Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Rafael Nadal is chasing yet another French Open title

Nadal marches on, Djokovic survives huge scare

Rafael Nadal continued his march towards what he hopes will be a 14th French Open title with a straight-sets fourth-round win over Jannik Sinner.

Tennis • 07 Jun 21

Rafael Nadal serves against Alexei Popyrin

Nadal and Djokovic advance at French Open

Defending champion Rafael Nadal began his quest for a 14th French Open title with a straight sets but not straightforward victory over young Australian Alexei Popyrin.

Tennis • 02 Jun 21

Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic in three sets

Nadal beats Djokovic to win tenth title in Rome

Rafael Nadal won a record-extending tenth Italian Open title in Rome after beating top seed Novak Djokovic in three sets.

Tennis • 16 May 21

Rafael Nadal was largely untroubled during a 6-3 6-4 6-1 success

Nadal eases past Djere in Melbourne opener

Rafael Nadal allayed fears over a back problem with a straightforward victory against Laslo Djere in the first round of the Australian Open.

Tennis • 09 Feb 21

Rafael Nadal during a practice session on Sunday

Back issue hampering Nadal ahead of Australian Open

Rafael Nadal's bid for a record 21st grand slam title is in doubt due to a back injury.

Tennis • 07 Feb 21

Rafael Nadal: "For us it is good at least that we can keep playing tennis."

Nadal: The world is suffering - we can't complain

Rafael Nadal says players preparing for the Australian Open under restrictions "can't complain" and has stressed the importance of a "wider perspective" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Tennis • 26 Jan 21

Stars to quarantine in Adelaide before Australian Open

Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal will be among top men and women players heading to Adelaide to serve their 14-day mandatory quarantine before travelling to Melbourne for next month's Australian Open.

Tennis • 08 Jan 21

Rafael Nadal back in the semi-finals for the first time since 2015

Nadal beats Tsitsipas to reach last-four of ATP finals

Rafael Nadal will face Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals after ending the title defence of Stefanos Tsitsipas at The O2 in London.

Tennis • 20 Nov 20

Dominic Thiem beat Rafael Nadal to reach the last four in London

Thiem wins Nadal thriller to reach semi-finals

Stefanos Tsitsipas will face Rafael Nadal for a place in the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals after saving a match point to beat Andrey Rublev.

Tennis • 17 Nov 20

Rafael Nadal taking a bite of the Coupe des Mousquetaires has become an iconic image in sport

King of Clay Nadal crowned for the 13th time in Paris

Perennial French Open champion Rafael Nadal overcame late resistance from Novak Djokovic to roar to a 6-0 6-2 7-5 success in the final at Roland Garros as he claimed the Coupe des Mousquetaires for the 13th time.

Tennis • 11 Oct 20

Rafael Nadal registered his 99th win at Roland Garros

Relentless Nadal reaches 13th French Open final

Rafael Nadal is through to his 13th French Open final after beating Diego Schwartzman in straight sets at Roland Garros.

Tennis • 09 Oct 20

Nadal through as Zverev plays with fever in Sinner loss

Rafa Nadal blew away American qualifer Sebastian Korda 6-1 6-1 6-2 to romp into the French Open quarter-finals and close in on a record-extending 13th title at Roland Garros.

Tennis • 04 Oct 20

Rafael Nadal was untroubled against Mackenzie McDonald

Rafa Nadal stays on course to make history in Paris

Rafa Nadal continued his quest for a record-extending 13th French Open title with a 6-1 6-0 6-3 crushing of American Mackenzie McDonald to advance into the third round.

Tennis • 30 Sep 20

Rafael Nadal (left) was beaten by Diego Schwartzman for the first time

Nadal loses to Schwartzman in Rome quarter-final

Rafael Nadal crashed out in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open as he suffered a straight-sets defeat to Diego Schwartzman.

Tennis • 19 Sep 20

Alexander Zverev overcame Brandon Nakashima

Zverev labours to four set victory at US Open

Alexander Zverev continued to limber up for a potential US Open title challenge with a four-set win over American Brandon Nakashima.

Tennis • 03 Sep 20

Nadal won his 19th Grand Slam at Flushing Meadow last year

Rafael Nadal withdraws from US Open over virus fears

Defending champion Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the US Open citing concerns over coronavirus.

Tennis • 04 Aug 20

Novak Djokovic has expressed doubts about competing in the US Open

Evans claims Djokovic & Nadal have duty to play US Open

World number 28 Dan Evans says Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have a duty to take part in the US Open in order to help lower-ranked players survive the coronavirus crisis.

Tennis • 08 Jun 20

Doubts remain as to whether the final grand slam of the year will take place

Djokovic: US Open restrictions 'extreme, impossible'

World number one Novak Djokovic dealt a further blow to the hopes of the US Open going ahead after claiming it would be "impossible" to play under the "extreme" proposed safety protocols.

Tennis • 06 Jun 20

Djokovic (L) beat Federer in last year's Wimbledon men's singles final, the longest in history

Djokovic: I can beat Federer and Nadal records

Novak Djokovic believes he will win the most Grand Slam titles and become the longest-reigning world number one by the time he retires, the 32-year-old Serb has said.

Tennis • 15 May 20

Rafael Nadal: We're losing a year of our lives

Rafael Nadal believes the 2020 tennis season is "practically lost" due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tennis • 05 May 20

Dominic Thiem: "No tennis player is fighting to survive, even those who are much lower-ranked."

Thiem questions proposal to help lower-ranked players

World number three Dominic Thiem has rejected the notion that the top tennis players should chip in to help lower-ranked competitors who are struggling financially due to the pause in tournaments because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tennis • 27 Apr 20

Left to right: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

'Big Three' discuss how to help lower-ranked players

Novak Djokovic has been in touch with fellow ATP Player Council members Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal to discuss ways to assist lower-ranked players facing financial struggles amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, the world number one has said.

Tennis • 18 Apr 20

Thiem looking to make breakthrough after Nadal victory

Having flirted with Grand Slam glory for a number of years, Dominic Thiem took another confident step toward a maiden major title by turning the tables on nemesis Rafa Nadal at the Australian Open.

Tennis • 29 Jan 20

Rafael Nadal won two tiebreaks in the match

Nadal grinds down Kyrgios in Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios entertained but left empty-handed again as Rafael Nadal won a compelling fourth-round contest at the Australian Open.

Tennis • 27 Jan 20

Kyrgios has been riding a rare wave of positivity in his homeland

Kyrgios sets up Nadal showdown at Australian Open

Home favourite Nick Kygrios will face Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open fourth round after coming through a five-set thriller against Karen Khachanov

Tennis • 25 Jan 20