Breaking
Tag

Carlos Alcaraz

Browsing
TENNIS

RAFA NADAL SHARES THE FIRST PICTURE WITH HIS WIFE AND BABY

By

Rafa Nadal, his wife Mery Perelló, and their newborn, Rafa, have shared their first image together. The family is on a trip to Greece and appears to be enjoying the gorgeous views together as they enjoy one of their first family trips together.

2023 Australian Open - Day 3

The photo was shared on Instagram and shows Nadal holding their baby while Perelló stands next to him. The three look ahead in front of them while the camera captures them from the back. “Holidays,” he captioned the post, adding in a waving emoji.

Earlier this month, Nadal celebrated the historic Wimbledon win of Carlos Alcaraz, the 20 year old Spanish tennis player who beat Novak Djokovic in a stunning match. He shared an Instagram post where he wrote a lengthy caption for Alcaraz, calling him a “champion.”

“Congratulations, Carlos Alcaraz. You’ve given us a great joy today and I’m sure our Spanish tennis pioneer Malona Santana has cheered you on to welcome you as another Wimbledon member, a group you’re joining today. I send you a big hug. Enjoy this moment!”

Alcaraz revealed that Nadal had sent him an encouraging text before the match. “He sent it to wish me luck for the final, and I appreciate it,” he said in a press conference. “That someone like him, an idol of my childhood and who continues to be so, sends you strength and luck for the most important moment of your life is something to admire.”

Nadal’s tennis break
Earlier this year, Nadal explained the reason why he was taking an extended tennis break. He revealed that he’d had some surgery following an injury he obtained at the Australian Open. Despite the discomfort, he made it clear that everything was healing correctly. He also made it clear that next year might be his last as a tennis professional. “You never know how things will turn out, but my intention is that next year will be my last year,” he said in a news conference.

Keep Reading
By
TENNIS

Emma Raducanu offered same treatment as Serena Williams and can copy Carlos Alcaraz

By

Emma Raducanu is set to make her long-awaited return to competitive tennis in the New Year and the Brit is still searching for the sixth coach of her young career.

Serena Williams’ former coach Rick Macci has offered to take charge of Emma Raducanu’s fledgling career in a bid to help the Brit become “bulletproof” ahead of her return in 2024. Raducanu has been out of action since April after undergoing double wrist surgery as well as an operation on her ankle and she’s slowly made her return to training on the tennis court.

But the 21-year-old is still looking for a new coach after splitting with Sebastian Sachs in June. She’s now searching for her sixth coach in two years and recently admitted that part of the reason for the high turnover is because they “haven’t been able to keep up with the questions” she’s been asking.

Prior to undergoing surgery earlier this year, Raducanu had found it tough to build on the success of winning the US Open back in 2021 as an 18-year-old qualifier. There have been many teenage prodigies in tennis who have struggled to emulate that kind of success later on in their careers.

Serena Williams remains one of the youngest players to ever win a major after triumphing at the 1999 US Open at the age of 17. Macci helped mould both Williams sisters in their early years between 1991 and 1994 and still continues to shape the future stars of tennis at his tennis academy in Florida.

2023 Australian Open: Previews
Emma Raducanu split with Sebastian Sachs in June

And the 68-year-old has admitted he’s reached out to Raducanu’s team to join the coaching list and believes the Briton can follow the same path as Carlos Alcaraz. “I spoke to her agent, but he said her parents deal with coaching appointments,” he told the Telegraph.

“I’m not a travel coach, people come to me. I can help her mentally and strategically like no other. I don’t know where her head is at, whether there is the hunger and belief there to be the best.

“If you look at Carlos Alcaraz, everything changed for him with success at an early age, but he was ready and loaded. I don’t know Emma or what’s in her head, but you don’t lose talent and ability. Yes, you might lose a little confidence and fitness, but technically she’s very good – you don’t win a Grand Slam otherwise. If she really wants to be one of the best in the world – and she has the ability – then you need to cope with the pressure that comes with that.

“She should want pressure. You do all this training to be a professional player and want to be the best in the world. She has to be able to deal with what comes with that. She must be prepared to deal with the media.

“To say she sometimes wishes she didn’t win the US Open because of the mental and physical strain it has brought cuts both ways; If she’s going to listen to every little thing that is said about her then that doesn’t work, you’ve got to be bulletproof and I can help her with that. You need an ability to forget just as importantly as the ability to remember and she must learn from the adversity she’s faced.”

Keep Reading
By
TENNIS

Novak Djokovic names who will replace him, Nadal and Federer as retirement comment made

By

Novak Djokovic has predicted which three young talents will replace him, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Novak Djokovic has predicted that Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune will become tennis’ next great triumvirate. Djokovic is a member of the Big Three alongside Rafael Nadal and the now-retired Roger Federer, and fans have wondered which trio will follow in their footsteps once the Serb and Nadal have stepped away from the court.

Novak Djokovic | Biography, Grand Slams, & Facts | Britannica

The World No 1 defeated Sinner to claim a record seventh ATP Finals triumph on Sunday. He had previously lost to the Italian in the group stage of the tournament but recovered to claim the trophy.

Djokovic has now named the 22-year-old among the young stars who will eventually replace him, Nadal and Federer. However, the 36-year-old veteran has vowed to keep going until “they start kicking my butt”.

Alcaraz, Sinner and Rune have been listed by Djokovic as the three tennis aces to overtake the Big Three. But Djokovic has vowed to “hang around” in a quest for further silverware and hinted that he wants to add Olympic gold to his array of honors.

“Carlos, Jannik and Holger are the big three.. the next big three, if you want to call them. They are going to carry this sport,” Djokovic said.

Jannik Sinner playing in the ATP Finals
Jannik Sinner can rival Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune, Novak Djokovic says

“I will hang on for as long as I feel like hanging on, as long as I’m able to win against them on the big stage. I’ll still keep going because why stop if you’re still winning the biggest titles.

“Once they start to kick my butt, then I will consider probably having a little break or maybe a permanent break from professional tennis.”

Djokovic has revealed that he wants to win Olympic gold in Paris next year. The US Open champion has opened up on his plans for 2024, suggesting that he will target all four Grand Slams.

Wimbledon was the only major Djokovic failed to win in 2023, losing the final against the impressive Alcaraz.

Novak Djokovic kisses the ATP trophy
Novak Djokovic will target Olympic gold in Paris in 2024

But asked what else he could achieve in his career, he smiled before joking: “Well, you can win four Slams and Olympic gold.”

Djokovic added: “I have always the highest ambitions and goals. That’s not going to be different for the next year, that’s for sure. The drive that I have is still there.

“Motivation, especially for the biggest tournaments in sport, is still present. For me, obviously those are Grand Slams and Finals, and next year hopefully also Olympic Games.”

Keep Reading
By