The world of sport accepts the news of the end of the career of Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal. While his rival from Switzerland Roger Federer pays tribute to him, Nick Kyrgios from Australia would like one more match between them.
2024-10-10 11:05:00
#hoping #wouldnt #sad #Federer #Nadal #Ronaldo #beat #Now.cz
The tennis world is melting over Jakub Menšík’s abilities. At the age of nineteen, the Czech tennis player is fulfilling his dream, defeating the top players and at the Masters in Shanghai, he is among the top eight. On Friday, in the quarter-finals of his life, he will meet his biggest role model: Novak Djokovic. The winner of a record twenty-four Grand Slams knows the young Czech well. They have been seen as future superstars for years.
For some time now, Menšík has been the highest ranked junior tennis player in the world rankings. But now he is gaining fame as a real threat and conquest of the most valuable “scalps”.
In the round of 16 on Wednesday, he was delighted with his victory over world number 10 Grigor Dimitrov, in a three-set battle with the experienced Bulgarian, he was surprised by his ability to get out out of the most difficult situations smoothly and without any nervous changes.
When he lost the lead in the third set and Dimitrov was dismissed after being reduced to 4:5, Čech’s shares fell sharply.
But instead of the expected loss of confidence, Menšík started an amazing tennis performance and definitely broke the three-time Grand Slam semifinalist.
“The little guy went into god mode in the last game. He played an absolutely insane match,” Tennis TV said of the film, of which the last two backhands that won the line stood out in particular.
Dimitrov could only look back hard at the world-class hits and go congratulate Menšík on the net.
“Remember this name well,” wrote the ATP group.
“The star is rising,” said the tournament’s official website, when it congratulated Cech on his first career quarter-final in the ATP Masters 1000 category, his highest ever after the Grand Slams.
Menšík still suffers from logical inconsistencies in performances, but against star opponents his performance rises to dizzying heights, the victory over Dimitrov was his fourth in a row against challenges from the Top 10.
He was only the sixth teenager to do so in the last twenty-five years. He ranked alongside Lleyton Hewitt, Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune.
In the quarter-finals, he will challenge his idol, Novak Djokovic, eighteen years older, who has been playing very well in Shanghai so far.
In recent years, the Serb has invited Menšík again to training sessions together at his home in Belgrade and has spoken several times about his strong belief in Cech’s special ability.
So the current form of the young tennis player did not surprise him.
“I follow his development and I try to be available for him to help and advise him. Not only for him, but also for his parents, they are nice people,” said Djokovic on Tennis Now website.
“So I’m excited that he’s doing so well. I’ve always believed he has the potential to be one of the best players in the world. He’s picking up his pace right now,” said the 37-year-old champion. .
According to Djokovic, Menšík has almost no weaknesses.
“He’s tall, he has a good serve, he can play the whole court and he moves and defends well for someone that tall,” he said.
At the same time, the Czech tennis player did not hide that he was excited about the mutual duel.
“Besides. Passion is an understatement. It’s like a dream come true. That’s why I started playing tennis. When I was young and starting to ‘ play, he was already at the top. And now, when I’m nineteen and he’s still playing, I have a chance to play against him on Friday, we’ll see what level I’m at ,” said tennis player Prostejov for ATP.
In China, Jakub Menšík also outplayed Andrej Rubljov, another player in the top ten:
Edition of the game Menšík – Rubljov | Video: Associated Press
2024-10-10 07:23:00
#small #unique #risk #Czech #turned #divine #regime #Djokovic #wrote #poem #Aktuálně.cz
Prime Video (DR) / ATP Tour (DR)
By Editorial | Sport
Although he does not have the greatest track record, Fabrice Santoro undoubtedly remains one of the artists in the history of French tennis, to the point of being nicknamed “The Magician” by Pete. Sampras. Having become a consultant, the native of Tahiti also excels in this field thanks to his frankness and honesty. Especially about Rafael Nadal a few months ago.
The world of tennis is turning one of the most significant pages in its history, and it is not necessarily easy to get used to it. After the retirement of Roger Federer in September 2022, it is Rafael Nadal who is arriving at the twilight of his career, without however really knowing when he will say stop for good. One thing is certain: this prospect greatly saddens Fabrice Santoro.
On the pitch, the Frenchman only came across the Spaniard once, in 2009, when he himself was reaching the end of his two-decade-long career. And regardless of the heavy defeat he suffered (6-0, 6-1), Santoro has always retained great admiration for the man who won Roland-Garros 14 times, as he showed before his match at 1st round against Alexander Zverev last May.
Consultant on “Prime Video”, Santoro delivered a vibrant plea tinged with homage to Nadal, whom he obviously respects as a tennis player… but also and above all as a man:
Rafael Nadal gives us one last gift in Paris after winning the tournament 14 times. It’s a privilege to see him once again. He must be acclaimed and given a standing ovation as he deserves. Rafa, it’s a lot of incredible images, a lot of emotions. It’s a superhuman feat to have won the French Open 14 times, meaning he had such a colossal margin over his opponents. Even at 70% of his abilities, he managed to climb the table.
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That’s for the champion but if I talk about the man, who I’m lucky enough to know, he’s someone extraordinary. He is so humble and always respectful of the game, the public, the referees, true fair play. He is perfect in front of the cameras but also behind the scenes, when there is no more camera, he is impeccable… He never refuses a photo.
