Tennis

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic's rivalry is one of the most iconic in tennis history, spanning over two decades and featuring some of the most memorable matches the sport has ever witnessed. Their head-to-head record stands at 31-29 in Djokovic's favor, with Nadal holding a slight edge in Grand Slams (11-7).Djokovic has dominated on hard courts, winning 20 of their 27 encounters on the surface. Nadal, on the other hand, has been the undisputed king of clay, boasting a 20-9 record against Djokovic on the red dirt. Their rivalry has also extended to grass, where they have split their four meetings evenly.Their first major final clash came at the 2010 US Open, where Nadal triumphed in four sets to complete the career Grand Slam. The following year, Djokovic won his first Wimbledon title by defeating Nadal in the final. Their rivalry reached its peak in the early 2010s, with several marathon matches on the biggest stages.Djokovic's five-hour, 53-minute victory in the 2012 Australian Open final remains the longest Grand Slam final ever played. Nadal responded by defeating Djokovic in the 2012 French Open final, a match that was played over two days due to rain.Their most epic clash came in the 2013 French Open semi-final, where Nadal prevailed 9-7 in the fifth set after a grueling four-hour battle. Djokovic finally broke through for his first French Open title in 2016, becoming the eighth man to complete the career Grand Slam.Despite Nadal's dominance on clay, Djokovic has managed to defeat him twice at the French Open, in the 2015 quarter-finals and 2021 semi-finals. Djokovic also defeated Nadal in the 2024 Olympic gold medal match in Paris.Nadal and Djokovic's rivalry has been marked by mutual respect and admiration. "My greatest rival is Novak Djokovic," Nadal said in 2022. "I respect Rafa, probably more than any other player in the world," Djokovic said in 2021.Their rivalry is not just a battle for supremacy on the court, but also a testament to the enduring spirit of competition and the pursuit of excellence in sports.

Novak Djokovic Withdraws from ATP Finals Due to InjuryNovak Djokovic has announced his withdrawal from the ATP Finals in Turin due to a persistent injury. The Serbian star had qualified for the season-ending tournament but has decided to prioritize his recovery.Djokovic's withdrawal leaves eight players competing for the title: Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur, and Andrey Rublev.Djokovic's absence is a significant blow to the tournament, as he is a former five-time champion and one of the most decorated players in ATP history. However, the field remains stacked with talent, and the competition is expected to be fierce.Ruud, de Minaur, and Rublev will now compete for the final three spots in Turin. Potential replacements for Djokovic include Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas.The ATP Finals will begin on Sunday, November 10th, and will be broadcast live on Tennis Channel.

Novak Djokovic's post-US Open schedule has been a curious mix of relaxation and uncertainty. While his rivals battled for year-end supremacy at the Rolex Paris Masters, Djokovic enjoyed a vacation in the Maldives. This break aligns with his earlier statement that he is no longer prioritizing the Nitto ATP Finals.Djokovic's vacation suggests that he is not actively pursuing the ATP Finals, which he has won a record seven times. He has played only one ATP event since the US Open, finishing runner-up to Jannik Sinner at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.Despite his absence from competitive play, Djokovic remains in contention for the ATP Finals due to the struggles of his rivals. Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur, and Andrey Rublev have all failed to surpass him in the year-end race.However, Djokovic has yet to make a final decision on his participation in the prestigious tournament. His recent appearance at the Belgrade Open, where he cheered on his protégé Hamad Medjedovic, suggests that he may be considering a return to competition.Djokovic's future plans remain shrouded in mystery. He has expressed a desire to focus on his family and personal life, but he has also hinted at the possibility of playing in select tournaments. The tennis world eagerly awaits his decision, as his presence at the ATP Finals would add a significant boost to the event.

