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Alcaraz keeps Spain & Nadal alive in Malaga

  • Posted: Nov 19, 2024

When the pressure peaks and the moment demands brilliance, Carlos Alcaraz almost never falters.

The 21-year-old powered past Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(0), 6-3 on Tuesday evening to level Spain’s Davis Cup quarter-final tie with the Netherlands at 1-1. After Rafael Nadal, competing in his final tour-level event, had fallen to Botic van de Zandschulp in straight-sets, it was down to Alcaraz to prolong his idol’s career.

Trailing 2-4 in the first set, Alcaraz turned the match on its head with some typically scintillating tennis. The flawless end to the first set was the second time that Alcaraz won a tie-break 7/0 against Griekspoor in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, which the Spaniard now leads 5-0.

Alcaraz will return to the court alongside Marcel Granollers for the deciding doubles rubber. They will take on Wesley Koolhof, who is also retiring at the end of the event, and Van de Zandschulp.

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Journey To Jeddah: Tall order Michelsen returns as second seed

  • Posted: Nov 19, 2024

Alex Michelsen is set to return to the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF armed with an extra year of experience, another inch of height and 20 more pounds of muscle. Having entered Jeddah shortly after his Top 100 breakthrough in the PIF ATP Rankings last year, the American has been in the Top 50 since August.

Not bad for a young man who thought professional tennis was a pipe dream until he recently burst onto the scene.

“Two years ago this time I never thought I would be a professional tennis player,” said the 20-year-old. “I was always solid. I was never too good. I wasn’t like a Carlos [Alcaraz] or a Holger [Rune], who everyone knew was good. I was good, but I wasn’t great.”

Following a breakout run to the Newport final last season, Michelsen was seeded fourth in Jeddah, where he lost two fifth-set tie-breaks and missed out on the knockout rounds. After reaching the Newport final again this season — making him the youngest player since Alcaraz to reach consecutive finals at an ATP Tour event — he returns this year as the second seed. Facing the 6-foot-5 Michelsen will be a tall task for any opponent.

“It’s a big stage. The top eight 20-and-under players in the world,” Michelsen previewed. “It’s tough, but I think I’ll know to handle it a little better this year.”

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Michelsen said he feels stronger and fitter than ever after dedicating himself to fitness work since late 2023. He has put in the hard hours with fitness coach Rodney Harrison, who trained Robby Ginepri — Michelsen’s current coach — when he was on the ATP Tour.

“I think that the gym work is just as important, if not more important than the tennis stuff now, at least for me,” said Michelsen, noting that coordination is key for success in his tall and lanky frame.

While Michelsen’s fitness continues to improve, Ginepri calls his tennis IQ his best asset.

“He loves the game,” said Ginepri. “If he’s not playing, he’s watching it. If he’s not watching it, he’s thinking about it. He’s a student of the game, which is great to see at his age.”

Before his instant success on the ATP Tour, Michelsen was considering becoming a student of a different kind and seeking a business degree in college. Instead, his stock is rising on the pro level.

“Being on the Tour is a lot more fun,” he said. “I’m super happy with the decision I made.”

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Federer pens letter to Nadal: Toy soldiers, game changers & shared tears

  • Posted: Nov 19, 2024

Millions of tennis fans will this week say goodbye to Rafael Nadal as a professional tennis player. One of them is Roger Federer.

The Swiss great on Tuesday published an emotional tribute ahead of the final event of Nadal’s historic career, the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga. Federer, whose Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry with Nadal lit up tennis’ biggest stages for nearly two decades, took to social media to salute both the Spaniard’s on-court achievements and his work as one of the game’s great off-court ambassadors.

Nadal’s fellow former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Federer wrote:

Vamos, @RafaelNadal!

As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional.

Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me—a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge.

I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear… All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique—it was so you.

And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more.

OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I’d been hearing about you—about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday—it wasn’t just hype.

We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud… you made the whole tennis world proud.

I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies.

I’m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much—like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties.

And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side—not as my rival but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.

Rafa, I know you’re focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next.

Rafa that!

Best always, your fan,

Roger

To celebrate the end of Rafael Nadal’s historic career at this week’s Davis Cup Final 8, ATPTour.com is publishing a series of articles paying tribute to the Spaniard. View our #RafaSiempre series.

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