Barcelona, April 26 : Tennis World No. 5 Rafael Nadal defeated France's Benoit Paire Friday to reach the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open.

It took the Spaniard 86 minutes to dispose of Paire 7-6(2), 6-2 in a rain-delayed game Thursday.

Seven-time Barcelona champion Nadal survived a first-set tie break to finish his opponent in the second, converting both of his break points.

Nadal, who missed his first clay title of the season after losing in last week's Monte Carlo final to Novak Djokovic, will face either his compatriot Albert Ramos or sixth seed Kei Nishikori in the quarters later Friday.

Barcelona, April 25 : Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal beat Argentina's Carlos Berlocq 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of Conde de Godo here.

The 26-year-old Nadal had no trouble at the beginning of the match and quickly broke serve before racing to a 5-3 lead in the first set Wednesday, Xinhua reports.

Berlocq, who is ranked 63rd in the world, showed spirit, breaking Nadal's serve and looking to attack the Spaniard at the net, but Nadal kept cool and took the next game to claim the opening set.

Barcelona, April 23 : World No. 5 Rafael Nadal was in an optimistic mood at the press conference held here for the Conde Godo tennis tournament despite his defeat in Monte Carlo by world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

Nadal, who has won the Conde Godo tournament seven times, said Monday he's very happy to be in Barcelona as it is a Spanish competition and very special for him, reports Xinhua.

Despite his defeat in Monte Carlo, where he had won eight times, Nadal said he came to Barcelona with the same thrill as he had won there.

Sao Paulo, Feb 16 : Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal recovered from a set down to reach the semi-finals of the Brazil Open with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Argentina's Carlos Berlocq.

The 26-year-old will face world No. 111 Martin Alund for a place in the final after the Argentinian defeated 88th-ranked Italian Filippo Volandri 7-5, 7-6 (5), reports Xinhua.

The ATP 250 clay-court event is Nadal's second tournament since returning from a seven-month layoff with a knee injury.

Sao Paulo, Feb 13 : Former World No. 1 Rafael Nadal has revealed the Rio 2016 Olympic Games has provided him with motivation to continue his career beyond the age of 30.

The 11-time Grand Slam winner is competing in both the singles and doubles tournaments at the Brazil Open in Sao Paulo, his second tournament since returning from a seven-month layoff due to a knee injury, reports Xinhua.

"The long-term objective in my mind is to play in Rio in 2016," the 26-year-old said during a press conference Tuesday.

"I know it's a long way from now, but it is also a real objective for me."

London, Feb 12 : Spanish tennis sensation Rafael Nadal has vowed to play despite his injury after losing his comeback final in the VTR Open at Chile.

Nadal, who was defeated by Argentinian Horacio Zeballos 6-7 7-6 6-4, has insisted that he needed to spend more time on the court and added that he had to face adversity with a good front even with his knee injury and look forward to playing his game, which he enjoys, the Mirror reports.

Tony Nadal, coach and uncle of the French Open champion, said that Nadal is facing a positive outcome, with his pain decreasing regularly, which was expected.

Melbourne, Feb 5 : Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal''s ailing left knee may continue to bother him until the end of the month, his coach has claimed.

Nadal has been practicing for four straight days, but according to his coach and uncle Toni Nadal, is still some distance from being match fit.

Nadal, however, will play in the VTR Open.

Toni Nadal said Rafael's knee was much better, but he would feel some discomfort and experience lack of mobility until the end of the month.

Washington, Feb 4 : Rafael Nadal has insisted he would stay humble and cautious when he makes his long-awaited comeback from injury on court in a tournament in Chile this week.

The tennis star has not played a competitive match since losing in the second round at Wimbledon last June due to knee problems, and he is wary of pushing himself too hard in his first appearance at the Vina del Mar Open, CNN. com reports.

Nadal said he would have to take his comeback slowly and stay humble to know that things won''t be as good as they were before his injury, adding he needs to be patient.

New York, Sep. 8 : Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal and his British counterpart Andy Murray have accused the US Open organisers of putting profit before player safety, after they rushed three important men's matches on to the courts while there were still spots of rain in the air.

Nadal was unhappy at having to play for 15 minutes while there was still moisture in the air at Flushing Meadows.