Tennis Stars Dominate SportsPro's Most Marketable Athletes ListFor the second consecutive year, Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic have emerged as the most marketable tennis players globally, according to SportsPro's 50 Most Marketable Athletes of 2024. The prestigious annual list features eight tennis players, with Gauff and Djokovic leading the charge at No. 13 and No. 18, respectively.The "now gen" of tennis dominates the list, showcasing a blend of established stars and rising phenoms. Naomi Osaka (No. 48) and Aryna Sabalenka (No. 38) represent the established guard, while Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz (No. 29), and Jannik Sinner (No. 47) embody the multi-platform dominance of the younger generation.Gauff and Sabalenka's active presence on social media platforms like TikTok, coupled with Alcaraz's upcoming Netflix documentary, highlights the digital dominance of these young stars. They are expanding their brands by engaging with fans where they consume the most content.Notably, WTA No. 1 Iga Swiatek and ATP No. 1 Jannik Sinner have made their debut on SportsPro's Top 50 list, landing at No. 50 and No. 47, respectively. This contrast between on-court dominance and marketability potential suggests that there is still room for growth in their off-court presence.Despite the strong representation of tennis players, it is concerning that none have made it into the Top 10 for the second year in a row. This is only the third time since SportsPro launched its athlete marketability assessment in 2010 that no tennis player has featured in the Top 10.The SportsPro 50 Most Marketable Athletes list serves as a barometer of the most influential athletes in the world, both on and off the field. It includes household names and rising stars with significant partnership potential. American gymnast Simone Biles topped the list for the second time, followed by Brazilian soccer star Vinicius Junior and basketball legend LeBron James.

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Other Tennis Kings Cash In at Lucrative Six Kings Slam ExhibitionIn the opulent setting of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, tennis legends Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and four other top players are participating in the Six Kings Slam exhibition event, where the stakes are high and the rewards are substantial.Each of the six players has reportedly received a guaranteed $1.5 million for their participation, with the winner of Saturday's final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner set to pocket a staggering $6 million.For Alcaraz and Sinner, the young stars who shared the four Grand Slam titles in 2024, the potential winnings are particularly lucrative. A victory for Alcaraz would net him almost as much money as he earned for his combined 14 victories in Grand Slam tournaments this season. Sinner, too, stands to nearly double his earnings from his major triumphs.The prize money on offer in Riyadh is not limited to the winner. Holger Rune, whose ranking has slipped from a career-high world No. 4 to No. 14, has already pocketed $1.5 million from the exhibition, representing a staggering 68% of his on-court earnings for the year.Even Daniil Medvedev, who lost to Sinner in the quarterfinals, has benefited handsomely from his trip to Saudi Arabia. The former world No. 1 earned $21,739.13 for every minute he spent on court in Riyadh.The Six Kings Slam exhibition is a testament to the growing popularity and financial rewards of tennis. While the event does not offer ranking points or official head-to-head matches, the players are handsomely compensated for their participation, adding to their already substantial earnings.

Novak Djokovic's pursuit of tennis history at the 2021 US Open ended in heartbreak, as he fell to Daniil Medvedev in the final. The Serbian star's bid to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Grand Slams in a calendar year was thwarted by the Russian's clinical performance.Djokovic, 34, entered the tournament as the heavy favorite, having won the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon earlier in the year. However, he faced an unexpected challenge from Medvedev, who had never reached a Grand Slam final before.The Russian, 25, played with poise and precision, breaking Djokovic's serve in the first game of the match and never looking back. Medvedev won the first set 6-4 and continued to dominate in the second, breaking Djokovic again and taking it 6-4.Djokovic showed signs of frustration in the third set, smashing his racquet after failing to break Medvedev's serve. The crowd, which had been cheering for Djokovic throughout the tournament, turned on him briefly, showering him with boos.Undeterred, Medvedev kept his foot on the gas, breaking Djokovic's serve again in the first game of the third set and building a 5-2 lead. Djokovic managed to hold serve for 4-5, but Medvedev closed out the match with a service-return error by Djokovic.The final score was 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, in a match that lasted just over two hours. Medvedev's victory marked his first Grand Slam title and ended Djokovic's hopes of making history.Despite the disappointment, Djokovic praised Medvedev's performance, acknowledging that he was "hitting his spots very well." He also expressed gratitude to the crowd for their support, saying that he had never felt so loved on a tennis court before.

