Nadal Missing Out Due To Knee Injury

Things don't look all that well for the Spaniard. Rafael Nadal, currently World no. 1, is obviously making a move to treat his knee injury. The injury is showing no signs of disappearing. Unless Nadal wants to keep on playing lawn tennis for a couple more years, he has to be serious in treating his knee.

The treatment isn't doing much good for his play, though. He lost in the fourth round of the French Open to Swedish Robin Soderling, and his position as the top male tennis player is in danger. Federer is slowly inching his way up again, not to mention other threats like Andy Murray and Andy Roddick.

from Mail Online:

Rafa's long battle with injury

2004: Out for two months with stress fracture of his left foot.

2005: Misses season-ending Masters Cup and Australian Open (January 2006) with strained ligaments in his left foot.

2007: Played less in latter part of the season to manage tendinitis in his knees.

2008: Out of Davis Cup final and Masters Cup with tendinitis.

2009: Misses AEGON Championships with tendinitis.

Federer Back On Victory Road As He Wins US Open Finals

I guess all Roger Federer needed was another win to get back on the victory road. And he's definitely back on that road. He beat out Andy Murray in the US Open finals Monday night, September 8. It was a 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 win, and it gave Federer his fifth consecutive US Open championship.

Winning the US Open also gave Federer his 13th Grand Slam title. He is now the only man in the history of lawn tennis to win five straight titles at two major events. One more and he'll be tied with Pete Sampras' 14 Grand Slam titles.

From Roger Federer official site:

I felt like I was invincible for a while again.

I always knew that if I were to get one Slam under my belt, especially the last one, things weren't looking that bad, like everybody was talking about. I didn't feel I was under pressure to prove myself in trying to win here, but this definitely feels very sweet.

Murray Upsets Nadal in US Open Semi Finals

Andy Murray has been on a roll with getting close to the crown of the Grand Slam tournaments. In this year's US Open, he finally managed to get one step closer as he beat out 1st ranked Rafael Nadal in the semis.

The 21-year-old Scotsman defeated Rafa in 4 sets, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4 in a match that began Saturday but was halted by rain in the third set.

Nadal Honored With the Prince of Asturias Award

The Prince of Asturias Award is an annual award given to Spanish individuals who have made notable achievements in various fields. One of these is sports, in which Rafael Nadal has undoubtedly made his mark in lawn tennis.

Rafael Nadal is the Number one tennis player in the world and is considered the best Spanish player of all time. This season, the four-time winner of the French Open, also won the men's singles title at Wimbledon and was the gold medalist at the Beijing Olympic Games. Committed to the noblest values of sport on and off the court, his sense of social responsibility led him to establish a foundation focusing on social work among disadvantaged groups and cooperation for development.

It is apparent how the Jury of the Prince of Asturias Awards selected to give Rafael Nadal the award, given how Nadal had become an icon and a role model for his country.

And what does Rafa have to say? From his official site:

It’s an incredible honour for me to receive the ‘Principe de Asturias Sport Award’. I’m extremely grateful to the jury and everyone else who chose me as it’s an achievement greater than usual, it makes me feel proud.

Not only does this represent great sport values but also, and most importantly, good human values. This award is one of the best things that could happen to me outside of the tennis court because it says to me I’m doing this right when it comes to human values.

I always try to do the right thing inside and outside of the tennis courts no matter what. This award represents something different to a sports award and the fact that it’s been given to me means it’s not only thanks to my hard work but also because of those around me, specially my family.

To be given an award like this in what has been a very special year for Spain’s sport makes it even that much more special.

All nominees are of an extremely high level and the simple fact that I was considered amongst this group of people is satisfactory enough, even if I had not won the award.

Federer on US Open and Davis Cup

The US Open has just started and Roger Federer is set to meet with Maximo Gonzalez (Argentina) for the first round of the tournament.

Federer is the 4-time holder of the US Open champion title. We might see him get his pace back in after a couple of defeats this year.

Federer is also looking forward to the Davis Cup tournament on September, with Sweden up against Belgium.

Officially World Nos. 1 and 2

As of August 18, 2008, the tallies are done and the two top lawn tennis players have officially switched positions. Rafael Nadal is now on top as the World No. 1 male lawn tennis player, while Roger Federer takes on the World No. 2 position.

Federer Wins Olympics Doubles With Wawrinka!

He didn't achieve his dream of getting the gold in the lawn tennis singles tournament of the Beijing Olympics. But we all know that Roger Federer can still win in any match, and win he did.

Federer won the gold in doubles with Stanislas Wawrinka, beating another Swedish pair (Thomas Johannsen and Simon Aspelin) in the finals. Roger Federer got his Olympic gold after all!

