22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal announces retirement from tennis
Madrid (AP): Rafael Nadal announced Thursday he will retire from tennis at age 38 following next month's Davis Cup finals.
Nadal won 22 Grand Slam singles titles during an unprecedented era he shared with his rivals in the so-called Big Three, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
In an announcement on social media, the Spaniard indicated his decision was related to persistent injury problems.
“The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially. I don't think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end,” Nadal said.
Nadal added he was “very excited” to finish his career at the Davis Cup, which will be played in Malaga, Spain.
Nadal has not played since the Paris Olympics, where he lost to old rival Djokovic in the second round of the singles tournament and reached the quarterfinals of the men's doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
South Africa go on top, push Australia to second; India slide to third in WTC points table
Dubai, Dec 9: South Africa on Monday replaced Australia at the top of the ICC World Test Championship table after their massive 109-run over Sri Lanka while India are now in the third place following their defeat in the Adelaide Test.
South Africa now have 63.33 percentage points after 10 matches in the cycle and they are followed by Australia (60.71 PTC).
India were leading the WTC table, heading into the Adelaide Test after their massive win in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener in Perth.
India had 61.11 points heading into the pink ball Test in Adelaide which they lost inside three days and they now stand third with 57.29 percentage points.
The best possible way for India to make a third appearance in the WTC final next year would be to win each of the three remaining Tests in Australia.
Australia had 57.69 percentage points before the Adelaide Test which improved to 60.71 after their win.
But even as they grabbed the top spot with the contest ending on Sunday, Australia remained table-toppers only for one day as the Proteas surged ahead with their win in the second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
With the Border-Gavaskar series now tied at 1-1, Australia are in a strong position for a top-two finish.
They will also tour Sri Lanka next year for an additional two Tests, meaning they could theoretically draw 2-2 with India and stay in contention for a place in the final.
Both England and New Zealand have been penalised with three WTC points each for slow over-rate in the Christchurch Test, according to the ICC.
South Africa on 🔝
— ICC (@ICC) December 9, 2024
The Proteas displace Australia at the summit of the #WTC25 standings after #SAvSL series sweep 👊
Latest state of play 👉 https://t.co/1TUUJ5ThVs pic.twitter.com/bXizReyaAu
