Nadal

2023 - 1 - 16

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Australian Open 2023 day one: Rafael Nadal v Jack Draper – live (The Guardian)

Game-by-game report: Rafa Nadal faces a potential banana skin in the first round against rising British star Jack Draper. Join Angus Fontaine for updates.

The US duo Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are also through to the second round. Weather update: According to our woman on the ground, Emma Kemp, it’s “hot af” in Melbourne today. Despite the furnace-like heat the combatants will have a quick warm up and then we’ll get to the action. The players are spotted in the bowels of Rod Laver Arena. There’s a 12 shot rally for the third point, the ball bouncing high but Rafa takes the point and then the game to love. Tumaini Carayol had this to say about the clash: Nadal’s training top and shoes match the colour of the blue court, but once he peels his top off, he’s in a bright orange playing shirt. The in-form Jack Draper is his opponent. The serve is his weapon and his first rips down the line, too fast for Nadal. Elevated to top seed following the withdrawal of injured world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz. He wins both opening rallies and then draws Draper into the net for the third point. Nadal* 2-1 Draper (* denotes server) Nadal has been highly critical of the balls being used in this tournament and they do appear to be bouncing big on the players, requiring each to take them on the rise and roll high shoulders at them.

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Image courtesy of "Fox Sports"

'Vulnerable' Nadal faces 'toughest' first-round test against rising Brit ... (Fox Sports)

Follow the action below as Nadal takes on Draper (third match on Rod Laver Arena, not before 2.30pm AEDT). Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Live ...

Whatever happens, it’ll be a special occasion for me, still very young in my career, so it’s great to have these sort of experiences and exposure to playing someone like Rafa on a big court like that.” I need to build again this confidence with myself with victories. “A big challenge for me at the beginning to start the tournament. “I need to build again all this momentum. Just accept the situation. Commentator John Fitzgerald said on Channel Nine, “goodness me, that’s a big mistake and he knows.

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Image courtesy of "ATP Tour"

Net Profit: Rafael Nadal's Winning Formula At Melbourne Park | ATP ... (ATP Tour)

Rafael Nadal's victory at the 2022 Australian Open was underpinned by his willingness to make well-timed net approaches, an Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers ...

Net Points That theory gains legs when you see that Nadal only won 54 per cent (19/35) of points when the point started for him with a first serve return. Nadal came to the net 167 times in seven matches at Melbourne Park last year, with an eye-opening 50 per cent of them (84) occurring when Nadal started the point with a first serve.

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Image courtesy of "Tennis365"

WATCH: Rafael Nadal 'needs his racket back' after ballboy ... (Tennis365)

Rafael Nadal is known for his idiosyncrasies and rituals before and during tennis matches so when a ballboy accidentally removed his playing racket from ...

[Australian Open](https://www.tennis365.com/category/australian-open/) [Tennis News](https://www.tennis365.com/category/tennis-news/) I’m here to just give myself a chance. “It’s a big challenge for me at the beginning to start the tournament. The racket didn’t make an appearance in time for the next game as Nadal had to use a different one and he went on to win the opening set 7-5. Channel Nine commentator John Fitzgerald joked “goodness me, that’s a big mistake and he knows.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Mail"

Bizarre moment Rafael Nadal is forced to stop play at Australian ... (Daily Mail)

Famously superstitious tennis champion Rafa Nadal has halted play in his opening match of the Australian Open after a ball boy made off with his tennis ...

I think I am humble enough to accept that situation and just work with what I have today. I need to build again this confidence with myself with victories. 'I need to build again all this momentum. 'Goodness me, that's a big mistake and he knows. Fellow commentator John Fitzgerald saw the serious side of it, though. As his search got more and more frantic Nadal realised that the ball boy had taken his racquet during the break between sets

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Image courtesy of "Blue Mountains Gazette"

Nadal, Swiatek head up day one Open action (Blue Mountains Gazette)

Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek face stern but vastly different early tests as the respective men's and women's top seeds headline the day-one Australian Open ...

"A big challenge for me at the beginning to start the tournament. My personal momentum is not bad, I tell you. I am good and happy. I'm here to just give myself a chance. You need to live with your personal momentum. "I don't know if I had in the past those results," said the 22-time grand slam champion.

