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

Maharashtra Polls: Eknath Shinde targets Uddhav for `giving up’ Bal Thackeray’s principles for power

Will appear before Lokayukta for questioning in MUDA case, says CM Siddaramaiah

Lies have short life, Cong’s ‘fake’ narrative smashed: Fadnavis

Temple idols found desecrated in Hyderabad, case registered

SC junks plea against quashing of LOC issued to ex-house help of Sushant Singh Rajput

JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal to visit K’taka on Nov 7 to meet farmers protesting Waqf notices

Indian boxer Mandeep Jangra wins WBF’s world title

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

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


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.