The typical way to improve in tennis is to turn weaknesses into strengths. There is also a second way, which focuses on taking strengths to a whole new level. Case in point: Rafael Nadal’s second serve. Nadal is already the career leader on the ATP World Tour with second-serve points won at 57.1 per cent (12,931/22,657), edging recognised power servers such as Andy Roddick and John Isner in this specific category. An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of Nadal’s 2017 season reveals he is simply blowing his already peerless career average right out of the water. [ALSO LIKE] The Spaniard is winning an astounding 61.9 per cent (628/1015) of his second-serve points so far this season, which has helped...
Rafael Nadal talks about his impressive first-round win on Monday at The Championships. Video courtesy Wimbledon. Go inside the tournament at www.wimbledon.com
Playing in his first grass-court match in two years, Rafael Nadal looked like his dominant self on Monday, avoiding an early shocker at The Championships and cruising past Aussie John Millman 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to earn his 850th match win. Nadal becomes just the seventh player to reach 850 match wins – after Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl, Guillermo Vilas, John McEnroe and Andre Agassi. “It was a very positive match for me, a good start... I am through to the second round. That's a very important thing for me. And I happy because I didn't win a lot of matches the last couple of years here in Wimbledon. Today I win one, and I am looking forward to...
The battleground for No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings is beginning to take shape. The picture will become clearer over the next two weeks as to whether Andy Murray is to remain in top spot. Here are the key scenarios for the four players in contention for No. 1 on 17 July, the Monday after Wimbledon concludes... Andy Murray will remain No. 1 by reaching his fourth Wimbledon final; Rafael Nadal will return to No. 1 by reaching his sixth Wimbledon final; Stan Wawrinka will debut at No. 1 by winning his first Wimbledon title; Novak Djokovic will return to No. 1 by winning his fourth Wimbledon title, but only if both Murray and Nadal lose before the semi-finals....