Nadal to make Rome return against qualifier

06.05.2024 - 13:51 guardian.ng

Spain’s Rafael Nadal serves the ball to Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka during the 2024 ATP Tour Madrid Open tournament round of 16 tennis match at Caja Magica in Madrid on April 30, 2024. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)Rafael Nadal was drawn on Monday with a qualifier in the first round of the Italian Open as the 22-time Grand Slam winner continues his comeback from injury on clay in Rome.Should Nadal get through to the second round in the Italian capital, where he has won the title a record 10 times, he could face world number nine Hubert Hurkacz.Also on Nadal’s side of the draw are last year’s winner, world number four Daniil Medvedev, and the beaten finalist Holger Rune.The 37-year-old last won in Rome in 2021 and dropped out last year with injury ahead of the tournament.Since making his comeback in April after three months on the sidelines, Nadal, who sits at 305 in the men’s ATP tour rankings after hardly playing in 2023, has been knocked out in the second round in Barcelona and reached the last 16 in Madrid.This season is expected to be Nadal’s last, even though he has not decided exactly when he will be hanging up his racquet.Numerous physical issues have hampered him over the past two years and he has said that he will only compete at Roland Garros later this month if he feels competitive.Nadal’s old rival Novak Djokovic will face either a qualifier or Russian Roman Safiullin in the second round as he guns for a seventh title in Rome with key rivals sidelined.Both home hope Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, ranked two and three in the world respectively, have been forced to withdraw from the tournament with injury.You must be logged in to post a comment.Why are you flagging this comment?I disagree with this userTarge

Rafael Nadal Carlos Alcaraz Roland Garros Novak Djokovic Caja Mágica Russia Spain Italy Czech Republic

Alexander Zverev reached his 18th Masters semi-final in Rome on Wednesday but only after a worrying fall which sparked memories of the horror injury he suffered at the French Open two years ago. The world number five from Germany defeated Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 to set up a last-four duel with Alejandro Tabilo, the Chilean journeyman who had stunned Novak Djokovic earlier in the tournament. Zverev's moment of concern came in just the third game on centre court at the Foro Italico when he fell on the clay and landed on his front.

Daniil Medvedev Battles Past Hamad Medjedovic And Into Rome Last 16

Daniil Medvedev continued his Rome title defence with Monday's hard-fought 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 7-5 win over qualifier Hamad Medjedovic as the men's tournament was left wide open by big-name exits, the latest being fourth seed Andrey Rublev. Russian Medvedev will face Tommy Paul in the last 16 at the Foro Italico on Tuesday after battling past Next Gen champion Medjedovic in a gruelling clash of big hitters. The second seed has a great opportunity to win his first tournament of the year but will be drained by a match which pushed three hours in length and suggested that 20-year-old Medjedovic is a far superior player than his world ranking of 121.

'Concerned' Djokovic to undergo scans as shock Rome exit follows bottle drama

Novak Djokovic described his shock third-round elimination from the Italian Open by Alejandro Tabilo on Sunday as "concerning", two days after he was hit on the head by a bottle which he said has caused nausea and dizzy spells.

Djokovic's Rome exit opens door for Sinner to grab top ranking at Roland Garros

Novak Djokovic's shock exit from the Italian Open on Sunday could prove to be a decisive moment in the race for the world number one spot, as the top-ranked Serb prepares for his French Open title defence with Jannik Sinner poised to leapfrog him.

'Concerned' Novak Djokovic To Undergo Scans As Rome Exit Follows Bottle Drama

Novak Djokovic described his shock third-round elimination from the Rome Open by outsider Alejandro Tabilo on Sunday as "concerning", two days after he was hit on the head by a bottle which he said has caused nausea and dizzy spells. Djokovic's bid for a record-extending 41st Masters 1000 title was ended in just over an hour by Chilean Tabilo, who is ranked 32nd in the world and claimed his first win over a top-10 opponent, 6-2, 6-3. The 24-time Grand Slam winner said that his subdued performance on a court where he has won six titles might have been due to the blow suffered while greeting fans on Friday night.

Novak Djokovic suffers heavy defeat to Alejandro Tabilo in Rome

Six-time champion Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Italian Open after suffering a comprehensive defeat to world number 32 Alejandro Tabilo in Rome.