Nadal

Tennis - Nadal defeated Lorenzo Sonego in the Wimbledon third round.

I should have done that during the changeover or waited for the referee to tell him," Nadal explained. Rafa forced the rival's mistake with a powerful backhand and grabbed a break at the start of the third set. Nadal broke again in the following game and sealed the deal on his serve at 5-4. Sonego raised his level behind the initial shot after that to remain within one break deficit. Lorenzo sprayed a backhand error in game four to fall 3-1 behind. The Spaniard served well, dropping 18 points behind the initial shot and losing serve once in the encounter's closing stage.

Rafael Nadal has sent a message to his great rival Roger Federer, as the Spaniard caused a storm during his third round victory over Lorenzo Sonego.

He went on: “We can't create a story just about Wimbledon. I think Roger Federer is important in every single tournament. This then led to the roof being closed, which left Nadal frustrated after being keen to get the job done. The Spanish star did however then re-composed himself by winning the final two games to secure a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory.

Ahead of his last 16 clash, Nadal's next opponent issued a massive warning to Spaniard, saying that he holds the ability to "hurt" him on the grass courts ...

“He didn’t play so many matches on grass the last couple of years. But the Dutch international feels that their meeting on grass court could end in his favour. For the fourth consecutive time in his career, Rafael Nadal has reached the fourth round of the Wimbledon tournament, two of which includes run to the semifinal as well.

An irritated Rafael Nadal's pursuit of a rare calendar Grand Slam gathered momentum on Saturday as he took it upon himself to reprimand Lorenzo Sonego ...

In the opening set, Sonego never even got a look-in on his opponent’s delivery and the only two points the Spaniard dropped on serve came when he produced two double faults at 3-1 up. That’s it — I will talk to him after but this is not a problem,” said Nadal, who next faces Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. I feel really bad now if I bothered him so I feel sorry for that.

Rafael Nadal apologised to defeated Wimbledon opponent Lorenzo Sonego after a testy exchange in the closing stages of their third-round clash on Saturday.

"My intention was never to bother him at all. "It's something that I spoke with him in the locker room and it stays there. Here is what happened at the net after the final point of the Rafa Nadal-Lorenzo Sonego match. "I have to say that I was wrong. I recognise that," said Nadal. Rafael Nadal apologised to defeated Wimbledon opponent Lorenzo Sonego after a testy exchange in the closing stages of their third-round clash on Saturday.

Playing Rafael Nadal on clay is considered to be one of the most frustrating challenges in tennis. On Saturday's evidence, playing him on grass can be just ...

Just to tell (him) one thing that was bothering me that I think he was doing in that moment, but that's it. I apologise for that. "I have to say that I was wrong. I should not (have) called him to the net. LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) - Playing Rafael Nadal on clay is considered to be one of the most frustrating challenges in tennis. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

RAFAEL NADAL was locked in an odd exchange at the end of his win over Lorenzo Sonego as he spoke to the Italian at the net.

After the win, Nadal said: “Not spicy at all - I just from the bottom of my heart I didn't make it in a negative way I feel sorry if I bothered him but I did it in a right way. That's it - I will talk to him after but this is not a problem.” Nadal defeated Sonego 6-1 6-2 6-4 to secure his first straight sets win of this year’s Championships after having dropped a set in each of his first two matches.

Rafael Nadal looks to follow his "best match since the tournament started" with another strong performance in the Wimbledon fourth round against Botic van ...

Nakashima, playing in his second Wimbledon, is through to the fourth round for the first time in his sixth main-draw major appearance. Most of Garin's best results have come on clay, but he is through to the Wimbledon fourth round for the second straight year. He also reached the Roland Garros third round this year before falling to eventual semi-finalist Alexander Zverev in his best previous major showing. Fritz has quietly cruised into the fourth round to match his best major result. De Minaur will be relieved to face a man who does not hail from Great Britain after battling past home favourites Jack Draper and Liam Broady in his past two matches. Asked if he felt he could win his first Grand Slam singles title this week, he answered in the affirmative. "Nakashima won easily today in straight sets," Kyrgios said of the American's dominant third-round win against Daniel Elahi Galan. "To do that at Wimbledon on grass is not easy. "He's a player that has been improving unbelievably [in] the last year," the Spaniard said of his opponent. I made a lot of things much better than previous days: the determination, the way that I managed to play more aggressive, going to the net plenty of times." Of course he's winning the first few rounds. Nadal dismissed him at the French with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory. "It was a good challenge at the French... He's a complete player with a lot of great things, and I need to keep going the way that I played today.

Rafael Nadal was delighted with his performance against Lorenzo Sonego in the third round at Wimbledon. After two unconvincing wins early in the tournament, ...

"Well, yeah happy match, my best match without a doubt," said Nadal. "Big improvement today, so very happy for that. I wish Lorenzo all the best for the rest of the season." "It was probably my best match, without a doubt, here at the Championship, against the toughest player I've ever faced so far," Nadal said in his on-court interview, according to the ATP website.

Playing Rafael Nadal on clay is considered to be one of the most frustrating challenges in tennis. On Saturday's evidence, playing him on grass can be just ...

Just to tell (him) one thing that was bothering me that I think he was doing in that moment, but that’s it. “I have to say that I was wrong. I should not (have) called him to the net.

During his Wimbledon third round win, Rafael Nadal showed some fancy 'footwork', which even won the approval of Gareth Southgate, who was present at Centre ...

But when Nadal was leading 4-2 in the third set, Sonego convinced the officials to close the roof so that the floodlights could be turned on. Although Nadal had dropped a set each in each of his previous two matches, but against Sonego he was in dominant form. A feisty Rafael Nadal was in dominating form on Saturday as he sealed a 6-1 6-2 6-4 win against Lorenzo Sonego in his Wimbledon third round fixture, at Centre Court. During the match, Nadal also got into an altercation with his Italian opponent and appeared to be visibly irritated.

The tennis world couldn't help but collectively lose it over the photo. Find out more here.

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In addition to making tennis history, the Big 3 have demonstrated a longevity that has very few equals in modern sport. Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are ...

I bet with Goran (coach) that in the future, they might allow a little paint on the equipment, and he says there is no chance. It is as if my mind had left my body to photograph this moment of cohabitation with the greatest, weighted today with 61 Grand Slam titles. In addition to making tennis history, the Big 3 have demonstrated a longevity that has very few equals in modern sport.