Rafael Nadal will return to competition by making his debut at the hard-court tournament in Washington.
The Citi Open announced Thursday that the 20-time Grand Slam champion is in the field for the July 31 to Aug. 8 event that serves as a US Open tuneup.
“I am very excited to come to Washington for the first time,” Rafa said in a statement. “I have never been there and it’s one more place I wanted to come and play. I am looking forward to playing again and Washington shall be the best start for the US Summer Swing for me. Looking forward to seeing again my US fans that I haven’t seen since I won the 2019 US Open in NYC!. Vamos!”
Rafa has not played since his loss to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the French Open last month.
He decided to sit out Wimbledon, which ends Sunday, and the Tokyo Olympics, which open July 23, saying his body needed time to rest and recover after the clay-court season.
The tournament says Rock Creek Park Tennis Center will be allowed to have spectators at 50% of capacity. Last year’s Citi Open was canceled because of the pandemic.
Source: Associated Press
Not worth watching. But following up on the scores. Even after Berrettini won the first set, I still know Djokovic will win eventually.
Depressing…
Otherwise… Happy Sunday everyone!
I think it’s called wishful thinking Mac, not watching the game but following the scores and Matteo. Is playing way better than I imagined , and it’s good to see that Novack hasn’t ran away with it completely, looking on the positive side I think Matteo and Denis have played really well in this tournament and I can’t wait to see how they perform at the next .
Just caught up on the score, and Matteo looks like he’s doing a grand job, keep it up
Matteo needs more first serves and has to take advantage of Novak’s second serve. Hoping the nerves will subside.
I am watching three games now and already i am getting angry. Mateo had chances in both service games to go 0-40 and he blow it man I hate the next generation.
This tell me ultimatly djokovic will win easily in three sets
I just hope that Matteo isn’t overwhelmed by the occasion.
Matteo has his thigh taped. Not a good sign. Djoko will be smelling blood.
Break down that wall Matteo. PLEASE!!!
Rafa’s not playing so I’m rooting for Matteo Berrettini to win the Wimbledon title. If your opponent starts barking and acting like a lunatic just ignore his theatrics. The only job for you today is to win Wimbledon.
HOUDINI BERRETTINI
This has been a little unfair for the next -gens. This golden era of tennis with Roger, Rafa and Novak is just too difficult for them to penetrate… especially in the GS. Roger is starting to break down with his age…He had about five years without Rafa and Novak which enabled him to reach the height that’s he’s at today. I truly believe Rafa would be way ahead should he had been the same age as Roger.Novak was there but he was dealing with his Gluten intolerance which caused his breathing problems. ( Told you Margo a few drops could have slowed the wolf)! Anyway I’m not watching because I’m pretty sure ND will be taking his 6th chomp of Wimbledon grass & it’s too nauseating to watch.If Matteo wins I’ll be happy to eat crow…I’ll even go eat some grass!
Congratulations to Ashleigh Barty for winning her second Slam and first Wimbledon title.
Now it’s up to Berrettini to win his first Slam. I hope he is the dark horse I was hoping for.
It’s just unreal that Djoko always manages to win the crucial points in his matches. Even if his opponents might have played better the whole set, he will just hold on and then pocket the important points. Time and time again. Sick of that sight.
Sometimes I feel like he knows some kinda dark magic. Never seen anyone do it on such a consistent basis.
All the best
I would not be so pessimistic about current situation for various reasons:
1) Where are Del Potro (countless wrist surgeries), Murray (struggling with hip replacement comeback), Wawrinka (inury prone), Federer (double surgery comeback), Nadal (did not participate) this year at WImbledon? Each one of them has deprived Djokovic of at least one Slam or Olympic title
2) Djokovic is not at his prime as various journalists claim. He was being obliterated by Rafa in the first set of this year Paris semifinal and suddenly Rafa started making unforced errors for no apparent reason. Problem is he continued to do so in the sets to come, giving Djokovic the unprecedented kiss of life. Despite all these, Rafa could easily have won the third set. Unfortunately, he lost it due to that unbelievable volley UE and he finally collapsed in the fourth….
3) Looking at yesterday’s match statistics we will see some interesting facts: 33 winners, 5 DFs, 3/10 BP conversion and 15 UEs by Djokovic, while Shapovalov had 40 winners, 6 DFs, 1/11 BP conversion and 36 UEs.
First of all, any other Djokovic rival mentioned above would have easily converted more than 1 BP for sure. I think it was more Shapovalov’s inability to convert than Djokovic’s ability to hold. That is what infuriated Shapovalov many times in this match.
Second, how many players have made 40 winners in a match and finally lose, unless they are muddling themselves?
Third, where was the multitude of aces of other Shapovalov matches in this match ? And please don’t mention Djokovic’s return abilities. When an “ace” is coming towards you, you can only just touch the ball or little distract its trajectory.
Fourth, 2h 44 minutes for 3 sets ? How about the grass ….. specialists like Garin etc Djokovic had to defeat in the previous rounds?
4) Finally, although it will definitely hurt much once more this Sunday if Djokovic wins, don’t forget he is one of this league (Nadal, Federer the others) that do not easily let such chances slip by their hands. It was meant to be Berretini and hopefully he will give him some more run for his money.
