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Jasmine Paolini and Italy beat Slovakia to win the Billie Jean King Cup
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Nov. 20 - 1:03 p.m. | Save Story
Two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini has capped a breakthrough season by leading Italy to its first Billie Jean King Cup title since 2013. Paolini defeated Rebecca Sramkova 6-2, 6-1 to seal a 2-0 victory over Slovakia in the final of the women's team competition in Malaga, Spain. The No. 4-ranked Paolini was the runner-up at the French Open in June and at Wimbledon in July. Before this year, Paolini, who is 28, had lost in the first or second round in all 16 career appearances at majors. Lucia Bronzetti beat Viktoria Hruncakova 6-2, 6-4 in the first match of the best-of-three final on Wednesday.
Germany wins both singles matches to top Canada and reach Davis Cup semifinals
Tales Azzoni, Associated Press | Updated Nov. 20 - 11:22 a.m. | Save Story
Germany has kept alive its hopes of winning the Davis Cup for the first time in more than three decades by beating Canada in the quarterfinals. Jan-Lennard Struff rallied to defeat Denis Shapovalov 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) and clinch the victory in the second singles match of the tie. Daniel Altmaier had given Germany the first point with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over Gabriel Diallo. Germany will next face the Netherlands on Friday for a spot in the final. The Dutch defeated Spain 2-1 on Tuesday. Germany lifted the last of its three Davis Cup trophies in 1993. Canada's lone title came in 2022.
Rafael Nadal's legacy is a relentlessness that inspired Carlos Alcaraz and plenty of others
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Nov. 20 - 9:42 a.m. | Save Story
Rafael Nadal's retirement from tennis serves as a reminder that for all of his Grand Slam titles and other successes, his greatest legacy might be the qualities that inspired Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and other younger players. Nadal couldn't take a step around the grounds of the Davis Cup Final 8 in recent days without hearing requests for a handshake or a selfie from other athletes. He is walking away at age 38 after a litany of injuries. Nadal lost the last match of his career on Tuesday while Spain was eliminated by the Netherlands in the team competition's quarterfinals.
From Novak Djokovic to Iga Swiatek, players reflect on Rafael Nadal's career and retirement
The Associated Press | Posted Nov. 20 - 9:01 a.m. | Save Story
Rafael Nadal's retirement from professional tennis has brought an outpouring of tributes from plenty of current or former players. That includes such stars of the sport as Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek, along with plenty of others. Nadal is walking away at age 38 after a career that included 22 Grand Slam titles. His last match came Tuesday night in the Davis Cup, a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Botic van de Zandschulp as Spain was eliminated by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
An emotional Rafael Nadal retires at the Davis Cup after he loses and Spain is eliminated
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Nov. 20 - 5:59 a.m. | Save Story
Rafael Nadal has lost 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in what will be the last match of the 22-time Grand Slam champion's career. That's because Nadal's Spanish team was eliminated by the Dutch squad on Tuesday in Malaga. Carlos Alcaraz evened the matchup at 1-1 by winning the second singles match, but then van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof clinched the victory for the Dutch by defeating Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers in the deciding doubles match. The 38-year-old Nadal announced last month this event would be it for him as a professional tennis player.
Rafael Nadal's last match is a loss to van de Zandschulp as Spain fails to advance in Davis Cup
Tales Azzoni, Associated Press | Updated Nov. 19 - 6:20 p.m. | Save Story
Rafael Nadal's last match as a professional was a 6-4, 6-4 loss to No. 80 Botic van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup as Spain was eliminated by the Netherlands. Spain lost 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the team event that marked the last tournament for Nadal after more than 20 years on tour and 22 Grand Slam titles. Carlos Alcaraz had extended Nadal's career for a little longer by defeating No. 40 Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (0), 6-3 in the second singles match but Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers lost the decisive doubles 7-6 (4) 7-6 (3) to van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof.
A look at Rafael Nadal's 22 Grand Slam titles as he retires after losing in the Davis Cup
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Nov. 19 - 4:27 p.m. | Save Story
his last major championship anywhere. Fittingly, his bookend major trophies titles came at Roland Garros, and it's impossible to discuss Nadal's career without mentioning that site. But he also completed a career Grand Slam, earning at least two trophies at each of his sport's four most prestigious tournaments.
Rafael Nadal leaves tennis with plenty of records and big numbers by his name
The Associated Press | Posted Nov. 19 - 4:23 p.m. | Save Story
his very first in 2004 as a teenager and his very last on Tuesday at age 38.
Rafael Nadal heads into retirement after a career marked by big trophies, rivalries and injuries
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Nov. 19 - 4:18 p.m. | Save Story
Rafael Nadal is heading into retirement after Spain was eliminated from the Davis Cup. The 38-year-old Nadal announced in October that he would retire from professional tennis after the team event, which is being played in southern Spain. He was beaten in his last singles match on Tuesday, and Spain bowed out against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. Nadal's career spanned two decades and 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 on his favorite clay at Roland Garros, and 92 singles titles overall. He will forever be remembered as a member of the Big Three of men's tennis, along with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Slovakia beats Britain 2-1 to set up final against Italy in Billie Jean King Cup
Tales Azzoni, Associated Press | Updated Nov. 19 - 1:20 p.m. | Save Story
Slovakia has rallied to defeat Britain 2-1 and reach its first Billie Jean King Cup final in more than two decades. Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova defeated Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson 6-2, 6-2 in the decisive doubles match, putting Slovakia back in the final for the first time since 2002 to face last year's runner-up Italy on Wednesday. Slovakia forced the deciding match after Rebecca Sramkova rallied to defeat Katie Boulter 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second singles match. Britain had taken the lead when Emma Raducanu defeated Hruncakova 6-4, 6-4 in the first singles.