Federer Exits Olympics Tennis Singles

It's another heartbreaker for the Swiss as he was surprisingly defeated by American James Blake. This year doesn't seem to be a good one for Roger Federer.

The match was seemingly one-sided and James Blake took all the cards. Even Federer's formidable forehand was failing the athlete.

Federer had hoped to win in singles. But his defeat sealed it. He still remains for doubles, but he had hoped his victory would be in singles.

It's Hot In Beijing

It's a problem echoed by Rafael Nadal:

"The problem is the humidity, no?" he said. "The (truth), I didn't feel nothing (from) the pollution. That didn't affect ... me. The problem is the humidity. I had to change the shirt every 10 minutes."

And.. va va voom: there's the pic.

Other players also couldn't take the heat and went on shirtless. Aside from Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Guillermo Canas, Nicolas Massu, Fernando Gonzalez, Jonas Bjorkman, and Lleyton Hewitt also took their shirts off --- view this blog post.

The Tennis Stars At the Beijing Olympics

The Beijing Olympics has begun, yet amidst the glorious celebration of sports victories, there are some simple things that trouble our lawn tennis stars. They're both at the top of their game, but they're also evidently not too comfortable with the setting.

For Roger Federer, it was the issue of not staying at the Olympic Village. Some people might frown on Federer's decision not to go along with everyone else to the Olympic Village. But it's pretty obvious from his character that he values peace and privacy, which he won't get if he stays in the Village. He prefers to be alone most of the time.

And as the one of the most famous athletes of the world, he also catches attention of many fans and people. Even fellow athletes are asking for his autograph and Federer just didn't want all that attention.

"Taking the bus and not being in control of my own schedule, and many people recognising me in the village. It was not as enjoyable as Sydney, which I loved."

Federer isn't the only one. Other star athlets like Ronaldinho and Kobe Bryant also opted not to stay at the Olympic Villages.

To be crowned World no. 1 Rafael Nadal, who is making his Olympic debut, is quite happy to be staying with the Spanish team in the Olympic Village.

"It's very different from the regular tournaments on the tour. You are in the Olympic Village, so it's always very nice to be with the rest of the sportsmen of the world."

Nadal Will Be World No. 1!

Despite a stunning loss to No. 3 Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal will still be expected to take the no. 1 spot in men's lawn tennis. Djokovic put an end to Nadal's winning streak of 32 matches, and is said to be climbing onto the no. 2 spot as the points clock in this season.

The final rankings will be confirmed on August 18, 2008. We'll see how the the top three make their rounds.

Federer On Losing Cincinatti Masters

Roger Federer has it tough now that Rafael Nadal's fast catching up to take his crown as number 1. After losing in the ATP Masters, Federer has no choice but to keep on winning his future matches if he wants to retain his title.

From FOX Sports:

“So far it's OK,” Federer said.

“I guess I'll analyse and assess my game after the US Open.

“For the moment it's just all a blur. So many tournaments in a row, big tournaments in a row, it's hard.

“It's a tough trip we've got up in front of us now, going back to China and coming back to the Open.

“I'm looking forward for the next two tournaments. Those are really the ones that can make this season from a good one to a great one again. I hope I can manage to pull off something in the next couple of weeks.”

So Far.. for Roger Federer

Failing to snatch that sixth Wimbledon victory may have caused Roger Federer more pain than we seem to believe.

The number 1 player is now out of the Cincinnati Masters after losing to Croatian Ivo Karlovic. He was first defeated by Gilles Simon in the second round of the tournament. He won in his next match, against Robby Ginepri. But his latest loss booted him out of the tournament.

His position as World no. 1 is also threatened, now more than ever. His losses and Rafael Nadal's victories are speedily closing the gap between them. Nadal is set to overtake Federer and get the top rank if he continues to win the Cincinnati Masters.

So Far.. for Rafael Nadal

The Spaniard has been tasting a lot of victories lately. After winning the Rogers Cup early this week, Rafael Nadal has sealed his fifth consecutive tournament win! It has indeed been a good year for the player, who won Best Male International Athlete in the ESPY Awards 2008 (against Ronaldo and Kaka).

Just earlier this year, Rafael Nadal proved that he was clay court king as he won the French Open. Then he went on to a great Wimbledon mens final against Roger Federer. It was considered as the greatest (and longest) ever Wimbledon mens finals!

His rivalry with the World no. 1 has always been celebrated by lawn tennis fans. Both were equally talented and skilled that either one of them is welcome to reign over mens' lawn tennis.

Nadal won Wimbledon 2008, knocking Federer off his hopes of getting a sixth Wimbledon title. And now with Federer on losing grounds at the Cincinnati Masters and with only hundreds of points between them, Nadal is poised to get the top spot away from the Swiss.