Rafael Nadal News

Center Grove High School junior Austin Sansone is the No. 1 singles player for the Trojans’ No. via The Indianapolis Star

“When he gets desperate, the starts going for huge shots. Usually, guys tense up, it’s like the snowball effect.”

Dmitry Tursunov mustered his courage in the demanding third set to stop a comeback charge from Spain’s Fernando Verdasco as the Russian booked into the Thailand Open final 7-6 , 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday. via Earth Times

BANGKOK: World No. 2 Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Thailand Open with a knee injury, handing the tournament a major blow ahead of the first round starting on Tuesday. via The Hindu

“I had a few late nights in Moscow”

Dmitry Tursunov made sure he got his beauty sleep during this week’s long flight from Moscow to Asia to ensure second-round success at the Thailand Open with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Michael Llodra on Thursday. via Earth Times

“But when I practiced, it happened again. I’m going to get back as soon as possible to start my recovery.”

Andy Roddick withdrew with a foot injury and Tomas Berdych defeated local Kittipong Wachiramanowong 6-3, 6-0 Wednesday at the Thailand Open. via Newsday.com

“The fast time at the end of the season is no surprise to me”

University of Miami alum Sanya Richards won the 400 at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany, in 49.27 seconds Sunday, matching her fastest time in the world this season. via South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Top seed Novak Djokovic withdrew from the Thailand Open with a back injury, handing the tournament its second blow after the withdrawal of world number two Rafael Nadal. via Sunday Times

Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe couldn’t beat Sweden in the Davis Cup in Goteborg, Sweden, 23 years ago. via Akron Beacon Journal

Spain’s Rafael Nadal will join world number one Roger Federer and 14-times grand slam winner Pete Sampras in a series of exhibition matches in Malaysia in November. via Scotsman.com

Next week’s Thailand Open lost top seed Rafael Nadal as the Spaniard withdrew on Sunday with a continuing knee injury. via Earth Times

“Of course, now he is not with me. But that doesn’t mean that we’re not going to work in the future.”

Serbian Davis Cup hero Novak Djokovic hasn’t ruled out a reunion with Mark Woodforde after nominating the Australian’s coaching as a key factor in his march up the rankings this year. via The Sydney Morning Herald

“I didn’t think I was going to because of physical condition if it went to five sets, but Lleyton has this thing where is the best fighter in the world”

Lion-hearted Lleyton Hewitt revealed just why he was the undisputed king of five-set tennis after rescuing Australia’s Davis Cup team from almost certain World Cup relegation. via The West Australian

Rafael Nadal’s power and intensity certainly come through on television, but not quite as strikingly as in some of these remarkable photos of Rafa hitting his backhand. via About.com

“James is definitely coming if he’s not in the Davis Cup final and is unlikely to come if he is”

The Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova dives to return a ball in front of her partner Tomas Berdych during their doubles match at the XIX Hopman Cup in Perth, in December 2006. via TurkishPress.com

“I’ve played in a lot of big matches in Davis Cup where I’ve had the crowd for me or against me”

NOVAK Djokovic plans to feed off the din from a record-breaking crowd as he tries to lead Serbia to victory over Australia in this weekend’s Davis Cup clash. via AdelaideNow…