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Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Australian youngster Olivia Gadecki gets home nation off to great ... (ABC News)

Consecutive losses at the United Cup see Rafael Nadal kick off his Australian Open title defence without a match win in 2023, and he is facing dangerous ...

By Paul Johnson There are also plenty of Australians in action, with Olivia Gadecki an early winner.

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Image courtesy of "Tennis Australia"

Winners crowned at Australian Rafa Nadal Masters event (Tennis Australia)

Leana Nannapaneni, Nikolas Baker, Scarlett Dattoli and Oscar Andrews have been crowned champions at the Australian Rafa Nadal Masters event.

“It was such a great experience for our players who came from every state and territory, to get to meet Rafa Nadal, ask questions and learn about the way he conducts himself on-and-off court. [Rafa Nadal 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Austr](https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fu25096929.ct.sendgrid.net%2Fls%2Fclick%3Fupn%3DFeEAznlZ4r-2F7VBD9vqwBDfZBtEPMR4ASWbYzwKFKj0-2FVkA2POFB-2BpzF-2B2LZg1erBN2AQrAqrhgTvLwh0KP6UZwokJfP-2FgzzGY26RghePxDwrha0Hmja01ICYMuuhoq-2BAgteJaXTBzVjkOkxY5mRQyRlXaOU8HXq9jWlrOdGuthMlEaxgHgfU4j-2BvN-2Ba0TDZZrDnxBGVrn3Isb2L9-2FcEfk2dqo3RlcaMMDADhyFcOobfVeVybnrGrfKXT2lRH21a150J2Y5t5KLITSTGixZUo8ftV9vEG0FGlgoNLF3Ze6MDaTGlGSgdP1SyBPwf4Y9EDvuGvsvFPU-2F41EaeTLEYUNcOzvJll7id29Fk3WDDOuXdxdEBNHlKjZ4CxPEvK4yT1zpYc7uLZpSH8ktNCdBk-2FMguueSXeXGEy9Yc2yoJvNmFpnVxl8V-2FQmQyhOpiROC-2FDMBBvT87ZTxleLshSM5gsMl0arKKGqMT3lXB2LEpB-2FI6z93q1zpCfx2mdllnTpMwEFsr-2Bz2i34x8yruLYHaPiOyRCOyApaiuJAk2TRgftna2-2BJX-2FtLRi3Ck0VRaQpNDAqAc4OBSHaX0zGjbCcOd0wtZiXiYwsMYjkF4RxP51fbsAI-2Fj1TxyjINyvSyGH9EmR4ZFD0_UH1vT0moy-2BD5BigUukPH16kLS-2FIQZXvUbdlJretD6sWQvzWlv9VZYnBrJpyQrLptX3KKGNXlJEZUkc47wN5l4B-2BBzGz35bnQGj2pE8l2jIm513NJFLcUAPnS27d8GDAFwy2dBvfRgUOM8TTJhBx8yp7LhbyVA8dRyepZjSQmWumDRH3CUuxBbbzgPgWGvcLeiwSR9bLTe2S1SnCO1Hmpauh5F3E4rSUFsFlSpr-2FptBoi3xsMpfy5YpG7C1WL3oBbV6yLLQbQr66IS1RsAmx3MPLbVAwwwV1h3N1gLH1XmjzGFjR4NzY3vJ-2FhzqmsPpTKdQT5ny9ZlF9U-2FYWhMNVBB4BxreGdaiXXiZfLlRJCfyYQJex30EFojejArbOgoSVNU1qAZYNQdqeXlcHTBCAj5H93q2fY95HUd9pit-2BZ0PP5DnEjL0P95-2BtKMsX8fgFRnuqLJrPms-2BwUsOQRAYjqiE1oCtSH6D37LAvoTxbCRGyfvYjZ-2BoI2edufu6FpUYwmQglyKABdrCWcz0eZmfNk1Eawaj4BvSm-2B1k7nRI4hwh6FNs6aTcYDIxjDlwSxxx-2F7S&data=05%7C01%7CLRogers%40Tennis.com.au%7C251b8b98ae4b435fef7b08daf78c166e%7C61aa9c8da7734a7c84701dd8062e404a%7C0%7C0%7C638094478303628969%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Mwp7yth9VrywRsScGtSjlHv%2BQiV8VZj4femQJqZibwo%3D&reserved=0) [alian](https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fu25096929.ct.sendgrid.net%2Fls%2Fclick%3Fupn%3DFeEAznlZ4r-2F7VBD9vqwBDfZBtEPMR4ASWbYzwKFKj0-2FVkA2POFB-2BpzF-2B2LZg1erBN2AQrAqrhgTvLwh0KP6UZwokJfP-2FgzzGY26RghePxDwrha0Hmja01ICYMuuhoq-2BAgteJaXTBzVjkOkxY5mRQyRlXaOU8HXq9jWlrOdGuthMlEaxgHgfU4j-2BvN-2Ba0TDZZrDnxBGVrn3Isb2L9-2FcEfk2dqo3RlcaMMDADhyFcOobfVeVybnrGrfKXT2lRH21a150