Rafael Nadal Sues French Ex-Minister Over Doping Claims

World number five Rafael Nadal has filed a lawsuit against former French government minister Roselyne Bachelot, who accused him of doping.

“I intend to defend my integrity and my image as an athlete but also the values I have defended all my career,” the Spaniard, 29, said in a statement.

Last month, former Minister for Health and Sport Bachelot said Nadal’s seven-month absence in 2012 was “probably due to a positive doping test”.

He says he had tendinitis and a virus.

“I wish to avoid any public figure from making insulting or false allegations against an athlete using the media, without any evidence,” added 14-time Grand Slam winner Nadal.

He had already announced his intention to sue Bachelot, saying: “I am tired about these things. I let it go a few times in the past. Not any more.”

Bachelot, 69, served in Nicolas Sarkozy’s government from 2007 to 2010. She has since left politics.

BBC

Rafael Nadal Sues French Ex-Minister Over Doping Claims

Rafael Nadal Equals Clay-Court Title Record

Rafael Nadal has equalled Guillermo Vilas’ record of 49 clay-court titles by beating Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-4 7-5 in the final of the Barcelona Open.

The 29-year-old Spaniard, who won the Monte Carlo Masters last week, has now won his opening 10 matches of the European clay-court season.

Nishikori won this event in 2014 and 2015 but was left to rue a series of missed break-point opportunities.

Argentine Vilas won 49 clay-court titles in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Nadal has a chance to beat that mark in May as he is set to play in events in Madrid and Rome before he goes for a 10th French Open title at Roland Garros.

In Barcelona, he saved seven of eight break chances in the opening set and converted both of the opportunities he got as Nishikori lost a set for the first time in the tournament.

Nadal led 4-1 in the second set, but was pegged back to 4-4 before he went on to win the tournament for a ninth time and collect the 69th professional title of his career.

“I think I served well which was very important,” said the world number five. “The fact I had a good percentage of first serves allowed me to play better.

“In the second set I let a lot of opportunities go, but I am very happy to have resisted mentally and happy to win.”

BBC

Rafael Nadal Equals Clay-Court Title Record

Rafael Nadal Wins Ninth Monte Carlo Masters Title

Rafael Nadal claimed a ninth Monte Carlo Masters title with victory over Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Nadal, who beat Andy Murray in the last four, won 7-5, 5-7, 6-0, his 68th win from 100 finals on the ATP World Tour.

A double fault from Monfils, 29, closed out the first set in Nadal’s favour and the Spaniard recovered from losing the second to see off the 13th seed in two hours 46 minutes.

The 29-year-old has now won clay-court titles in each of the past 13 years.

Nadal won eight consecutive titles before losing the 2013 final to Novak Djokovic and called his first Masters honour since Madrid two years ago “so special”.

“I had a tough season last year, but I’ve had better preparation this year – even with a tough start to the season,” added Nadal, who withdrew from last month’s Miami Open with a virus.

“It’s great to win a Masters title again. I hope this week will help me a lot.”

It is a record-equaling 28th Masters title for Nadal, bringing him alongside top-ranked Djokovic, but a third Masters final defeat for Monfils.

They conceded 34 break points between them with Nadal converting eight of his 21 chances to edge his opponent, who managed five from 13.

Monfils, a runner-up in the Rotterdam Open in February, earned the backing of the Monte Carlo Country Club crowd as he tested Nadal throughout.

But having earlier saved set point, the pressure told on the Frenchman and he double-faulted to hand fifth seed Nadal a close-fought opening set.

The pair traded five breaks of serve in a grueling second, but it was Monfils who edged the former world number one to level.

Nadal then took control of the decider and raced into a 5-0 lead before landing a forehand winner at match point to win for the ninth time in Monte Carlo as he builds to next month’s French Open, which he will be seeking to win for a 10th time.

Credit: BBC

Rafael Nadal Wins Ninth Monte Carlo Masters Title

Novak Djokovic Beats Rafael Nadal In Indian Wells Semis

Novak Djokovic overcame Rafael Nadal to set up a meeting with Milos Raonic in Sunday’s final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Serbia’s world number one defeated Nadal 7-6, (7-5), 6-2 for a 10th win in their last 11 meetings.

Djokovic needed to save a set point in the opener but gradually turned on the power against the Spaniard.

Earlier, Raonic had to work hard to beat Belgium’s David Goffin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to reach his 17th career ATP final.

The Canadian, who is now the world number 14, sent down 10 aces against Goffin, who had beaten French Open champion Stan Wawrinka on his way to the last four.

He roared through the first set in 34 minutes but struggled with his serve in the second before recovering his composure with an early break in the decider to help seal victory.

“I feel even when I am not playing my best I am able to find the answers,” said Raonic, who is coming back after six weeks off with a torn thigh muscle.

“I am definitely able to play at a higher level this year and when a crisis occurs during a match I can find the solutions better.

Djokovic and Nadal traded blows in a tense opening set, with the Serb battling hard at 4-5 to level the match.

He overcame that scare to force a tie-break and went 4-1 up before Nadal levelled at 5-5, but Djokovic edged ahead for his first set point and took it when Nadal netted.

But the second set belonged to Djokovic as Nadal struggled before holding his serve in his opening service game, which went on for over 11 minutes.

Although Nadal worked hard to stay in the match, Djokovic was able to do enough to keep his nose in front, breaking to go 4-2 ahead and quickly wrap up victory to stay on course for his fifth Indian Wells title.

Credit: BBC

Novak Djokovic Beats Rafael Nadal In Indian Wells Semis

Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams advance

Rafael Nadal reached the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals in Indian Wells after winning the last five games to beat Alexander Zverev 6-7 6-0 7-5.

Nadal faced a match point but the 18-year-old German missed an easy volley – admitting: “On match point I sucked.”

Three-time champion Nadal plays Japan’s Kei Nishikori next and could face Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

Serena Williams beat defending champion Simona Halep 6-4 6-3 to reach the last four in the women’s draw.

The world number one now plays Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Petra Kvitova 6-2 7-6 and will reclaim the world number two ranking when the new list is released on Monday.

“She knows how to play in big stadiums and big matches, big games,” Williams said of Halep.

Zverev has been widely tipped as the teenager most likely to make the breakthrough among the game’s elite and he went agonisingly close to a landmark win over Nadal.

The 6ft 6in German, the younger brother of tour player Mischa Zverev, led 5-3 and 40-30 in the final set, only to make three straight unforced errors.

Nadal, 29, battled back impressively, but had glowing praise for the teenager, who is set to rise to a career-high ranking of 52 next week.

“He is amazingly talented,” said Nadal. “He is probably going to be the number one in the world.

“With his second serve at 120mph, with a lot of spin and at 124, 123, 120mph, it was impossible. If he puts the first serve in at over 130 mph then you are in big trouble.

“So I think that I’m here, and still alive.”

Djokovic finds his form

The world number one beat Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-3 to set up a quarter-final with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

Djokovic had not been at his best in the previous rounds but saw off Lopez with little trouble.

“I was very solid. I didn’t allow him to come to the net too many times,” said the Serb. “It was a good performance.”

David Goffin beat French Open champion and third seed Stan Wawrinka 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5), while Milos Raonic knocked out sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4 7-6 (9-7).

Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams advance