On his way, Santoro did not hide his emotion at the idea of seeing Nadal leave the circuit. Just before the match, the French declared admiringly:
It brings tears to my eyes when I listen to it. He is himself, he does not hide, he tells the truth all the time. He says what his state is: “It’s going to be very, very difficult, but there you go, I’m a warrior, I’m Rafael Nadal.” It’s already a victory I think for him to be at Roland‐Garros.
Unfortunately, the step was too high for this Nadal, defeated in 3 sets by Zverev. Why postpone your farewells? This is what some observers think, who think that the “Bull of Manacor” will hang up at the end of Roland-Garros 2025.
There are few top level athletes who are so unanimously acclaimed on a human level than Rafael Nadal. Fabrice Santoro’s words only confirm the eternal class of the Spaniard, who, we hope, will be able to offer the farewell he hopes for to this world of tennis that he has served and honored so much.
France TV (DR) / ATP Tour (DR)
By Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Sports journalist
A key figure at Roland-Garros since the late 1980s, Nelson Monfort has seen many champions pass through the venue, including a certain Rafael Nadal. He also took the liberty of revealing the behind-the-scenes of his relationship with the clay court giant.
This 2024 edition could go down in history in many ways. In addition to Carlos Alcaraz’s victory, Roland-Garros potentially said goodbye to two of its monuments a few weeks ago. Starting with Rafael Nadal, defeated in the second round by Alexander Zverev and whose repeated physical problems risk leading to his retirement soon.
A retirement that Nelson Monfort, who has covered the tournament for France Télévisions since 1988, also seems destined to take. At 71, the famous French journalist seems to have conducted his last interviews on the edge of the clay courts, as evidenced by the tribute paid to him at the end of the fortnight. Enough to forever link him to Rafa, with whom he has inevitably forged ties over the years.
Asked last May by Real MediaNelson Monfort was then invited to reveal the nature of his relationship with Nadal. And it goes without saying that he did not mince his words:
Nelson Monfort: My relationship with Rafael Nadal? I would say it’s a brotherly relationship, I don’t hesitate to use that word.
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I would say that among all the athletes I have met – and you know that I work on other sports – he is certainly one of the most endearing, if not the most endearing.
Winner of the Parisian Grand Slam fourteen times, the Spaniard has regularly come across the legendary consultant and made a very good impression on him. So much so that the latter had a lot of trouble digesting his elimination against Zverev:
Nelson Monfort: He left the tournament early because of a draw that, I want to make it clear, should never have happened. I digress, but he should have been protected. He should have been seeded. No one would have objected. Wimbledon did it for (Roger) Federer a few years ago, I don’t see why Roland-Garros didn’t do it this year.
There was a 1 in 128 chance that he would come across a player of that caliber and unfortunately, he drew the wrong number. That draw may have — I mean may have — prevented him from winning this tournament.
It remains to be seen whether the Bull of Manacor will give itself a final chance to lift its fifteenth Musketeers Cup next year. An exploit after which Monfort will in any case not be able to collect his emotions on his microphone.
Nelson Monfort may have interacted with the greatest tennis stars of the last few decades at Roland Garros, but few of them left as much of a mark on him as Rafael Nadal. Proof that the Spaniard was not only admirable on the court.
The Bulgarian replaces the Spaniard in the European selection.
Nadal, not feeling at his best to help the European selection in the Laver Cup, declined the invitation. The 38-year-old Spaniard was replaced by world number 10, Grigor Dimitrov. An announcement made early Friday morning by the Laver Cup in person. The day before, Nadal had explained his choice.
«I am really disappointed to announce that I will not be able to participate in the Laver Cup in Berlin next week. This is a team competition and to truly support Team Europe I have to do what is best for them and right now there are other players who can help the team achieve victory. I have so many great emotional memories from the Laver Cup and I was really looking forward to being with my teammates and with Bjorn for his last year as captain. I wish Team Europe the best of luck and will be cheering them on from afar.”
As a reminder, the 2024 edition will take place in Berlin from September 20 to 22. Dimitrov will be accompanied by Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“I spoke to him just last week. He wanted to ask me something, we talked and I felt a little sorry for him – that his summer didn’t go as well as planned,” Federer said.
It is obvious that Nadal is no longer performing at the same level as he was five or ten years ago. Nevertheless, the Swiss believes that his old rival had something in mind in the summer: “I think he was hoping for a medal,” said the 43-year-old.
It is currently unclear whether arguably the best clay court player of all time will have entered Roland Garros as an active player for the last time this year. Federer – who ended his career in 2022 – is happy for Nadal to be able to choose when he ends his career.
“By and large, he can do whatever he wants. He was one of the most iconic players we’ve ever had in our sport and I told him that. So I hope he can go the way he wants. He’s a great guy and had a great career,” Federer said of the man who, along with him and Novak Djokovic, shaped an era in tennis.
At least it’s not over for Nadal yet – from September 20th to 22nd, the Spaniard will be taking part in the Laver Cup for Team Europe in Berlin.
Even Roger Federer probably doesn’t know what will happen next.
Looking forward to the semi-final duel: Sinner expects a “tough match”
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