J2Y5t5KLITSTGixZUo8ftV9vEG0FGlgoNLF3Ze6MDaTGlGSgdP1SyBPwf4Y9EDvuGvsvFPU-2F41EaeTLEYUNcOzvJll7id29Fk3WDDOuXdxdEBNHlKjZ4CxPEvK4yT1zpYc7uLZpSH8ktNCdBk-2FMguueSXeXGEy9Yc2yoJvNmFpnVxl8V-2FQmQyhOpiROC-2FDMBBvT87ZTxleLshSM5gsMl0arKKGqMT3lXB2LEpB-2FI6z93q1zpCfx2mdllnTpMwEFsr-2Bz2i34x8yruLYHaPiOyRCOyApaiuJAk2TRgftna2-2BJX-2FtLRi3Ck0VRaQpNDAqAc4OBSHaX0zGjbCcOd0wtZiXiYwsMYjkF4RxP51fbsAI-2Fj1TxyjINyvSyGH9EmR4ZFD0_UH1vT0moy-2BD5BigUukPH16kLS-2FIQZXvUbdlJretD6sWQvzWlv9VZYnBrJpyQrLptX3KKGNXlJEZUkc47wN5l4B-2BBzGz35bnQGj2pE8l2jIm513NJFLcUAPnS27d8GDAFwy2dBvfRgUOM8TTJhBx8yp7LhbyVA8dRyepZjSQmWumDRH3CUuxBbbzgPgWGvcLeiwSR9bLTe2S1SnCO1Hmpauh5F3E4rSUFsFlSpr-2FptBoi3xsMpfy5YpG7C1WL3oBbV6yLLQbQr66IS1RsAmx3MPLbVAwwwV1h3N1gLH1XmjzGFjR4NzY3vJ-2FhzqmsPpTKdQT5ny9ZlF9U-2FYWhMNVBB4BxreGdaiXXiZfLlRJCfyYQJex30EFojejArbOgoSVNU1qAZYNQdqeXlcHTBCAj5H93q2fY95HUd9pit-2BZ0PP5DnEjL0P95-2BtKMsX8fgFRnuqLJrPms-2BwUsOQRAYjqiE1oCtSH6D37LAvoTxbCRGyfvYjZ-2BoI2edufu6FpUYwmQglyKABdrCWcz0eZmfNk1Eawaj4BvSm-2B1k7nRI4hwh6FNs6aTcYDIxjDlwSxxx-2F7S&data=05%7C01%7CLRogers%40Tennis.com.au%7C251b8b98ae4b435fef7b08daf78c166e%7C61aa9c8da7734a7c84701dd8062e404a%7C0%7C0%7C638094478303628969%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Mwp7yth9VrywRsScGtSjlHv%2BQiV8VZj4femQJqZibwo%3D&reserved=0) [ Masters 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with more than 60 players turning out to compete for a chance to win a trip to Mallorca in Spain to train at one of the best academies in the world,” Australian Rafa Nadal Tour Masters organiser David Boyes said. Players had the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the values Nadal embodies as a player, and which are an essential part of the Rafa Nadal Tour, before competing in the Masters event which took place from 10-14 January at Royal Park Tennis Club in Parkville. All competitors were invited to the Masters after winning their respective tournaments or being awarded the Values Trophy at one of the eight Rafa Nadal Tour state events held in 2022. Four Aussie juniors will head to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca after taking out their respective age categories at the Australian Rafa Nadal Masters event this week in Melbourne. Rafa Nadal Tour All four players receive a once-in-a-lifetime trip to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy for two weeks in Spain later this year. He is a great inspiration for a lot of our young players and I’m sure they will remember this week for a long time,” Boyes said. World No.2 and 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal met with the young players aged between 12-15 from around the country who competed in the event. Leana Nannapaneni, Nikolas Baker, Scarlett Dattoli and Oscar Andrews have been crowned champions at the Australian Rafa Nadal Masters event. Winners crowned at Australian Rafa Nadal Masters event South Australia’s Leana Nannapaneni and Victorian Nikolas Baker won in the 12 and under event, with Scarlett Dattoli (Victoria) and Oscar Andrews (ACT) victorious in the 14 and under finals.

