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Novak Djokovic appears to aim a sly dig at Rafael Nadal after Paris victory

By Trust November 7, 2023

Novak Djokovic makes more than enough talking points on the court, but he has also mastered the art of making even more in his media briefings.

Djokovic eased past Grigor Dimitrov to claim a record-extending seventh Paris Masters title on Sunday.

After needing three sets to win each of his previous three matches, the world No 1 found the going more straightforward in the final as he saw off the Bulgarian 6-4, 6-3.

It was also the Serbian’s 40th Masters 1000 crown, another record, and his 97th on the ATP Tour.

After battling sickness all week to overcome a strong field and confirm his status as the undisputed No 1 in men’s tennis, Djokovic used his media appearances after the match to make some telling points.

While he did not mention his great rival Rafael Nadal directly, some of Djokovic’s comments in Paris were clearly referencing some contentious comments made by the Spaniard in his interview with Movistar+ in September.

Nadal claimed Djokovic wanted to secure the biggest records in tennis in a “more intense” way than he did and suggested that may be why he is set to finish his career with the most Grand Slam titles.

“I am not frustrated (to miss out on the Grand Slam record) for a simple reason – within my possibilities, I have done everything to make things as good as possible,” Nadal explained.

“Yes, you can live frustrated with 22 Grand Slams, for example, Novak lives it in a more intense way. For him, it would have been a greater frustration not to achieve it. Perhaps that is why he achieved it.

“I believe that numbers are numbers and statistics are statistics. In that sense, I think he has better numbers than mine and that is indisputable. I don’t have an ego big enough to try to disguise a reality.

“This is the truth. The rest are sensations that one or the other (player) may transmit to you, that you may like one or the other more.”

Those comments did not appear to be welcomed by Djokovic, who responded with the following remarks: “I’ve seen that his comments went viral, that many people spoke about it.

“Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, how he interprets someone else in a certain context etc. That’s all I can say.

“Rafa is a great champion and I respect and appreciate him as such – as a great champion, my biggest rival and as a player who contributed to shaping my game and to the results I’ve accomplished.”

Now he has expanded on those words, as he insisted he is not trying to hide his desire to cement his legacy as the greatest player of all time, as he suggested others “pretend” not to be motivated by the record books.

“I’m going for all possible records, all that I can break. I’ve never had a problem saying that and that’s why people don’t like me,” said Djokovic in Paris.

“I didn’t pretend like some people.. to say that it’s not my goal, and then to behave differently after. I always tried to be in line with what I believe.”

Djokovic is now eyeing up one of the greatest records in tennis, with his win at the Paris Masters bringing him to within 12 titles of Jimmy Conners, who holds the all-time record with 109.

“As far as the record for the number of ATP tournaments won is concerned, everything is possible,” he added.

“Why shouldn’t I try to break that record too? Now I have 12 less (than Connors) but I also have a few more years of successful tennis.

“I try to enjoy these moments that now mean and are worth double. When you consider the stage of my life & career that I am in and to win such a big tournament.

“Although it may seem like a routine to people, every win at the Masters & Grand Slam levels really means so much to me.”

The Djokovic winning machine continues to roll and he is showing no sign of slowing down at the age of 36.

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Simone Biles and Husband Jonathan Owens Pose for Romantic Fall Photo Shoot: ‘Tis the Season’

By Trust November 5, 2023

Simone Biles and her husband Jonathan Owens are feeling the love this fall!

The couple recently posed for an adorable autumnal photo shoot in coordinated black ensembles, and the pro gymnast posted some of the stunning shots on her Instagram feed on Friday.

For the shoot, Biles, 26, paired her black leather jacket and boots with a black minidress and tights. She also wore her diamond necklace with the spouses’ shared surname, “Owens.”

Owens, 28, meanwhile, matched his wife in an all-black casual ensemble and added a gray and black houndstooth print coat for a color contrast.

In the photos taken in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the pair can be seen holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes as they walk through a field of fallen copper-colored leaves. They even showed off their rings in the last snapshot in the series.

“‘Tis the season,” Biles captioned the post, adding a series of fall-related emojis including a scarf, maple leaf and red apple.

“You look so amazing baby 🧡,” Owens complimented his wife in the comments section.

The Green Bay Packers safety also shared some of his favorite photos from the shoot on his own Instagram account, which included a wardrobe change.

Biles took off her tights and swapped her black leather boots for a white pair in the cover photo of Owen’s Instagram carousel. She also opted for a puffy white-and-black checkered coat instead of her all-black leather outerwear.

Owens also embraced sweater weather with a fuzzy pullover with a striped monochromatic brown color scheme. “Enjoying all the seasons with you 🧡🍁,” he wrote as his Instagram caption.

