Rafael Nadal

From a green and pleasant land, Wimbledon's grasscourts must now resemble a minefield for Rafa Nadal, who, for the second year in a row, suffered a shock defeat by a modest opponent playing the match of his life.

An irrepressible Rafa Nadal did not let a flare-wielding protester or the dogged resistance of David Ferrer throw him off course as he stormed to a record eighth French Open title with a 6-3 6-2 6-3 victory.

Rafa Nadal displayed the athleticism and self-belief that earned him seven French Open titles to tame Novak Djokovic 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7(3) 9-7 in a pulsating 4-1/2 hour Roland Garros semi-final.

It was the same old story as seven-time champion Rafa Nadal turned claycourt machine once again with a 6-2 6-3 6-1 demolition of Swiss ninth seed Stanislas Wawrinka in the French Open quarter-finals.

All the complaints about lousy weather, windy courts and rotten schedules were forgotten as the sun finally shone on birthday boy Rafa Nadal's pursuit of a record eighth French Open title.

Rafa Nadal has made short work of his great rival Roger Federer to win the Italian Open, his sixth trophy of the year, 6-1 6-3.

Clay king Rafa Nadal sent another reminder he is not about to surrender his Roland Garros crown without a fight when he crushed Swiss 15th seed Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2 6-4 to win the Madrid Open.

Rafa Nadal is aiming to be back to his best after injury in time for the claycourt season and the run-up to Roland Garros, the Spaniard says.

Olympic champion Rafa Nadal's withdrawal from the London Games because of injury has deprived the tournament of one of its biggest attractions and left Spain reeling.

It may have been a slip of the tongue or perhaps it was a sentence lost in translation, but Rafael Nadal made quite a telling statement after collecting his record-breaking seventh French Open crown this month.

A furious Rafael Nadal held a tenuous two-sets-to-one lead over Novak Djokovic when rain forced an overnight suspension of their French Open final blockbuster in Paris.

Fourth seed Andy Murray, grimacing in pain, battled his way into the third round of the French Open by defeating Finn Jarkko Nieminen 1-6 6-4 6-1 6-2 despite back problems.

Rafael Nadal relished a perfect day in Monte Carlo as he ended a seven-match losing streak to Novak Djokovic at one of his favourite venues by overpowering the mentally exhausted Serb.

There was no title at stake and no trophy to lift but Rafa Nadal's victory over Roger Federer in the Australian Open semifinals has added another glorious chapter to the greatest rivalry in tennis.

A fired-up Rafa Nadal survived a huge scare from big-hitting Czech Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open on Tuesday to prevail 6-7 7-6 6-4 6-3 and set up a mouthwatering semifinal with great rival Roger Federer.

Rafa Nadal blew hot and cold against fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez but emerged a comfortable 6-4 6-4 6-2 winner under a blistering sun to become the first man into the Australian Open quarterfinals on Sunday.

Rafael Nadal has a new injury - a tendon problem in his right knee that nearly forced him to forfeit a first-round match at the Australian Open on Monday that he won handily.

Rafael Nadal has criticized Roger Federer for letting other players "burn themselves" by complaining about tour conditions while maintaining his good reputation by rarely making negative comments about tennis.

A stuttering Roger Federer and a rampaging Rafa Nadal need to clear only one more hurdle before setting up a tantalising final showdown at the Qatar Open.