Andrey Rublev, the world's seventh-ranked tennis player, has made a winning start to his BNP Paribas Nordic Open campaign in Stockholm. The Russian defeated France's Alexandre Muller in his opening match, 6-4, 6-1.Rublev's victory marks his 40th win of the year, continuing a remarkable trend for one of the most consistent players on the men's tour. He has now won 40 or more matches every year so far this decade, a feat unmatched by any other tennis player, male or female.Rublev's win-loss records this decade are as follows:* 2020: 41-10* 2021: 53-23* 2022: 51-20* 2023: 56-26* 2024: 40-20Rublev's latest achievement is particularly noteworthy as he is the first tennis player to win 40 or more matches every year so far this decade. Only one other player, Novak Djokovic, has managed to match this feat.Djokovic, who recently reached the final of the Shanghai Masters, currently has 37 wins this year. With three more wins, he will equal Rublev's record.Djokovic's win-loss records this decade are as follows:* 2020: 41-5* 2021: 55-7* 2022: 42-7* 2023: 56-7* 2024: 37-9Rublev's victory over Muller in Stockholm was a revenge win, as the Frenchman had defeated him in the third round of the Rome Masters earlier this year.The win puts Rublev through to his 12th quarterfinal of the year. He has won two titles this year in Hong Kong and Madrid, and has reached the final in Montreal. He has also been a semifinalist in Dubai and Umag, and a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Doha, Washington D.C., Cincinnati, and Beijing.Rublev will face former world No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals. Wawrinka defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in three sets to advance.

The 2019 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic was a historic match that reshaped the landscape of men's tennis. It was the first Wimbledon tournament to feature a final-set tiebreak, and it became the longest Wimbledon final ever, lasting nearly five hours.Federer, the eight-time Wimbledon champion, was the heavy favorite going into the match. He had won their previous meeting in the semifinals and held a 20-15 advantage in Grand Slam titles. However, Djokovic had been playing some of the best tennis of his career in recent months, and he was determined to prove that he was the best player in the world.The match was a back-and-forth affair, with both players trading blows from the baseline. Federer was the more aggressive player, hitting more winners, but Djokovic was more consistent and made fewer unforced errors. The match went to a fifth set, and Federer had a chance to win it at 8-7, 40-15. However, Djokovic saved both match points and eventually won the tiebreak to claim the title.The win was a major turning point in the careers of both players. For Federer, it was a missed opportunity to become the oldest man to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open Era. For Djokovic, it was a fourth major title in the previous five tournaments, and it moved him to within two majors of Nadal and four of Federer.The match was also a reminder of the greatness of both players. Federer played some of the best tennis of his career, but Djokovic was simply too good on the day. It was a match that will be remembered for years to come as one of the greatest Wimbledon finals ever played.

Rafael Nadal, the legendary Spanish tennis player, is set to bid farewell to his professional career at the Davis Cup next month. However, before his grand farewell, Nadal will grace the courts of the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for two guaranteed matches this week.Joining Nadal in this star-studded event are his long-time rival Novak Djokovic, as well as top-ranked players Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune. The three-day tournament will commence on Wednesday, October 16th, with Sinner facing Medvedev and Alcaraz taking on Rune.Nadal and Djokovic, having received byes into the semifinal round, will make their appearances on Thursday, October 17th. The losers of their respective matches will compete in the third-place match on Saturday, October 19th, while the winners will battle it out in the championship match.All matches will be broadcast live on T2 and TennisChannel.com. The detailed match schedule is as follows:Wednesday, October 16th:* Sinner v. Medvedev – 12:30 p.m. ET* Alcaraz v. Rune – Not before 2 p.m. ETThursday, October 17th:* Djokovic v. Sinner/Medvedev winner – 12:30 p.m. ET* Nadal v. Alcaraz/Rune winner – Not before 2 p.m. ETSaturday, October 19th:* Third-Place Match – 12:30 p.m. ET* Championship Match – Not before 2 p.m. ETThis exhibition tournament provides a unique opportunity for tennis enthusiasts to witness some of the greatest players in the world compete in a thrilling and competitive environment. As Nadal prepares for his final farewell, the Six Kings Slam offers a glimpse of his exceptional talent and the legacy he will leave behind in the sport of tennis.