After tying the knot in April, Biles and Owens have been navigating their long-distance marriage. In September, Biles opened up about how her gymnastics training has changed since getting married.

“Gymnastics is just something I get to come in and have the privilege of doing. I don’t feel like it’s the end all be all anymore, as before I kind of felt like that. I get to go home to my husband, to my dogs, to my house and all of the things. So it feels really good,” she shared on the Today show.

“It’s been really fun supporting what he loves to do,” the Olympic gold medalist added. “Obviously, he’s in Green Bay right now so my season just ended. I’m super excited to get out there to Green Bay for the holidays to support him.”

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Rafael Nadal Puts Practice Aside to Unwind With Friends on a ‘Saturday Afternoon’ as a New Game Takes Center Stage

By Trust November 5, 2023

Rafael Nadal, the tennis legend, is not just about his intense game on the court. Besides his one true love for tennis as a sport, the Spaniard always keeps taking breaks to explore other arenas as well. From being a proud supporter of Real Madrid and never missing a chance to catch their matches to partaking in Golf and Cycling for leisure, the tennis legend keeps revealing his different shades. Now, something else has caught his fancy.

As fans eagerly wait for him to be back on tours after such a long hiatus from professional courts, the legend surprised his social corner with a new hobby that he appears to have discovered lately. While there’s still no confirmation on the chatter of him being back at the Australian Open, this heartwarming Instagram post acted as a stress buster for his fans.

Soon after the ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal took a break from his professional career, fans started to miss their favorite player slamming every other opponent with his tough form. With the break having been extended to almost a year now, the Spaniard informed his fans about his slow recovery from the injury as he started training again. As fans eagerly await his return, Rafa decided to kick back and relax on a Saturday afternoon.

In his most recent Instagram post, the tennis legend gave the social world a sneak peek into his leisurely day spent with friends. Instead of his usual tennis practice with his uncle or coaching team, he took some time off for a different game – Shuffleboard. The photo he shared shows a wooden table with a shiny surface and labeling on it. Along with the picture, he also added a caption that said, “Saturday afternoon… enjoying my time somewhere playing with friends… Can you guess what this game is? 😉 I ❤️ it!”

While his 2024 Australian Open return is not yet confirmed, Rafa’s fans can take comfort in knowing that he’s making the most of his time off and enjoying the company of his friends. While fans can’t wait to see him back on the court, a recent update by his uncle Tony helped fans with a satisfying hint.

Uncle Tony Nadal shares the latest Rafa Nadal comeback update

Toni Nadal, who guided Rafael Nadal’s career to greatness, shared an update on his nephew’s comeback journey a while ago. The veteran coach gave his agreement on Rafa being cautious about his comeback, though also optimistic.

Rafa’s uncle and longtime coach said, “My nephew intends to be cautious, which is the right approach. But I believe that for the Australian Open, my nephew should be in good condition to compete, all going well, because I have seen him train.” The 37-year-old tennis legend had to withdraw from the Australian Open earlier this year due to an injury, but there’s hope on the horizon for its next edition.

Toni Nadal, who is also the director of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, expressed these words of optimism during an interview with the Onda Cero Spanish radio station. While there might be challenges ahead, the tennis world eagerly awaits the return of the beloved Rafa, and Toni Nadal’s confidence adds to the expectations of seeing the Mallorcan maestro back in action on the courts.

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Novak Djokovic says he and Rafael Nadal are not friends…yet

By Trust November 3, 2023

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are clearly two of the best tennis players to ever walk the earth. But one thing they do not seem to do is go out to eat with each other very often. Maybe the tennis schedule or the level of competition they have had facing each other, but Novak Djokovic recently confirmed that he and Nadal are not friends.

This doesn’t mean they actively dislike each other, of course. And to be fair, they don’t have to be friends. But likely many of us would think it would be fun if Djokovic and Nadal were buddies and having a few drinks at a bar somewhere swapping stories about winning tournaments and the secrets to their trade that mere mortals would never understand.

While Rafael Nadal is only about one year older than Novak Djokovic – nearly exactly one year older, Nadal began playing on the ATP tour (2003) a couple of years before the Serb (2005) and this seems to have made a bit of a difference. Nadal was more quickly a rival of Roger Federer than Djokovic was, and Nadal versus Federer was more of an entrenched part of our collective tennis fan psyche than Djokovic versus anyone else.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal aren’t friends, but maybe one day they will be

By the time Novak Djokovic won his first Grand Slam (2008 Australian Open), Nadal had already been to five major finals and won three of them. Nadal was just a little bit ahead of Djokovic and this probably made it more difficult for them to get to know one another.

