Nadal returns to No. 1 with heavy heart over Barcelona
Team Udayavani, Aug 19, 2017, 5:42 PM IST
Cincinnati: Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who returns to the world number one ranking on Monday for the first time in three years, remains “destroyed” by the terror attacks that rocked his homeland.
Nadal was upset by Australia’s Nick Kyrgios in a Friday quarter-final at the WTA and ATP Cincinnati Masters, the last major tune-up for the US Open.
He wore black ribbons during an earlier match in tribute to the victims of twin vehicle ramming attacks in Spain that left 14 dead. A driver plowed his van through crowds on Barcelona’s busy Las Ramblas boulevard on Thursday, and early Friday a car struck pedestrians in the Catalan seaside resort of Cambrils.
“What happened is terrible. Everybody is destroyed in Spain, including, of course, me,” Nadal said Friday. “Yeah, it’s a tragedy, the feeling that you are not safe in nowhere.
That’s terrible. So just very sad.
“I’m very, very sorry about what happened to all the victims, all the families, friends. Yeah, all my support. It’s the moment to be together like a country and all the being together, we go for these kind of things.”
Spanish rival Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Wimbledon women’s champion Garbine Muguruza also wore black ribbons.
“All my support to Barcelona and especially to the people that are suffering a lot, for all the families of the victims,” Nadal said. “Just keep going and sorry for everything.”
Nadal, a 15-time Grand Slam champion, won his 10th French Open title in June and enters the year’s final Grand Slam event, which starts August 28 in New York, thrilled at being back atop the rankings after knee injuries and setbacks since he was last number one back in July 2014.
“Amazing, positive news,” Nadal said. “Being number one after all the things I’ve been going through the last couple of years is something unbelievable, so for me it’s an amazing achievement to be back to that position.
“I’m very happy for that and in the last most important event of the season, I need to show why I am in that position now.
“So I’m going to work hard to show myself why I’m there.
I’m going to try my best to play at the highest level possible in New York.”
Nadal plans to rest through the weekend, then resume workouts for the final week before the Flushing Meadows fortnight begins.
“I think I am practicing well. I’m going to give my best during this week of practice,” Nadal said. “I hope to be ready for New York.
“I believe that I did things well enough during the whole year to be ready to compete at the highest level of New York, so I’m looking forward to it.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
IOA submits ‘Letter of Intent’ to host 2036 Olympics in India
Mohammed Shami’s return to competitive cricket delayed; not to play for Bengal against Karnataka, MP
IPL auction set to be held in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh at end of November
So proud of you: Ravindra reveals rare message from dad after NZ’s historic series win
Gautam Gambhir’s performance under scanner after disaster in Sri Lanka and India
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Treated Muslims like fuel for ‘lantern’: Prashant Kishor targets Lalu, asks upper castes to stay away from Nitish
MP Brijesh Chowta urges Kerala CM for strict action against attack on Edneer Swamiji’s vehicle
Mangaluru: Asiatic male lion arrives at Pilikula Zoo
Waqf Notice Issue: Not an accident, but state government’s conspiracy, claims V. Sunil Kumar
Wayanad Bypoll: Politics in country, Kerala not genuinely working for people, says Priyanka Gandhi
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.