Rafael Nadal ended an injury-plagued 2016 on a high by lifting the Mubadala World Tennis Championship title for a fourth time on Saturday. The 30-year-old Spaniard defeated 11th-ranked Belgian David Goffin 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) after world number one Andy Murray earlier ousted Canada’s Milos Raonic 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) to take third place. Nadal’s 2016 campaign had been ruined by a wrist injury that forced him out of Roland Garros after the second round and saw him miss Wimbledon.
Murray ends year with win over Raonic in UAE
Abu Dhabi (AFP) – World number one Andy Murray ended 2016 with a win over Milos Raonic to take third place in the Mubadala World Tennis Championships on Saturday.
My heart wasn't in it anymore, says Ivanovic
Former women’s tennis world number one Ana Ivanovic admitted Saturday she retired this week because she felt both physically and mentally unfit to carry on after years of battling injuries. The 29-year-old Serbian — whose sole Grand Slam success came in the 2008 French Open one of her 15 WTA titles — added she wanted to retire while she still loved the sport. “The last few years have been a struggle with injury,” Ivanovic told The Times newspaper on Saturday.
Tennis – My heart wasn't in it anymore, says Ivanovic
– Former women’s tennis world number one Ana Ivanovic has admitted she retired this week because she felt both physically and mentally unfit to carry on after years of battling injuries. The 29-year-old Serbian — whose sole Grand Slam success came in the 2008 French Open one of her 15 WTA titles — added she wanted to retire while she still loved the sport. “The last few years have been a struggle with injury,” Ivanovic told The Times newspaper.
Murray shrugs off Goffin loss as Nadal books World Tennis Championships final spot
World number one Andy Murray shrugged off his surprise defeat to David Goffin in the semi-finals of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships on Friday. Wimbledon and Olympic champion Murray, who had won all five of his previous meetings with the 11th-ranked Belgian, was beaten 7-6 (7/4), 6-4. It was a pretty high-quality match for the first match in the year after a break so it was good, just a bit unfortunate in the end,” Murray told The National newspaper.
Murray ends landmark year with win over Raonic (Yahoo Sports)
(Reuters) – World number one Andy Murray ended 2016 with a 6-3 7-6(6) win over big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic to take third place at the year-ending exhibition tournament Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The 29-year-old Scot succumbed to a surprise loss to Belgian David Goffin on Friday, having ended the official season with a 24-game string of wins. Murray started the match quickly, breaking Raonic in his first two service games to take the first set.
Murray loses season opener to Goffin in Abu Dhabi (Yahoo Sports)
(Reuters) – World number one Andy Murray started his new season with a surprise 7-6(4) 6-4 loss to David Goffin in the semi-finals of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi on Friday. After losing the opening set at the year-ending exhibition event, Murray, twice winner of the tournament, recovered to go 3-2 up in the second set but Goffin broke back twice and held serve to progress to the final. Goffin will face either Milos Raonic or Rafael Nadal in Saturday’s final, with Murray, who lost just nine matches in his entire 2016 season, up against the loser… Read More
Serena Williams, Reddit co-founder announce engagement (Yahoo Sports)
Serena Williams has announced her engagement to Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, via, naturally, a Reddit post. On the site’s “/r/isaidyes” forum, Williams wrote,
Factbox: Former world number one Ana Ivanovic (Yahoo Sports)
(Reuters) – Factbox on Ana Ivanovic, who retired from tennis at the age of 29 on Wednesday. Born: Nov. 6, 1987 in Belgrade Right-hander with a two-handed backhand who turned professional in 2003 and went on to win 15 WTA titles and become world number one in 2008. Won the French Open in 2008, beating Russian Dinara Safina in the final for her only grand slam title. She was also runner-up at Roland Garros in 2007 and the Australian Open in 2008. …
Former world number one Ivanovic retires at age 29 (Yahoo Sports)
By Zoran Milosavljevic BELGRADE (Reuters) – Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 29 on Wednesday because she no longer feels fit enough to compete at the highest level. Ivanovic became the first Serbian woman to win a grand slam tournament when she beat Russian Dinara Safina in the 2008 French Open final, following in the footsteps of compatriot Novak Djokovic who clinched the Australian Open title the same year. It has been a difficult decision but there is so much to celebrate,” Belgrade-born Ivanovic said on Facebook.