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Image courtesy of "7NEWS.com.au"

Watch as Rafael Nadal left perplexed when ballkid takes his racquet ... (7NEWS.com.au)

The Australian Open champion was all ready to play - until a crucial piece of equipment was nowhere to be seen.

“Gee, it’s worth a bit, too, that racquet. “This one’s for the stringer, not that one. “He knows the tension, knows the sequence he wants to use his racquets in,” he said. “You don’t often get a first in a Rafa match after all these years but that is definitely the first that that would’ve happened,” lead commentator Mark Petchey said. I need the racquet back!” he explained to the umpire. [Rafael Nadal](https://7news.com.au/sport/rafael-nadal) has been left perplexed after a ballkid took the [tennis](https://7news.com.au/sport/tennis) racquet he was using during the first set of his [Australian Open](https://7news.com.au/sport/australian-open) campaign on Monday.

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Image courtesy of "ATP Tour"

Nadal Outlasts Draper To Begin Australian Open Title Defence | ATP ... (ATP Tour)

Rafael Nadal comes through a challenging opening test against Jack Draper in Rod Laver Arena at the 2023 Australian Open.

[Australian Open](https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/australian-open/580/overview) title (2009, 2022). With defeat to Nadal, the Briton fell to 0-2 against top seeds at the Slams, having lost to [Novak Djokovic](https://www.atptour.com/en/players/novak-djokovic/d643/overview) at 2021 [Wimbledon](https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview) in his major debut. His best major result is a third-round run at the 2022 The Spaniard delivered in the crucial moments of a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory against 21-year-old debutante [Jack Draper](https://www.atptour.com/en/players/jack-draper/d0co/overview) to reach the Melbourne second round for the 17th time. The pair's first ATP Head2Head matchup was briefly interrupted by rain at several moments early on, and the action on the court seemed to match that stop-start pattern as both men took turns dictating from the baseline. He is young, he has the power and I think he has a great future in front [of him]. In an all-lefty matchup, Nadal clinched sets one and three with decisive, late breaks to make up for what was nearly a 6-0 second set for Draper. "I played against one of the toughest opponents possible in the first round, being seeded. But Nadal rattled off the final six games as Draper's physical issues hampered him more and more. The last couple of months haven’t been easy for me, but hopefully this victory is going to help me." I’m very excited about this new beginning, just super happy to be back here in I’m super happy to be back here in Australia one more time," Nadal said in his on-court interview.

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Image courtesy of "Tennis365"

Rafael Nadal overcomes error-strewn performances and cramping ... (Tennis365)

Defending champion Rafael Nadal was far from his best as he produced an error-laden performance during his opening-round victory over Jack Draper at the ...

[Australian Open](https://www.tennis365.com/category/australian-open/) Draper’s former coach Justin Sherring told the Daily Telegraph: “We used to base a lot of our game development around Rafa.

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Image courtesy of "Fox Sports"

Nadal makes bizarre ballkid accusation in Aus Open thriller (Fox Sports)

Rafael Nadal makes bizarre ballkid accusation in Aus Open thriller ... There were bizarre scenes during Rafael Nadal's first round match against Jack Draper when ...

