• Nadal wins record seventh French Open title

    Matthew Stockman / Getty Images

    Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates victory with friends and family after the men's singles final against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the French Open, June 11, 2012 in Paris, France.

    Pascal Guyot / AFP - Getty Images

    Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates with his staff members and his family after winning the match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the Men's Singles final tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 11, 2012 in Paris.

    Bernat Armangue / AP, Thomas Coex / AFP - Getty Images

    At left, Novak Djokovic of Serbia and at right, Spain's Rafael Nadal who won their final match at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 11, 2012 in Paris.

    Stephane Reix / EPA

    Rafael Nadal of Spain holds the championship trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 11, 2012.

    By Phaedra Singelis, NBC News

    Rain delayed their final match until today, but another brief shower didn't stop Rafael Nadal in his quest to win his seventh French Open by beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, to take the trophy. The win breaks the record he shared with Bjorn Borg and puts him one win away from breaking Chris Evert's record which she's held since 1986. Nadal was clearly thrilled to take the title, climbing up into the stands and hugging his supporters and family, sharing the moment with them before returning to the court to hoist the trophy over his head for the cameras.  Full story.

    More photos from the French Open.


  • Daniel Ochoa De Olza / AP

    Rafael Nadal reacts during his match against Fernando Verdasco at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid on May 10, 2012.

    'A completely different game': Rafael Nadal rails against Madrid Open's blue clay

    The Associated Press reports — Rafael Nadal lost to Spanish countryman Fernando Verdasco for the first time in the Madrid Open on Thursday, then threatened, along with top-ranked Novak Djokovic, not to return if the new blue clay-court wasn't discarded.

    Nadal blamed his first loss on clay in almost a year on the blue clay, which players have said was slippery, and sent an ultimatum to organizers, threatening to strike the tournament from his calendar if the traditional red surface was not restored.

    "Being able to move is very important for me and if I can't move well, I can't hit the ball well either," said Nadal, the second seed and two-time Madrid champion. "If things don't change, this will be one less tournament on the calendar for me.

    "This surface destabilizes the game. It is a completely different game and I don't want to take risks." Read the full story.

    See more sporting images in The Week in Sports Pictures

  • Ryan Pierse / Pool via Getty Images

    Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning championship point in his men's final match against Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 29.

    Djokovic outlasts Nadal in six-hour, five-set marathon Aussie Open final

    Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 2-6, 6-7 (5), 7-5 Sunday to win the Australian Open in the longest Grand Slam final in Open Era history.

    Full story: Djokovic wins longest slam final ever

  • Nadal advances to 3rd round at Australian Open

    Torsten Blackwood / AFP - Getty Images

    Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return against Tommy Haas of Germany in their second round men's singles match on Tuesday.

    AP reports: Second-seeded Rafael Nadal maintained his perfect record against Tommy Haas, beating the veteran German 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 Wednesday in a second-round match at the Australian Open.

    With the knee heavily taped Wednesday, he showed no obvious signs of discomfort to advance to a third-round match against the winner of the Donald Young-Lukas Lacko match to be played later Wednesday.

  • Marcelo Del Pozo / Reuters

    Rafael Nadal of Spain serves to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France during their Davis Cup World Group semi-final match at the Cordoba bullring Sept. 18.

    Spain to face Argentina in Davis Cup final

    AP reports:

    Novak Djokovic's ailing back didn't hold up Sunday, meaning Rafael Nadal won't have to face his main rival in the Davis Cup final.

    Djokovic tried to help Serbia stage a comeback in its semifinal against Argentina despite a lingering back problem, but had to retire when trailing 7-6 (5), 3-0 against Juan Martin del Potro. That sent Argentina into the final against Spain, which advanced after Nadal routed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-0, 6-2, 6-4 on clay in Cordoba.

    Read the full story here.

  • Chris Trotman / Getty Images

    Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Nicolas Mahut of France during Day Five of the 2011 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 2 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

    Rafael Nadal advances as Nicholas Mahut retires after two sets

    By Rich Shulman

    Late evening stadium shadows make life challenging for sports photographers. The quality of light is striking, but catching the key elements in the light is a matter of timing and luck.

    Full coverage.

  • Nadal defeats Federer to capture record-tying sixth French Open title

    Thierry Roge / Reuters

    Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Roger Federer of Switzerland during their men's final at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris June 5.

     Rafael Nadal won in four sets to tie Bjorn Borg's record: 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-1, and you can read more about the match here.

  • Thierry Roge / Reuters

    Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning his semi-final match against Andy Murray of Britain at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on June 3.

    Defending champ Nadal rolls past Murray into French final

    AP reports:

    PARIS - Rafael Nadal is still the "King of Clay" at the French Open, and he will be for at least another couple of days after beating Andy Murray 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 Friday to reach his sixth final in seven years at Roland Garros.

    The top-ranked Spaniard wasn't perfect against Murray, struggling at times with his serve and getting broken three times, but his play was consistent enough to take care of his opponent's defensive tactics.

    "The conditions today were not easy," said Nadal, who saved all six break points he faced in the third set. "Very, very difficult with the wind changing a lot." Continue reading.

  • Fabrice Coffrini / AFP - Getty Images

    Switzerland's Roger Federer serves to Spain's Rafael Nadal during a charity tennis game on Dec. 21, 2010 in Zurich. "The Match for Africa" is organized to raise money for the Roger Federer Foundation which supports sporting activities for underprivileged children in Africa and in Switzerland.

    Federer vs. Nadal: "The Match for Africa" tennis exhibition in Zurich

    By Elena Grothe

    I thought of the lunar eclipse when I saw this.