Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Rafael Nadal said he will next play at the Laver Cup next month in September

Nadal 'not 100%' as he withdraws from US Open

Rafael Nadal has confirmed he will miss this month's US Open, but will play at the Laver Cup in September.

Rafael Nadal has found himself up against the fourth seed in his French Open opener

Nadal faces tough Zverev test at Roland Garros

In what could be his last French Open, 14-times champion Rafa Nadal faces a tough task to avoid it all ending in a first-round exit when he plays Alexander Zverev this afternoon.

Tennis • 27 May 24

Rafael Nadal serves to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz during the Italian Open

Nadal still weighing up French Open dilemma

Rafael Nadal says he is still in two minds about whether he will play in the French Open starting this month after he was eliminated from the Italian Open in straight sets by seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz on Saturday.

Tennis • 11 May 24

Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Barcelona Open

Nadal's Barcelona Open return cut short

Rafa Nadal's hopes of winning the Barcelona Open for a 13th time were dashed following a 7-5 6-1 second round defeat by Australian fourth seed Alex de Minaur.

Tennis • 18 Apr 24

The Spaniard will now be absent from the Melbourne event

Nadal to miss Australian Open due to muscle tear

Rafa Nadal will miss the Australian Open this month after the Spaniard suffered a small muscle tear during his comeback from a long injury at the Brisbane International last week, the 22-times Grand Slam champion said on Sunday.

Tennis • 07 Jan 24

Rafael Nadal returned to action Down Under

Nadal makes long-awaited comeback in Brisbane

Rafa Nadal returned to action for the first time since January at the Brisbane International on Sunday, losing his doubles match but overall showing no obvious after-effects of the hip injury that ruined his year.

Tennis • 31 Dec 23

Nadal to make Grand Slam return at Australian Open

Rafa Nadal will return to Grand Slam tennis at the Australian Open in January, tournament director Craig Tiley has revealed.

Tennis • 11 Oct 23

Rafa Nadal is in danger of missing the French Open

Nadal missing French Open would be 'brutal' - Federer

Roger Federer said he hopes Rafa Nadal will recover in time for the French Open and that it would be a "brutal" blow for tennis if the 14-time Roland Garros champion is absent this year.

Tennis • 08 May 23

Rafa Nadal dropped a set against Jack Draper

Nadal stumbles before overcoming Draper

Defending champion Rafa Nadal dropped a set but prevailed in a battle of fitness against rising talent Jack Draper to reach the second round of the Australian Open with an unconvincing 7-5 2-6 6-4 6-1 win.

Tennis • 16 Jan 23

Rafael Nadal has won seven of his nine matches against Novak Djokovic at the French Open

Nadal irked by scheduling of clash against Djokovic

Tonight's highly-anticipated French Open quarter-final between world number one Novak Djokovic and 13-time champion Rafael Nadal will be played during the controversial night session despite the Spaniard expressing reservations against it.

Tennis • 31 May 22

Nadal was made to work for his spot in the last eight

Updated Djokovic and Nadal set up classic French Open clash

Rafael Nadal took his time but eventually kept his side of the bargain to set up the quarter-final showdown that will probably define this year's French Open.

Tennis • 29 May 22

'I want to promote peace all over the world'

Medvedev sets up Nadal rematch after rollercoaster day

Daniil Medvedev began Thursday by watching the news from his home country of Russia as the invasion of Ukraine began and then learned he will be world number one next week after Novak Djokovic was beaten by Jiri Vesely in Dubai.

Tennis • 25 Feb 22

Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory on Rod Laver Arena

Nadal finishes with a flourish in Australian Open win

Rafael Nadal dropped his first set of the Australian Open but recovered to defeat Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1 and reach the fourth round in Melbourne for a 15th time.

Tennis • 21 Jan 22

Rafael Nadal is seeking a first title in Melbourne in 13 years

Nadal eases past Hanfmann at Australian Open

Rafa Nadal put on a clinical performance to ease past German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-2 6-3 6-4 and reach the third round of the Australian Open, keeping the Spaniard on course for a men's record 21st grand slam title.

Australian Open • 19 Jan 22

Nadal earns timely win at Melbourne Summer Set

Rafael Nadal warmed up for the Australian Open by clinching the Melbourne Summer Set title with a straight-sets victory over American qualifier Maxime Cressy.

Tennis • 09 Jan 22

Oz Open confident on Nadal, uncertain on Djokovic

Australian Open chief Craig Tiley is confident Rafa Nadal will be at Melbourne Park for next month's Grand Slam despite testing positive for Covid-19, but he is still uncertain whether Novak Djokovic will be playing.

Australian Open • 22 Dec 21

Nadal struggled with back issues at the start of this year before pulling out of Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics, last played in August at the Citi Open in Washington

20-time major winner Nadal unsure of a return to action

Rafa Nadal said he still does not know when he will play tennis again as he works to complete his recovery from a recurring foot injury that cut short his 2021 season.

Tennis • 14 Oct 21

Federer 'feeling strong' after knee surgery

Swiss great Roger Federer said he has faced no setbacks and is recovering well after his latest knee operation.

Tennis • 21 Sep 21

The Spaniard has not played since his loss at the Australian Open

Back issue rules Nadal out of Dubai event

Rafa Nadal will not compete at next week's ATP 500 event in Dubai as he has not recovered fully from a back issue sustained ahead of the Australian Open.

Tennis • 11 Mar 21

Australian Open leadup events are 'uncertain' - ATP

Tennis authorities have encountered "challenges" over the arrival dates of players in Australia ahead of the new 2021 season, the men's ATP Tour said, throwing the ATP Cup and other Australian Open leadup events into doubt.

Tennis • 18 Nov 20

A jubilant Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory against Pablo Carreno Busta

Djokovic and Nadal move into French Open semi-finals

Claycourt master Rafa Nadal passed his first real test of this year's French Open with a 7-6(4) 6-4 6-1 victory against Italian rising star Jannik Sinner as his quest for a record-breaking 13th title gathered momentum on Tuesday night.

Tennis • 07 Oct 20

Rafael Nadal reacts as he plays against to Belarus' Egor Gerasimov

Nadal and Thiem ease into French Open second round

Rafael Nadal started his quest for a record-extending 13th French Open title with a straightforward 6-4 6-4 6-2 first-round win against Belarusian Egor Gerasimov.

Tennis • 28 Sep 20

Nadal has things to fix before the French Open

Rafael Nadal is hopeful he will be able to address the issues in his game that contributed to a shock Italian Open defeat before the French Open begins in a week's time.

Tennis • 20 Sep 20

(L to R): Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic

Djokovic, Nadal & Serena to tune up for US Open in NYC

Former champions Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Serena Williams have all entered next month's Western & Southern Open in New York, which will serve as a tune-up for the US Open.

Tennis • 29 Jul 20

Nadal: "For me personally it has been a very positive start"

Nadal eases into Australian Open second round

Rafael Nadal opened his campaign with a 6-2 6-3 6-0 victory over Bolivia's Hugo Dellien.

Tennis • 21 Jan 20