He’s young, he has the power and I think he has a great future in front of him.” But it was a tough slog for the 36-year-old who had lost six of his past seven matches, including his opening two this year. Draper needed repeated treatment on his upper right leg, but against the odds broke back before Nadal again stepped up. “Super happy to be back here in Australia one more time. But Nadal lost focus in the second set as Draper raised his game and raced to a 4-0 lead before sealing the set. Live Coverage of ATP + WTA Tour Tournaments including Every Finals Match. Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo.

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Image courtesy of "ESPN Australia"

Rafael Nadal struggles at times in Aussie opener but prevails in 4 sets (ESPN Australia)

It wasn't a vintage performance by Rafael Nadal, but the defending Australian Open champion began his pursuit of a 23rd Grand Slam with a four-set victory ...

"Today is just one of those days everything was working," said Pegula, a quarterfinalist in Melbourne each of the past two years. "But unfortunately, that (is in the past), so we need to keep working.'' 1 Iga Swiatek _ who was scheduled to play later Monday _ in the fourth round. "I was humble enough to accept that (there were) going to be a little bit of ups and downs during the match," Nadal said. [Carlos Alcaraz](http://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/players/profile?playerId=3782) is sidelined with an injury, is appearing in his 67th Grand Slam tournament. The No. No doubt about that,'' said Nadal, who came back from a two-set deficit against "I need a victory, so that's the main thing," Nadal said. That's good, then, because the 36-year-old from Spain was not in peak form. All in all, it was a bit of a struggle. Draper, ranked a career-best No. From there, though, Nadal would not drop another game, beginning his pursuit of a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam championship with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory that took more than 3½ hours in Rod Laver Arena.

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Image courtesy of "Blue Mountains Gazette"

Scratchy Nadal overcomes Brit Draper (Blue Mountains Gazette)

A scratchy Rafael Nadal has survived a rocky first-round encounter against young Brit Jack Draper to keep his...

Nadal broke Draper in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead, but the Brit broke back in the eighth to level at 4-4, before the Spaniard kicked away. And the 36-year-old, who battled a run of injuries in 2022, was not wrong, although his own unforced error count of 46 contributed to the tense affair. Draper was unable to move freely for most of the fourth set, allowing new dad Nadal to run away with the match.

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Image courtesy of "Wide World of Sports"

Nadal reveals reason for bizarre ballboy blow-up (Wide World of Sports)

Rafael Nadal returned to his players bench to discover a key piece of his kit had disappeared from its spot.

He picked the racquet that I was ready to play [with]," he told Eurosport. It might be [now] on the streets of Melbourne somewhere." "Goodness me that's a big mistake … "Normally I have the numbers of the racquet under control so I say, 'I need the stringer' but I needed the stringer for the other racquet. he knows the tension, he knows the sequence he wants to use his racquets in," added John Fitzgerald. "I need the racquet back," Nadal could be heard saying.

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Image courtesy of "Corvallis Gazette Times"

Nadal struggles at times during 4-set win at Australian Open (Corvallis Gazette Times)

Rafael Nadal has started the defense of his Australian Open title with a bit of a struggle along the way to a four-set victory over a cramping Jack Draper.

The No. You kind of just move on to the next one.” “I was humble enough to accept that (there were) going to be a little bit of ups and downs during the match,” Nadal said. “Today is just one of those days everything was working,” said Pegula, a quarterfinalist in Melbourne each of the past two years. There were plenty of other major titlists on the packed Day 1 schedule, with Petra Kvitova, Elena Rybakina, Jelena Ostapenko and Barbora Krejcikova among the winners. And physically, I’ll be first to say I’m still a work in progress.” To go toe-to-toe with him on a big court like that is special,” Draper said. 38 this week, was making his fourth trip to a major and his best showing was getting to the third round at the U.S. Draper, ranked a career-best No. All in all, it was a bit of a struggle. That's good, then, because the 36-year-old from Spain was not in peak form. From there, though, Nadal would not drop another game, beginning his pursuit of a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam championship with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 win that took more than 3 1/2 hours in Rod Laver Arena.

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