TENNIS
Nadal crushes new No 1 Medvedev in Mexico to stay undefeated for 2022
Last month, Rafael Nadal shocked the world when the 35-year-old Spaniard fought back from two sets down against Daniil Medvedev to win an epic five-set victory in the 2022 Australian Open and claim his 21st – and greatest – major championship. Nadal has now underlined that famous triumph with a 6-3, 6-3 straight-sets win in the rematch, crushing his Russian rival – who is about to become the ATP world No 1 – to advance to the Mexico Open final and remain undefeated in his 14 matches this year.
Medvedev learned on Friday that he had broken the five-year stranglehold of “the Big Three” on men’s tennis’s No 1 ranking, after Novak Djokovic lost in Dubai. One of Roger Federer, Nadal and Djokovic had held the top slot since Briton Andy Murray ceded it on 20 August 2017. No one other than that quartet has been No 1 since Federer displaced Andy Roddick in February 2004. Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, will ascend to the top of the pile when the next batch of rankings is released on Monday.
That achievement will now ring a little hollow after Nadal again outclassed and outmuscled him in Acapulco. Unlike in Melbourne, where the 26-year-old Russian surged to a two-set lead, it was the Spaniard who got off to a fast start. Medvedev was forced to defend a couple of break points in his first service game, before Nadal broke minutes later to take a 3-1 lead, which he held on to to claim the first set 6-3.
Nadal, who sat out much of 2021 with a foot injury that required surgery in September, is undefeated in 2022 and carried a 13-0 record into this semi-final. The depth of his recovery showed in the second set, breaking Medvedev’s serve early to go 1-0 up. But Medvedev grew into the contest as the set progressed and began causing the Spaniard all kinds of problems with his backhand drop shot.
Medvedev earned 11 break points across just two of Nadal’s service games in the second set. A six-deuce game was followed by a nine-deuce game at 3-2 as seven break points came and went for the Russian and Nadal dug deep, saving with equal parts aggression and patience, frequently closing points at the net following punishing serves and forehands to snuff out any attempted comeback.
Nadal’s holds under pressure eventually took the wind out of Medvedev’s sails and the Russian was broken once again as an unforced backhand error handed Nadal the win and set up a clash on Sunday against the British No 1, Cameron Norrie, in the final.
LATEST
Chris Evert at 70: A Life of Purpose and Triumph
Chris Evert is at 70! The iconic tennis champion celebrates her 70th birthday while reflecting on a life of achievement and meaning. Evert’s illustrious career boasts 18 Grand Slam titles and a record-breaking reign at the top of the women’s game. Beyond her athletic achievements, she reshaped tennis for future generations, balancing elegance with fierce competitiveness.
Evert’s influence extends off the court. Her tenure as WTA president marked a pivotal era for women’s tennis, strengthening its global presence. As a mother and now a grandmother, Evert values her journey as deeply as her professional success. Chris Evert at 70!
In recent years, Evert battled ovarian cancer twice, emerging as an advocate for early detection and health awareness. Her resilience has inspired countless fans, demonstrating the strength of perseverance. Alongside Martina Navratilova, Evert continues to raise awareness about breast cancer, leveraging her platform for impactful advocacy.
Evert also reflects on her personal growth, embracing her role as a mentor and public speaker. She remains committed to empowering women in sports and beyond, emphasizing purpose and determination in the face of challenges.
As she turns 70, Evert’s legacy as a sports icon, cancer survivor, and champion of change continues to shine brightly. Her journey is a testament to the enduring power of passion and resilience.
LATEST
Doping Controversies Overshadow Sinner and Swiatek’s Tennis Achievements in 2024
Sinner and Swiatek Doping Controversies Overshadow Tennis 2024! Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek achieved significant milestones in 2024, but doping controversies overshadowed their otherwise stellar seasons. Both players faced scrutiny after failed doping tests, resulting in questions about the integrity of tennis’s anti-doping measures.
Sinner tested positive for a trace amount of clostebol but explained it was unintentional contamination. While an independent tribunal cleared him, the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed, risking a potential two-year ban. Despite this, Sinner secured major titles, including the Australian and U.S. Opens, and led Italy to Davis Cup glory.
Swiatek faced similar challenges after testing positive for trimetazidine, attributed to melatonin contamination. She received a month-long suspension but expressed relief once her case was resolved. Swiatek still shone in 2024, winning five titles, including her fourth French Open.
These doping incidents prompted criticism of tennis authorities for perceived leniency towards high-profile players. Simona Halep, who faced a prolonged battle over her ban, highlighted inconsistencies in doping rulings.
Tennis saw remarkable moments amid these challenges, including Novak Djokovic’s Olympic gold, Barbora Krejcikova’s Wimbledon win, and Carlos Alcaraz’s rise as a dominant force. Despite setbacks, Sinner and Swiatek demonstrated resilience and determination in a demanding year for tennis.
LATEST
WATCH: Andy Rublev gets ‘defaulted’ for his argument with line referee against Alexander Bublik in ATP 500 Tour
Andy Rublev was ‘defaulted’ by the officials for his unsportsmanlike conduct in the semifinal of the ATP 500 tour in Dubai. In the semifinal of the tournament against his childhood friend Alexander Bublik, Rublev was seen frustrated at the lime umpires. In fact, Bublik himself was frustrated at times at the referees. Given the intense nature of the match, both yelled at the officials.
The Russian then had an argument with the line referee after yelling. It led to him getting defaulted. One of the officials who knew Russian claimed Rublev had used foul language against the line referee. However, Rublev denied using any such slang. The Russian official claimed that the Australian Open 2024 winner called him ‘F***ing moron’. The fans are not too happy with the officials.
Watch the video of the incident here –
Andrey Rublev fue DESCALIFICADO en el ATP 500 de Dubai tras gritarle en la cara a un juez de línea.
Perderá todos los puntos de la semana y el prize money ganado.pic.twitter.com/9kCY5PQQCe
— Set Tenis (@settenisok) March 1, 2024
Rublev was ready to continue playing. However, the officials found Rublev not worthy to continue the match. It denied the fans of a thrilling end to the semifinal game. The scoreline was 6-7(4) 7-6(5) 6-5 when the incident happened. If not for getting defaulted, the fans believed that it could have had a great finish which they hoped for. The incident had a mixed opinion.
Andy Rublev to be penalized
While some believed that getting ‘defaulted’ was the right call from the officials, many believed that the Russians did not deserve to get defaulted, as it was a big punishment for an ‘unproven incident’. Fans were of the opinion that giving a warning to the 26-year-old would have been a better option. Regardless of this, the Australian Open 2024 winner will be penalized for his act.
While Rublev reached the semifinal of the event and confirmed a lot of prize money in the process, he would not get anything from the tournament. For getting defaulted, Rublev will not get the prize money and will lose his world rankings from the event. Daniil Medvedev and Humbert will face each other in the semis. The winner of the match will take on Bublik in the final.
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