New York, Sept 4 : World No. 2 Rafael Nadal, who has become the new face of both Armani Jeans and Emporio Armani Underwear, revealed that posing in an undergarment is very `tricky'.

A 20-foot banner of his famous mug, naked torso and a hint of denim was unveiled recently at Macy's.

And according to him, though posing in underwear is nothing `really new', he has always been shy while dealing with it.

New York, Sep 5 - Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray advanced into the fourth round of the men's singles event at the US Open tennis here Sunday, while Samantha Stosur set up a quarterfinal clash against Vera Zvonareva in the women's singles.

Nadal won 7-6 (5), 6-1, 7-5 in 2 hours 39 minutes against David Nalbandian of Argentina.

The Spaniard will play Gilles Muller of Luxembourg for a place in the quarterfinals at the final Grand Slam of the year. Muller breezed past Russia's Igor Kunitsyn 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

New York, Sep 5: Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal sent shockwaves through the US Open on Sunday when he collapsed during his post-match news conference in New York because of severe cramping in
his thigh.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Nadal received treatment in the tournament's main interview room, flat on his back behind the desk.

"I just have cramping in my leg in front and behind, that's why I was so painful. I will train normally on Monday," the 25-year-old said later.

Move over Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal will take the field now! No, it is not the football field we are talking about here! It’s the Armani field, with and without the underwear! Nadal is the face of Armani’s Spring/Summer 2011 jeans and underwear collection! As he takes over the crown from Ronaldo, to which even David Beckham had been attached once, we guess he would not mind the limelight off the tennis court!

London, Nov 28 : Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal has admitted that he is completely worn out after his recent injuries.

Adding to the 23-year-old’s misery, the most dominant player in the world last year crashed 7-6 6-3 to Novak Djokovic, which ended his World Tour Finals campaign with a third successive defeat.

“Sometimes your battery finishes and you have to go out and buy another one. At the moment, I just feel very tired,” The Sun quoted Nadal, as saying.

London, Nov 26 - One-time alternate Robin Soderling stepped up to claim the first semi-final spot as the ATP World Tour Finals moved toward the business end while Spain's Rafael Nadal dealt himself out of the competition with a second defeat.

Soderling fulfilled another tennis dream Wednesday with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 victory to end the 11-match winning streak of Novak Djokovic.

Russian Nikolay Davydenko left world number two Nadal winless after two matches and out of the running with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) result.

London, Nov 21: Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal has reacted to the claims made by former American player Andre Agassi about taking crystal meth in 1997 and lying about it to an independent doping tribunal to save his skin

“I haven’t read the book, but he is not saying the truth of everything,” The Times quoted Nadal, as saying.

“He is saying he hates tennis — that is impossible. One player plays for eight years and he becomes rich and he does not need to play for money and you hate that?” he added.

Doha, Qatar  - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will again start their tennis seasons with New Year's appearances at the Capitala World Championship before heading to Australia to prepare for the Grand Slam.

Officials at the December 31-January 2 event announced Monday that they have secured the top two in the world for a three-day, six-player tournament won last year by Scot Andy Murray over Nadal.

Beijing  - Rafael Nadal broke five times as he struggled before finally controlling James Blake in a battling 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 win into the quarter-finals of the China Open Thursday.

Nadal was tested by the American who was once a regular member of the Top 10 before a slide this season which has left him on 24th with only a pair of losing finals to show for his 2009 efforts.

Nadal levelled at three wins each in the series, having begun turning the tables after standing 0-3 in 2006.

New York, Sep 16 : Spanish professional tennis player Rafael Nadal was recently caught flirting with Colombian singer Shakira at Nobu Tribeca, where she was promoting her new album ‘She-Wolf’.

Nadal, 23, who has been dating his high school sweetheart Maria Francisca Perello, nickname Xisca, for three years, had eyes for no one but the 32-year-old singer.

“They were each there with a friend, but once they started talking, they moved to a table alone for some privacy,” the New York Post quoted a witness as saying.

Murcia, Spain  - Spain take heavy favourite's odds into a weekend Davis Cup semi-final clash with tennis minnow Israel even though the mighty Iberians miss Rafael Nadal due to injury.

The holders are hoping to reach a second consecutive final in the worldwide team competition as they take a 3-0 record against Israel into the September 18-20 tie.