2017 alongside co-founder Roger Federer. 

“I am very happy to be playing Laver Cup in Berlin for Team Europe,” Nadal said in a press release. “I have some really special memories from my Laver Cup experiences, including all the emotions from London two years ago playing alongside Roger for the last time.”

Nadal’s decision to play comes amid questions about his future in the sport. The former world No.1 has previously indicated that this year could be his last on the Tour but he has stated that no decision has been made. In recent months he has been sidelined from action due to injury setbacks and has only been able to play in two tournaments so far this year. 

“At this stage in my career I really want to go out there and make the most of every opportunity I am given,” he explains.
“Teaming up is always an incredible experience and I have always enjoyed it, the competition is different and exciting. I’m looking forward to going to Berlin and helping Team Europe win back the Laver Cup.”

Other European players confirmed to be playing are Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul have agreed to play for Team World. This year’s event will be held in Belin at the Uber Arena between September 20-22. 

The Laver Cup was inspired by golf’s Ryder Cup. It was co-founded by Federer’s Team8 management company (which he formed with agent Tony Godsick), businessman Jorge Paulo Lemann and Tennis Australia. In 2019 it became an official ATP sanction event and now has a place on the official calendar. 

Nadal is set to return to competitive action at the Madrid Masters which he has won on five previous occasions. He has been drawn to play teenage wild card Darwin Blanch in the first round. If he wins, Nadal will then play Alex de Minaur who knocked him out of the Barcelona Open last week. 

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Carlos Alcaraz In Doubt For Madrid Open Title Defence

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Carlos Alcaraz admits that he is not certain if he will be ready in time to play at next week’s Madrid Masters.

The 20-year-old is yet to play a clay tournament in Europe due to a forearm injury which ruled him out of both Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He hurt his right arm whilst training shortly before the Monte Carlo event began. 

It is the latest in a series of injury issues that has affected Alcaraz throughout his young career. Since the start of 2023, he has also been derailed by issues with his abdominal, hamstring, post-traumatic arthritis in his left hand and muscular discomfort in his spine. 

“My feeling isn’t right, but it is what it is. Now I’m fully focused on recovery and I have a little more time,” Alcaraz told reporters in Barcelona on Monday.
“My goal is to try and go to the Madrid Open, but at the moment nothing is certain. I was given specific recovery times and I’ve respected them, but I haven’t felt good. I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
“I can’t say I’ll be 100% in Madrid, but that’s my intention. We’ll train and do everything we can so that the feelings improve so I can play a match … It’s also a very special tournament for me.”

Alcaraz has won the past two editions of the Madrid Open, which is classed as a Masters 1000 event. In 2022 he defeated Alexander Zverev in the final and then 12 months later he beat Jan-Lennard Struff in the title match.

The setback comes after what has been a steady start to the year for Alcaraz who has reached the quarter-finals or better in four out of five tournaments played. He successfully defended his title in Indian Wells and then reached the semi-finals in Miami. 

Should he not play in Madrid, it is likely that the Spaniard will lose his No.2 spot to Jannik Sinner who is just over 100 points behind him in the standings. He will still have the chance to play a clay-court event before the French Open with Rome taking place early next month. 

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Olympic Qualification Is Not the Only Goal For French Veteran Gael Monfils

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Gael Monfils (image via https://twitter.com/atptour)

Gael Monfils admits he doesn’t have too many years left on the Tour but this doesn’t mean his targets are any less ambitious. 

The 37-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise up the rankings over the past 12 months following battles with injury. At his lowest, he was ranked 394th last May but is now in 40th position. As a result, he is closing on securing a place in the Olympic Games which is being held in his home country of France for the first time since 1924. The tennis event will be staged at Roland Garros. 

“When I was 400, I was thinking the Olympics would be great, but it’s going to be tough,” Monfils told reporters on Tuesday. 
“There are younger players playing well. If I don’t qualify, I don’t mind. It will just mean I’m very close to the ranking I want to be. That ranking will allow me to find another goal.”

Monfils is already a three-time Olympian but has never won a medal at the event. He reached the quarter-finals of the singles tournament twice in 2008 and 2016. 

Another goal of Frenchmen is the Wimbledon championships which concludes just three weeks before the Olympics begin. The proximity of these tournaments will be a challenge to all players who will be going from playing on clay to grass and then back to clay again. 

“I really want to go and play Wimbledon. I don’t have so many Wimbledons to play in the future. The Olympics is one goal, not the only goal.” Monfils states.
“My dream is of course to be part of the Olympics. I played three times at the Olympics. I’d like to be there again. But I also really want to do well in Wimbledon this year. To reach my goal, it has to be including Wimbledon.” He added. 

Monfils is currently playing at the Monte Carlo Masters where he beat Aleksandar Vukic in his opening match. In the next round, he will take on Daniil Medvedev in what will be their first meeting since 2022. He leads their head-to-head 2-1. 

Medvedev has openly spoken about his roller-coaster relationship with playing on the clay. He admits it is not his favourite surface but how much of a factor could this be in his upcoming clash with Monfils?

“Of course, it’s not his favourite one, but he’s still Daniil Medvedev, and whatever the surface, it’s always very complicated to play him,” Monfils concludes. 

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