Nikos, thanks so much for your analysis. I felt Shapovalov didn’t have a chance to win only because of his inexperience. I hope the praise that was lavished upon him yesterday will help him get over his loss and spur him on to great wins.
I have been rooting for Berrettini all along. I asked a couple on their way to the tennis courts near me “who will win Wimbledon?” Of course they said the Serb. I said I was going for Berrettini and they cracked up. Only tomorrow will tell.
No at all ! It is just one of my seldom contributions to this very nice Rafafan website. I feel a little sad about Rafa this year, especially after his heartbreaking loss to Djokovic in Paris. I sincerely hope he is not having some kind of mental issues, as his performance seems to fluctuate in regular fashion from the very first day of this year, even in his wins against my fellow Greek Stefanos in Barcelona and against Djokovic in Rome. I can see some similarities with 2015 season, which was very devastating for me to watch.
As for tomorrow, I can only hope for a Houdini-like appearance from Berrerttini, as nothing less will suffice…
Houdini Berrettini has a nice ring to it. Fingers 🤞
I guess it’s Djokovic winning on Sunday.
No disrespect to Berrettini (of course I hope he wins!) but he played so great until the final and when he faces Djokovic it will be like taking candy from a baby.
If Berrettini wants to win, he will have to serve lights out and play at 500%. All Djokovic needs is to bring his 50% and the wave of self belief he’s been riding, and the title is his. Depressing.
Anyway. It will be amazing that the big 3 will all be sitting on 20 slams each come Monday. Golden age of tennis.
I agree Mac. Djokovic plays not to lose and has a high degree of safety built into his game. He’s very cunning, not overpressing and forcing his opponents into errors, as he knows he can rally all day long. No doubt he’ll be targetting Berrettini’s backhand, the weaker wing. Berrettini just has to hold on to belief.
Hoping for a good show from the Italian underdog.
Sad and awful outcome of the match bet Shapovalov and Djokovic. But I’ve seen this part for a long time in Djokovic’s play. This dogged attitude and complete belief in himself. He only sees one thing and that him winning – nothing else. He patiently waits for his chance and say what you like he also has luck, great luck in his side. Patience, luck and not letting go of the reins …… . Probably this is what gets into the opponents head. He has to play against someone who is as ruthless as he is. He certainly has gotten abs gets into Rafa’s head. If Rafa can clear that he’ll beat him.
I like Shapo. He’s a nice kid with a big heart and a big game. But I did not believe he’d win the match against the Big Bad Wolf. Doubt he did either. He’s still young, at 22 and he’s been on the ATP tour since he was 17. He’s got time, I tell myself. Then I think of young Rafa at 22. 7 slams and an Olympic gold in singles!! A three time Wimbledon finalist, losing only to the Wimbledon GOAT twice, then beating him! We shall never see his like again, nor Roger’s, nor the Serbian wolfhound’s.
If any of these young’uns want to win a slam they will have to pry it out of The Wolf’s cold dead fingers! It’s what the Big Kids do. It’s what Rafa, Roger and The Wolf have done, fought each other, won big and lost big. We shall not see their like again.
👏👏👏 Nothing more to add. That’s the whole picture in a nutshell! No sugar coating, just the raw truth!
We need Rafa back on court for sure to stop Novak running away with every title from now on, At the end of Rafa/Roger/Novak’s career will Novak have the most titles, probably , and no doubt he will overtake Rogers 8 Wimbledon titles but he will never be able to take Rafa’s King of Clay title . And of course the one thing he desperately wants, yes, he has the respect of the people but not the love and affection that Rafa and Roger rightly deserve.
As for Shapovalov , I don’t think it will be long before we see this young man beat Novak and listening to his press conference he has the belief the can do it. I struggled to watch Wimbledon this year without Rafa but I am so glad I persevered and got to see Shapovalov , his game and his character, and maybe when the great 3 have retired I can still bear to watch the game.
I believe, that now than nole had gotten to 20 GS, it will be a tight race between Nadal and Novak… the only one who can stop Novak from running away with more GS, it’s Rafael… the new Generation it’s hollow ( way too hollow) if Rafael team’s mentally get Rafael fit, then it will be a dog fight… if roger was able to give a fight well into his 40’s Rafael can do the same… I do agree with you may, Novak had been very lucky when it mattered the most, Rafael hadn’t!!! What we can be 100/00 sure it’s that Novak won’t ever be able to take away from Rafael the mantle of king of clays… Rafael it’s coming back next year.
Rafa will always be my number one , but Shapovalov has won my heart after his reaction to his defeat , lovely young man , when Rafa, and Roger retire it’s nice to see that there are some decent guys to follow in their footsteps.
So sorry for Denis. I was hoping he could slay the dragon or in Novak‘s case the wolf!
shapovalov should have won the first two sets I am so dissapointed shapovalov handed the match to him. He had 11 breakpoints and got away with it. Djokovic will win unfortunatly sunday so that means a battle between novak en nadal who will win in new york
Expected result sadly. Denis choked all three sets but I’m still upset to see him crying.
What a bummer! Such a shame that Denis worked so hard and came away with nothing.
Berrettini needs to serve bombs and play smart with angles. Even then, i don’t think it’ll be enough as Novak is hungry like a wolf for no.20.
Novak is unphased by anything Denis is throwing at him. He’s conserving his energy for the final because he knows he’s got this one.