Recently, Nadal has also said some disparaging things about Djokovic, even if Nadal didn’t mean to be disrespectful. Nadal implied that Djokovic was somewhat blinded by his seeming need to win the most Grand Slams and that maybe the strive to be the best ever meant that Djokovic was lacking something personally. I am not sure if that is what Nadal meant, but one could certainly take that away from what he said.

But now Nadal and Novak Djokovic are likely both close to the ends of their careers, Nadal more than Djokovic. But with so much time to reflect on their respective careers and look forward to what happens after competitive tennis is done, maybe the two greats could become friends.

That is what Novak Djokovic hopes anyway. He told French TV show ‘C a Vous”, “Yes, Rafa (Nadal) is a very special player for me, for my whole evolution as a player. We’re not really friends, but we respect each other. I hope that after our careers, we can have a drink on the beach, talk about life.”

Wouldn’t that be nice? If they do end up having a conversation on the beach somewhere, hopefully someone is recording the conversation. Because if they do, any wisdom dropped from Nadal or Djokovic will help the rest of the world become better tennis players.

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Rafael Nadal: Novak Djokovic Being Tennis’ GOAT ‘Is Indisputable. This Is the Truth’

By Trust October 28, 2023

Rafael Nadal believes there’s only one answer to the question of the greatest men’s tennis player of all time.

“I believe that numbers are numbers and statistics are statistics,” he said in an interview with Spanish newspaper AS (via ESPN.com). “In that sense, I think [Novak Djokovic] has better numbers than mine and that is indisputable.

NEWSBeijing Flashback: Novak Djokovic wins title over Rafael Nadal

“This is the truth. The rest are tastes, inspiration, sensations that one or the other may transmit to you, that you may like one or the other more. I think that, with respect to titles, Djokovic is the best in history and there is nothing to discuss about that.”

Djokovic broke Nadal’s all-time Grand Slam titles record at the French Open in June. He added a 24th major trophy when he beat Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in the U.S. Open final.

Arguing about the greatest ever in any sport is always a subjective exercise, but Djokovic has certainly built a compelling case.

The 36-year-old has excelled on multiple surfaces. Even at the French Open, which Nadal has historically dominated, his three titles are tied for the third-most in the Open era. He also boasts a winning record against both Nadal (30-29) and Roger Federer (27-23).

Considering the absurdly high level at which he continues to play, one can’t rule out Djokovic finally winning a calendar Grand Slam in 2024, either. He was ultimately one set away from pulling it off this year, with Carlos Alcaraz denying him in the Wimbledon final.

Should that ever happen, it might be the final word in tennis’ GOAT discourse.

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‘Electric’ Venus and Serena Williams Inspiration Voiced Emphatically by Coco Gauff as the Legendary Sisters Continue to Fuel Her ‘Love’ for Tennis

By Trust October 23, 2023

In the world of tennis, there have been many talented players who have kept their names on the top charts throughout their careers. Among all of them, the legendary sisters Venus and Serena Williams not only topped the rankings but also won hearts and made their mark in the minds of young enthusiasts. The 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff is one name who grew up watching these legends perform.

Coco Gauff, the 19-year-old American tennis star, has been making her mark with extraordinary performances lately. This year, she achieved a prominent triumph by winning her first Grand Slam title at the US Open. However, besides all these victories and keeping up with the highlights, Gauff’s statement about the Williams sisters showed their impact on the world of tennis.

The year 2023 brought several challenges for the young American tennis star Coco Gauff. Facing those challenges with firm determination, the 19-year-old managed to overcome them and turn all of them into achievements. The US Open victory, which happened to be the maiden Grand Slam title for Gauff, got her the attention of fans and the media worldwide. Using that opportunity, the young champ narrated her story of hard work and motivation.

Gauff’s story had two names on a recurring note, Venus and Serena Williams. Caught in a conversation with the media, the 19-year-old mentioned, “And then seeing Serena & Venus being so electric on TV made me want to do something like that, too. And then it just became a part of me pretty much after, I would say, the age of eight is when I really fell in love with it.” These sentiments reflect the magic that these tennis legends brought to her life, inspiring her to achieve a dream that ultimately led to her US Open victory.

While Gauff talked about the “electricity” of the legendary tennis sisters, this wasn’t the first time she revealed her admiration for them.

Coco Gauff achieved a remarkable feat by winning her first Grand Slam title at the recently concluded US Open. Keeping her firm admiration for Venus and Serena Williams alive, she dedicated her victory to the legendary names as she mentioned, “It’s crazy. I mean, they’re the reason why I have this trophy today, to be honest.” With these words, she honored the motivation she sought from these legends.

This revelation of Serena’s role in her success is a strong reminder of the impact tennis icons can have on young talents, like Gauff. Their “electric” presence on the court continues to inspire generations of tennis stars. Coco Gauff is a bright example of this legacy.

