- Shiffrin to skip downhill, no stress over landmark World Cup victories
- US says N.Korea sent 'thousands' of troops to Russia
- Emery already one of 'Villa's greats', says McGinn
- 4 dead, 14 hurt in attack at Turkey defence firm
- Activists take German government to court over biodiversity
- US existing home sales slip in September to near 14-year low
- Bank of Canada cuts rates, says fight against inflation 'worked'
- Zimbabwe smash T20I record with 344-4 against Gambia
- Boeing reports $6.2 bn loss as it awaits vote on end to strike
- Mourinho says Man Utd 'will succeed sooner or later'
- China should use fiscal policy to boost growth: IMF
- Wolfspeed and ZF put German chip factory on ice
- Putin faces calls for peace at flagship BRICS summit
- Stock markets and oil prices retreat
- Dupont back in France squad for November internationals
- Caelan Doris to captain Ireland in November rugby Tests
- 14 dead, thousands evacuated as tropical storm batters Philippines
- Boeing reports $6.2 bn loss on strike, defense contract woes
- Germany's Scholz heads to India despite differences on Russia
- Sri Lanka deploys troops to Jewish community centre after US warning
- Sione Tuipulotu named as Scotland captain for November internationals
- 'I'm broken', mass rape victim tells French court
- Don't let tech gurus decide the future: Nobel winner Simon Johnson
- Palestinian seeds join Arctic 'doomsday vault'
- Ariana Grande concert attack survivors win UK harassment case
- Blinken on new quest for Saudi ties with Israel
- UK and Germany sign 'milestone' defence deal
- Seoul says N.Korea sent more troops to Russia, Kyiv urges their surrender
- Mehidy, Jaker keep Bangladesh alive against South Africa
- Stock markets mixed, oil prices drop
- Stokes forecasts spin battle in Pakistan-England decider
- Volvo Cars cuts sales forecast on market headwinds
- South Africa 'shattered' by divorce of rugby star Kolisi
- Putin touts 'multipolar world order' at flagship BRICS summit
- Deutsche Bank profits boosted by legal settlements
- WHO says 'intense bombardment' halts Gaza polio vaccinations
- UK's Starmer plays down Trump team claims of interference
- Son of Singapore's founder granted asylum in UK
- Mehidy, Jaker take Bangladesh into lead over South Africa in Test
- Stocks mixed as rate cut bets are trimmed, US vote in focus
- Seven dead, thousands evacuated as tropical storm batters Philippines
- Pant fit for second Test as Gill gives India selection 'headache'
- S. Korean Olympic shooter Kim keeps cool over newfound fame
- UN chief in Russia for Putin's BRICS summit
- Markets mixed as rate cut bets are trimmed, US vote in focus
- US says 'now is the time' to end Gaza war
- Harris to face voters' queries in crucial Pennsylvania
- Mehidy fifty steers Bangladesh towards parity at 201-6
- King Charles arrives in Samoa, where Commonwealth looks to shed stodgy image
- Ohtani 50-50 baseball sells for record-breaking $4.39 million
VOD | -0.9% | 9.465 | $ | |
RYCEF | -0.96% | 7.29 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.51% | 24.61 | $ | |
SCS | -1.51% | 12.62 | $ | |
RBGPF | 1.59% | 63 | $ | |
BTI | -0.71% | 34.645 | $ | |
GSK | -0.57% | 37.785 | $ | |
RELX | -0.32% | 46.87 | $ | |
NGG | 0.02% | 66.3 | $ | |
RIO | -1.49% | 64.521 | $ | |
BCC | 0.55% | 134.39 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.48% | 24.81 | $ | |
BCE | -0.92% | 33.015 | $ | |
AZN | -0.81% | 76.7 | $ | |
BP | -1.34% | 31.161 | $ | |
JRI | -0.27% | 13.035 | $ |
Fans' tears flow as 'legend' Nadal bows out at French Open
From Australia, China and the United States, Rafael Nadal fans descended on a chilly and damp Roland Garros on Monday, hoping to inspire their "superhero" to victory at the French Open.
In the end, however, many were reduced to tears as the 14-time champion slumped to a straight-sets defeat to Alexander Zverev in the first round, likely signalling the end of the 38-year-old's Grand Slam adventure in Paris.
"Personally, I'm very sad, he's Rafa, a legend," Mateo Castro, a 41-year-old French fan, told AFP with tears in his eyes. "It's hard to see him go."
Michael Lundell, another Nadal fan who had travelled from Genoa to Paris to watch the match, was also in tears.
"I was crying, because I don't think there has ever been another role model like him before in sports," said the 43-year-old.
"It was a great match, I saw Rafael Nadal with an exceptional level again," said Gregory Dubus, a 50-year-old French fan.
"I've been following Nadal since 2005, his first victory here at Roland Garros, and to see him here, maybe in his last match was exciting."
Like many fans at Roland Garros on Monday, there was a feeling that they were witnessing the end of an era.
"A player like Rafa, you never want him to retire, he's a humble player, with an exceptional attitude on the court and in life, nobody wants him to stop," added Dubus.
Before the start of the match, fans had hailed a player dubbed a "superhero".
"You always have to keep the faith in Rafa, he will win," Hazel, a 28-year-old fan who had flown in from China for a second straight year after being left disappointed when Nadal withdrew in 2023, told AFP.
"The most important thing is that he stays healthy," she said, as she proudly showed the banners she had made with the colours of Spain, Nadal's face and the message "Welcome back my super hero".
Before Wednesday, Nadal had only lost three times in 115 matches at the tournament since his title-winning debut as a 19-year-old in 2005.
He said at the weekend that there was a chance this may be his last French Open but insisted he was still keeping the door "100 percent open" on continuing his career.
"You see a lot of 'Thank you Rafa' shirts. He's a monument at this tournament," said 41-year-old Manolo who has come to Europe from the United States to watch Nadal and then Real Madrid play in the Champions League final in London this Saturday.
He has seen Nadal win at Wimbledon and the US Open as well as Paris but admitted Monday's clash with world number four Zverev "would be very difficult".
"I hope he beats Zverev... Rafa is Rafa," he said.
"It's possibly the last time he plays here, so we're very happy to watch him," said Alsi, a 40-year-old fan living in Australia.
M.Thompson--AMWN