Newsday (N.Y.): Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova upset at Wimbledon

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

WIMBLEDON, England — A teenager nicknamed "The Wild Thing" stunned Rafael Nadal and in the process all Wimbledon, recording one of the biggest upsets of the last 25 years.

Nick Kyrgios, 19, a 6-4 Australian with a vicious serve and a positive approach, took apart the top-ranked Nadal, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-3, on a Tuesday of surprises.

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Copyright © 2014 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday (N.Y.): Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova reach second round

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

WIMBLEDON, England — The big names held serve and their places at the top on Tuesday at Wimbledon, meaning those who prefer their tennis played by the rich and famous never had to hold their breaths. Unlike a year ago.

Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, both ranked No. 1, scored straight-sets victories in opening matches. So did Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova, who, as the other two, are former Wimbledon champions.

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Copyright © 2014 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Bleacher Report: Rafael Nadal Competing Against History After 9th French Open Title

By Art Spander
Featured Columnist

He is playing against history now, against the men who preceded him, against Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg, against Pete Sampras and certainly Roger Federer. And Rafael Nadal, French Open champion once more, also is playing against himself.

Each match and each tournament, especially any of the four Grand Slams, is a measuring stick, an evaluation of where he ranks among the great ones, and there have been many in the decades stretching back more than a century.

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Copyright © 2014 Bleacher Report, Inc. 

Bleacher Report: Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic Brings Everything We Want in a French Open Final

By Art Spander
Featured Columnist

This is what we wanted. This is what we always want, the best against the best.  

Across the globe, this is what we have: San Antonio Spurs against Miami Heat, New York Rangers against the Los Angeles Kings and for the final of a French Open full of twists, turns and rain delays, Rafael Nadal against Novak Djokovic.

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Copyright © 2014 Bleacher Report, Inc.

Bleacher Report: Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray's Mental Toughness Sets Up Epic French Open Clash

By Art Spander
Featured Columnist

Vince Lombardi used to say hurt is in the mind. So, too, is success. Also failure, not that we should call anyone who makes it as far as the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tennis tournament a failure.

There are so many pieces of advice on how one becomes a champion. Maybe the most accurate it this: You’ve got to believe.

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Copyright © 2014 Bleacher Report, Inc.