Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    7,523 violators of residency, labor, and border security laws deported in a week    Video contradicts Israeli army account of deadly March 23 strike on Gaza paramedics    Saudi Arabia spends over $241 million to implement de-mining projects in 3 countries    Italy's Meloni government approves controversial security decree expanding police protections and penalties    Egypt submits new Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal: Report    'Everything is possible' — Ronaldo focused on titles, not 1,000-goal milestone after Riyadh Derby win    Saudi, US military leaders discuss enhanced defense cooperation in Riyadh    King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launches program with Indiana University    Ronaldo brace powers Al Nassr past Al Hilal in Riyadh derby thriller    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Foreign investors are allowed to engage in real estate business outside Makkah and Madinah Commercial speculation should not be the purpose of real estate transaction    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



At US Open to win, says Nadal
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 01 - 09 - 2009

Two months on the sidelines nursing tendinitis in both knees will not derail Rafa Nadal's bid for the only Grand Slam to elude him, the Spanish world No. 3 said as the US Open kicks off in New York.
“I am not scared,” the 23-year-old Mallorcan told Spain's El Pais daily. “I was out for two months and then (this month) I got to the quarterfinals at the Montreal Masters and the semis at the Cincinnati Masters.
“I know that here (at the US Open) a quarterfinal or a semi would be a very good result but I am coming to win,” added the six-time Grand Slam winner. “When I retire nobody will remember if I get to quarters or semis.”
Nadal said he has fully recovered from an injury that kept him from defending his 2008 Wimbledon title. “I'm 100 percent well to play this tournament.
I don't know if I'm playing at my best level, but I am 100 percent,” Nadal said. “The knees are perfect right now. I don't have any problem.”
Four-time French Open champion Nadal would love a US Open title to complete a career Slam and join Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson as the only men to win each of the four major titles.
“For me to have the title here doesn't change my career, but if I had the title here, finish the cycle, it would be unbelievable,” Nadal said. “But we haven't started the tournament yet. Right now, I really can't think about that.”
Nadal roared through the early season, defeating Federer in the Australian Open final and taking titles at Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome.
But his bid for a fifth consecutive Roland Garros crown failed when he lost to Sweden's Robin Soderling in the round of 16. After the loss, Nadal took time away for his knees to heal and was forced miss Wimbledon.
“I was at home recovering,” Nadal said. “Maybe I was injured in the worst moment of the season. But at the same time, I must have been in Mallorca in the best moment of the season, too.”
Nadal returned at Montreal, losing to Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarterfinals, and then reached the semifinals at Cincinnati, losing to Novak Djokovic in his final US Open tuneup event.
“I'm very happy with how I did in the first two tournaments,” Nadal said. “I don't know the level of confidence, but it's much better than what I expected when I started to play in Montreal.
“When you come back after an injury, you always start slow. You have to be progressing, but I'm normal right now.”
During Nadal's absence, Britain's Andy Murray moved past him into the world No. 2 ranking. But that setback has not dimmed Nadal's desire to reach the final, where another matchup with Federer could await.
“Psychologically for me now, I'm perfect. I came back with more energy than ever,” said the Spaniard.
“Probably I needed some time to be ready, to get the rhythm, to play my best tennis, but the energy and the attitude is 100 percent.”
Australian Open champion Nadal said his first-round match against Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who is making his return after a ban for inadvertently taking cocaine, could be very difficult.
“He has the potential of one of the very best and if he has a good day it will be a very tough match,” he said. “Although I know that if I play well I have a chance to beat Gasquet and a great deal more.”
Nadal could face French seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals and Murray in the semifinals.


Clic here to read the story from its source.