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Toni Nadal explains mindset he instilled in Rafael Nadal to help him beat ‘perfect’ Roger Federer

By Trust October 23, 2023

Toni Nadal has asserted that the mindset he instilled in Rafael Nadal is why his nephew is “so mentally strong” and is the reason he was able to beat “perfect” Roger Federer.

The esteemed coach argued that the large teams many players have today can be a hindrance as “there’s too much information” and feels mental health coaches are problematic for young stars.

The Spaniard coached his nephew Rafael Nadal from his childhood until 2017, helping him win 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles. He has been working with world No 17 Felix Auger-Aliassime since 2021.

Nadal shared an iconic rivalry with Federer, winning 24 of the pair’s 40 matches and holding a significant 10-4 advantage in Grand Slams, as well as a 14-10 edge in finals.

Speaking in an interview with the Majorca Bulletin, Toni Nadal questioned the approach taken by many current players and suggested the simpler formula he used with his great nephew was more effective.

“Today, there’s too much information, it’s confusing, and it’s all about positive criticism. That does not always work: on the contrary, it leads to greater frustration for players when they lose,” claimed the Mallorcan.

“It’s a case of dusting yourself down and training more, working harder, constantly improving your game and moving on to the next tournament.

“That’s what I always instilled in Rafa and that’s why he’s so mentally strong. There will be very few players ever as good as Federer, for example – he played the perfect game. But Rafa beat him.

“The teams behind the players have become so large, so many stats, analysis, nutritionists and mental health coaches. And it is the latter (mental health coaches) that I believe are the cause for so many young players getting frustrated and being unable to handle defeat and the pressure.

“Rafa never had a mental health coach, never mind a nutritionist. I’m not his mother, I don’t know what he ate or eats or how much he weighs. It used to be just Rafa and I.

“Some days I would play him with used old balls, take him to poor quality courts to train and forget to take water so he could be mentally strong and get used to accepting defeat and making mistakes. And I used to tell him when he was making mistakes.”

Former world No 1 Nadal has not competed since suffering a hip injury in his second round loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January.

The 37-year-old underwent surgery on the issue in June, having initially expected to be out for only six to eight weeks. The Mallorcan was forced to postpone his proposed comeback during the clay-court season.

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Rafael Nadal teases “big” development in Madrid soon

By Trust October 19, 2023

Rafael Nadal has stirred some excitement among fans after dropping hints at a possible development in Madrid. The Spaniard was supposedly talking about his latest collaboration with Kia Motors.

Nadal has been the Global Ambassador for the South Korean automobile manufacturers since 2004. He has been a significant presence in the company’s exhibitions and product launches over the years.

Taking to social media on Monday, October 16, Kia tagged the Spaniard and hinted to the fans about something “big” dropping on the 18th.

“Hey, @RafaelNadal, see you on October 18th – something big is coming,” their tweet read.

Nadal responded to that by saying:

“Yeap… looking forward to it… Madrid?”

The Spaniard announced a partnership extension with Kia Motors for a period of five years in 2020. With the renewed collaboration set to last until 2025, Nadal will complete a 20-year partnership with the company.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion has always been enthusiastic about automobiles. Last year, he added Kia’s EV6 GT to his breathtaking car collection. He also owns the Korean giants’ Stinger, a high-performance sports car launched in 2017.

Apart from these, the Aston Martin DBS, Ferrari 458 Italia, Mercedes Benz AMG GT-S, and Mercedes Benz AMG SL55 are some of the other popular vehicles that are part of the former World No. 1’s collection.

Rafael Nadal likely to retire at 2024 French Open, says tennis journalist

Tennis journalist Jon Wertheim recently suggested that Rafael Nadal will call time on his career at the 2024 French Open.

Nadal has been sidelined for more than nine months since picking up a hip injury at the 2023 Australian Open. There have been conflicting rumors around the Spaniard’s return to tour at the Melbourne Major next year.

Wertheim opined that the Spaniard would find it tough to regain his peak form on his comeback, with the claycourt Major likely to mark his farewell.

“He can come back but if he can’t come back at peak, who’s going to be favorite to win Roland Garros… he has always obviously loved the European clay. I could see him playing a highly abbreviated schedule… Barcelona, Madrid, maybe throw in Monte Carlo, and calling it a career at Roland Garros 2024,” Wertheim said.However, Wertheim maintained that the 14-time French Open champion will aim for a strong conclusion despite not being a favorite to win titles.

“Even if he is not really a contender to win titles, my sense is he’s going to give this thing one more shot. If that means being a 70% Rafa [who] can still go and get a send-off and have a final sort of savor, and give fans one last memory… I think he’s ready to do that,” he added.

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Rafael Nadal: Novak Djokovic Being Tennis’ GOAT ‘Is Indisputable. This Is the Truth’

By Trust October 16, 2023