Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Rafael Nadal: 'Last year I tried, but I was not ready enough to compete at Wimbledon'

Nadal sets sights on Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal believes he has more chance of performing well at Wimbledon this year after finishing the clay stretch in customary style with a ninth French Open crown.

Tennis • 09 Jun 14

Rafael Nadal celebrates his fifth French Open win in a row

Nadal makes it five in a row at French Open

Rafael Nadal maintained his phenomenal stranglehold on the French Open by defeating Novak Djokovic 3-6 7-5 6-2 6-4 to win a ninth title at Roland Garros.

Tennis • 09 Jun 14

Rafael Nadal dropped his first set of the tournament in his victory over David Ferrer

Nadal and Murray to meet in French Open semis

Birthday boy Rafael Nadal kept his bid for a record ninth French Open title alive in Paris today after overcoming compatriot David Ferrer in the quarter-finals in four sets to set up a last-four encounter against Andy Murray.

Tennis • 04 Jun 14

Nadal and Djokovic to meet in Italy final

The Italian Open will get its dream men's final on Sunday after Rafa Nadal's routine cuffing of Grigor Dimitrov set up an enticing match with Novak Djokovic.

Tennis • 17 May 14

Andy Murray: 'I'd love to play against [Rafa] - it will be a great match for me with the French Open just around the corner'

Nadal and Murray to meet in Rome quarters

Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray will meet for the first time since 2011 after booking their respective places in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open in Rome.

Tennis • 15 May 14

The 40th meeting between Nadal and Djokovic added another line to what has grown into one of tennis's great rivalries

Straight-up win for Djokovic over Nadal

Novak Djokovic tamed world number one Rafa Nadal 6-3 6-3 to claim his fourth Sony Open title.

Tennis • 30 Mar 14

Major rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will meet in final

Nadal to face Djokovic in final after walkovers

World number one Rafael Nadal will face world number two Novak Djokovic in the final of the Sony Open in Miami after both players progressed without playing a shot on Friday's semi-final day.

Tennis • 28 Mar 14

Toni: 'The doctor said it's a tightening of the muscles and a few days rest should be enough'

Nadal just needs a 'few days' rest', says coach

Rafa Nadal should recover from the back problem that wrecked his Australian Open final after a few days rest, according to his coach.

Tennis • 27 Jan 14

Victory took Nadal past Andre Agassi into eighth spot on the all-time list of ATP Tour title winners

Nadal claims victory in Qatar

Rafa Nadal began his year in perfect fashion with victory over Gael Monfils in the Qatar Open in Doha on Saturday.

Tennis • 04 Jan 14

Rafa Nadal: 'Without playing my best, I was able to find a solution'

Nadal and Monfils to meet in Qatar final

World number one Rafa Nadal will face Frenchman Gael Monfils in the final of the Qatar Open.

Tennis • 03 Jan 14

Rafa Nadal will play either Vasek Pospisil or Rogerio Dutra Silva next

Nadal happy to be back in New York

Rafael Nadal made up for lost time with a dominant start to his US Open campaign in New York.

Tennis • 27 Aug 13

John McEnroe: 'Wimbledon is the only one of the four majors that can change the seedings'

McEnroe wants Nadal seeded in top four

Wimbledon's seeding committee should use its power to promote Rafa Nadal into the top four, says John McEnroe.

Tennis • 18 Jun 13

Rafa Nadal is through to his eight French decider

Nadal gets past Djokovic in five-set epic

Rafa Nadal overcame Novak Djokovic 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7 9-7 to reach the French Open final after an absorbing tussle at Roland Garros.

Tennis • 07 Jun 13

Rafael Nadal won in two hours 45 minutes

Nadal passes tough test against Fognini

Seven-times champion Rafael Nadal held off a brave but sporadic challenge from Italian Fabio Fognini 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4 to book his place in the fourth round of the French Open today.

Tennis • 01 Jun 13

Rafael Nadal serves against Martin Klizan today

Federer and Nadal progress in Paris

Defending champion Rafa Nadal got back down to business at Roland Garros today, moving belatedly into the third round after his challenge for a record eighth title had been bogged down by dismal weather.

Tennis • 31 May 13

Rafael Nadal's victory was well merited after seeing off some tough opponents en route to the final

Nadal defeats Del Potro at Indian Wells

Rafael Nadal battled back from a set and a break down to claim the biggest title since his return from injury with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Juan Martin Del Potro in the BNP Paribas Open final.

Tennis • 20 Mar 13

Nadal holds out hope for return this season

Rafa Nadal has no timeline for his return to competitive tennis but the world number four did not completely rule out the possibility of returning from injury in time for next month's Davis Cup and ATP World Tour finals.

Tennis • 09 Oct 12

Rafael Nadal will be denied the opportunity to defend his Olympic crown at Wimbledon next month

Injury forces Nadal to miss Olympics

Reigning Olympic champion Rafa Nadal will miss the London Olympics after failing to recover from a knee problem, the Spaniard said on Thursday.

Paris 2024 • 19 Jul 12

The pain of an early SW19 departure is etched on the face of Nadal

Nadal stunned by unsung Rosol

Unsung Czech Lukas Rosol pulled off one of the biggest Wimbledon shocks in living memory by dumping two-time champion Rafael Nadal out at the second-round stage.

Tennis • 28 Jun 12

Nadal nets easier side of French draw

Six-times champion Rafa Nadal was handed a smooth looking path to the French Open final, avoiding the half of the draw featuring world number one Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer who are seeded to meet in the semi-finals.

Tennis • 25 May 12

Nadal continues winning Monte Carlo sequence

Rafael Nadal`s incredible reign on the clay of Monte Carlo as he extended his winning run to 40 matches.

Tennis • 21 Apr 12

Rafa Nadal