Sports on TV for Wednesday, Nov. 20
The Associated Press | Posted Nov. 19 - 8:10 a.m. | Save Story
(All times Eastern)
Roger Federer tells friend and rival Rafael Nadal that he made him enjoy tennis more
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Nov. 19 - 6:24 a.m. | Save Story
Roger Federer says Rafael Nadal made him enjoy tennis even more during a rivalry that spanned 40 matches over 15 years. Federer wrote a note to Nadal on social media Tuesday, hours before Nadal's Spain was scheduled to face the Netherlands at the Davis Cup Final 8 in what will be the last event of the 22-time Grand Slam champion's career before he retires. Federer, now 43, was established at No. 1 in the rankings when Nadal, now 38, came along. Nadal led their head-to-head series 26-14, including 10-4 at Grand Slam tournaments and 6-3 in Slam finals.
Italy is back in BJK Cup final after beating Swiatek's Poland 2-1 in semifinals
The Associated Press | Posted Nov. 18 - 4:50 p.m. | Save Story
Italy has returned to the Billie Jean King Cup final after beating Poland 2-1 in Malaga. Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini defeated Iga Swiatek and Katarzyna Kawa 7-5, 7-5 in the deciding doubles on Monday. Lucia Bronzetti put Italy ahead by defeating Magda Linette 6-4, 7-6. Swiatek evened the semifinal by rallying past Paolini 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Italy was runner-up to Canada last year. The other semifinal between Britain and Slovakia is on Tuesday.
Sports on TV for Tuesday, Nov. 19
The Associated Press | Updated Nov. 18 - 10:08 a.m. | Save Story
(All times Eastern)
Rafael Nadal will retire after the Davis Cup with plenty of records and big numbers by his name
The Associated Press | Posted Nov. 18 - 9:35 a.m. | Save Story
Rafael Nadal's tennis career includes 22 Grand Slam trophies, a record 14 French Open titles and plenty of other significant numbers. He will be retiring after this week's Davis Cup Final 8. Play begins Tuesday with Spain facing the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. Nadal entered the event with a 29-1 career record in Davis Cup singles and a 29-match winning streak since losing his very first contest in the competition back in 2004.
A look at Rafael Nadal's 22 Grand Slam titles as he prepares to retire after the Davis Cup
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Nov. 18 - 9:11 a.m. | Save Story
his last major championship anywhere. Fittingly, his bookend major trophies titles came at Roland Garros, and it's impossible to discuss Nadal's career without mentioning that site. But he also completed a career Grand Slam, earning at least two trophies at each of his sport's four most prestigious tournaments.
Rafael Nadal and Spain's captain won't say whether he'll play at the Davis Cup
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Nov. 18 - 8:28 a.m. | Save Story
Neither Rafael Nadal nor Spanish captain David Ferrer is ready to say whether the 22-time Grand Slam champion will play singles or doubles at the Davis Cup Final 8. It is Nadal's last event before retirement. Spain is scheduled to face the Netherlands on Tuesday in the quarterfinals on an indoor hard court in Malaga. The winner will play in the semifinals on Friday. The championship will be decided on Sunday. Asked at a news conference how he has been feeling in practice in recent days and whether he is ready to play, Nadal says: "That's a question for the captain." Ferrer also declined to offer an answer.
Sinner opens up about his doping case after beating Fritz for ATP Finals trophy before his home fans
Andrew Dampf, Associated Press | Updated Nov. 17 - 2:46 p.m. | Save Story
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner added another big title to his tremendous year by beating U.S. Open runner-up Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 for the ATP Finals trophy before his home fans and before a final verdict is reached in his doping case. Sinner won his first two Grand Slam titles in 2024 and had already clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking. Sinner tested positive in two separate drug tests in March and a decision to clear him of wrongdoing was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency in September. Fritz will still rise to a career-high No. 4 in the rankings on Monday.
Britain knocks out defending champion Canada to advance to BJK Cup semifinals against Slovakia
The Associated Press | Updated Nov. 17 - 2:34 p.m. | Save Story
Britain has kept alive its hopes of winning the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time by defeating defending champion Canada in Sunday's quarterfinals in Malaga. Katie Boulter clinched the 2-0 victory with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Leylah Fernandez after Emma Raducanu defeated Rebecca Marino 6-0, 7-5 in the first singles match of the tie. Four-time finalist Britain is yet to win the title. Canada clinched its first title last year. Britain next faces Slovakia, which followed up its win over the United States with a 2-0 victory against Australia.
