'I believe that tennis or every sport needs rivalries. This could be potentially one of them, but there are amazing players coming up.'
Sinner faces defending champ Alcaraz in hotly anticipated French Open final
Dubbed the 'King of Clay' for his jaw-dropping 112-4 win-loss record at the Paris major, Rafael Nadal's last Roland Garros triumph came in 2022.
World number one Jannik Sinner defeated record-chasing Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) in a clash of generations on Friday to set up a blockbuster French Open final showdown with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic is the last member of the "Big Four" still standing and the Serb said he wanted to continue giving to the sport.
Mondo Duplantis was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, while American gymnast Simone Biles bagged the top women's honour at the Laureus World Sports Awards.
Nine-times French Open champion Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the French Open on Friday because of a wrist injury.
'I feel super, super lucky for all the things I have been able to experience. I want to thank the whole tennis industry, all the people who are involved in this sport.'
'Thank you Novak for everything for all the moments we shared on court during our careers.'
Nadal enters his title defence after a stellar season on his favourite surface.
Nadal was much more than a claycourt bully, though. He spent more than 900 successive weeks from 2005 in the ATP's top 10, 209 of them at number one and at the age of 24 became the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam.
Carlos Alcaraz completed a thrilling comeback to capture his fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open on Sunday, drawing level with his childhood idol Rafael Nadal's tally at the same age.
'RIP Diogo. Condolences to his family and friends during this incredibly sad time,' former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard posted.
A true legend of the game who paved the way and taught so many of us how to be as a player and as a person.
Images from Day 1 of the 2025 French Open in Paris on Sunday.
'In some ways it is good, maybe, if that was my last match because I lost my first match in the Davis Cup and I lost my last one. We close the circle'
From the passion of MotoGP champions to the intensity of football pitches and the elegance of synchronised swimming, this collection of images captures unforgettable moments in sports and beyond.
'What a pleasure to meet Tennis legend @rafaelnadal at the Olympic Village. Wished him the best for the Games! Looking forward to following his performances at his favourite Roland Garros!'
Rafael Nadal's decision to opt out of the Davis Cup World Group Play-off opening tie remained shrouded in mystery with Spain captain Conchita Martinez and player Feliciano Lopez coming up with two different versions.
Nadal was leading the match 6-1, 2-0 when Correno Busta decided he had had enough.
'We were the best team in Asia at one point. Today, we are barely in the reckoning for the Davis Cup.' 'Players now, especially this decade, lack perseverance.'
Australian tennis great Rod Laver said that watching Nadal compete had been a privilege.
Roger Federer paid tribute to his retiring rival Rafael Nadal on Tuesday, telling the Spaniard he challenged him like no other player.
Here is a quick glance of all the highs and lows from Nadal's stupendous career:
Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a high-octane final to claim his maiden Wimbledon trophy and fourth Grand Slam crown on Sunday.
Cameras captured heartwarming moments of Rafa Jr. cheering from the stands alongside Nadal's wife, Maria Francisca Perello.
Rafael Nadal teamed up with Norwegian Casper Ruud to register a 6-1, 6-4 win over second seeds Guido Andreozzi and Miguel Reyes-Varela on the Swedish clay.
The tennis legends are set to meet at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.
Rafael Nadal teamed up with Carlos Alcaraz for the first time as Spain's so-called dream team opened their Olympic doubles campaign with a 7-6(4), 6-4 defeat of Argentine sixth seeds Maximo Gonzales and Andres Molteni on Saturday.
Russian seventh seed Daniil Medvedev, the 2023 Miami champion who arrived this year fresh off a run to the Indian Wells semi-finals, crashed out at the first hurdle as he fell 6-2, 6-3 to Spaniard Jaume Munar.
Spain's Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz will team up to play doubles at this year's Olympic Games in Paris, the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) said on Wednesday.
As Rafael Nadal prepares to ride off into the sunset after a stellar career, his fellow professionals from eras old and new agree on one thing - the Spaniard remains an inspirational role model whose legacy has shaped tennis over the last 23 years.
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz tempered expectations for Spain's dream team on Wednesday as they looked ahead to playing together in the Paris Olympics.
IMAGES from the French Open at Roland Garros, in Paris, France, on Wednesday.
Rafael Nadal reached his first final in two years on Saturday, beating qualifier Duje Ajdukovic
Rafael Nadal said farewell to tennis and his fans saluted their retiring hero in a bittersweet and emotional ceremony at a sold-out Malaga arena
Marin Carolina has come a long way to be the reigning Olympic and world champion but the Spaniard yearns for more as she continues her journey towards becoming the best-ever in the sport.
Rafael Nadal has decided not to participate in the US Open due to concerns about his fitness
Rafa Nadal suffered a setback in his Paris 2024 Olympics preparations on Sunday as he was beaten 6-3 6-2 in the Swedish Open final by Portuguese seventh seed Nuno Borges.
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