When does the clay-court tennis season begin? Which events are Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Emma Raducanu playing?

23.03.2023 - 01:43 eurosport.com

The clay-court season is nearly upon us, with the elite of men's and women's tennis preparing to head to Europe for just over two months on the dirt.

It could become one of the most significant periods in tennis history, with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic — tied on 22 Grand Slams — both set to make a return to action, having both missed the 'Sunshine Swing' in America.

Ad With women's world No. 1 Iga Swiatek struggling with injury and unexpected defeats, and Britain's Emma Raducanu performing strongly this year, there promises to be plenty of storylines written in the weeks ahead.

WTA MiamiRaducanu out of Miami Open in first round after three-set loss to Andreescu4 HOURS AGO When does the clay-court season begin?

tennis Barcelona Rafael Nadal Emma Raducanu Iga Swiatek Britain France Italy Australia Madrid Charleston Stuttgart

The first ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the European clay swing is well under way in Monte Carlo with Novak Djokovic leading the field. The world No.1 got his title bid up with a straight-sets win as he aims to build fitness and steal a march on the absent Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz ahead of the clay-court finale at the French Open in May.

Djokovic slow to open clay-court season, finishes with straight-sets win at Monte Carlo Masters

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic looked rusty as he started his clay-court season with a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win against qualifier Ivan Gakhov at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday.

Novak Djokovic Labours To Win, Stefanos Tsitsipas Advances In Monte Carlo

Novak Djokovic made a winning return to competition in the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday but was made to work by his 198th-ranked Russian opponent as two-time defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced when his rival retired injured. Djokovic is back on court after failing to get a waiver to enter the United States for last month's Indian Wells tournament and Miami Open due to his anti-Covid vaccination stance. The world number one was in danger of losing the opening set against Russian qualifier Ivan Gakhov before easing through 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in 1hr 47min.

Alexander Zverev exclusive on Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer injury comebacks - ‘I don't know how they do that’

Alexander Zverev believes that Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer have a different mindset when coming back from injuries, he has exclusively told Eurosport. The German is coming back from his own injury, which he suffered in the semi-finals of last year's French Open, but he said that part of the reason that two of the greatest to ever play tennis are so good is how they return from injuries. Ad «Rafa and Roger [Federer] are different.

ATP clay power rankings: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz lead the way, but where's Rafael Nadal?

The 2023 clay season is here. With the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami Open done and dusted, it’s time to move onto the next stage of the calendar, which features three ATP 1000 events in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome, before the French Open. Ad Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz look as though they will be the leading contenders across the dirt, but who tops the power rankings? What about Rafael Nadal? And who else could make their mark across the next two months of the season? Roland-Garros‘I don't want to sound arrogant’ — Zverev says he could have beaten Nadal if not for injury2 HOURS AGO 1.