Nadal Comeback from Long Layoff Reaches Brisbane Quarterfinals

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 1, 2021 Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts during his first round match against Australia's Alexei Popyrin. Reuters
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 1, 2021 Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts during his first round match against Australia's Alexei Popyrin. Reuters
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Nadal Comeback from Long Layoff Reaches Brisbane Quarterfinals

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 1, 2021 Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts during his first round match against Australia's Alexei Popyrin. Reuters
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 1, 2021 Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts during his first round match against Australia's Alexei Popyrin. Reuters

Rafael Nadal's comeback from a year-long injury layoff reached the Brisbane International quarterfinals after dominating Jason Kubler 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday.

The 22-time major winner is playing on a wild card after his ranking slipped into the 600s as he recovered from hip surgery, and he's desperate for match time ahead of the Australian Open this month.

Nadal's first competitive match since January last year was a win on Tuesday against 2020 US. Open champion and former No. 3-ranked Dominic Thiem.

“It means a lot to me," Nadal said, The Associated Press reported.

"And two victories after a long time being outside of the professional tour is something that, yeah, makes me feel good and happy.”

He was more convincing against Kubler, a hometown favorite who is ranked 63rd after a career interrupted by multiple operations on his knees.

Nadal had 20 winners, including some ripping forehands, and eight unforced errors. He hit volleys and half-volleys and overheads. He scrambled to chase drop shots and covered the baseline without any visible signs of the injury.

The 37-year-old Spaniard lost only one point in his first three service games — a double-fault on the second point of the match. But he was also able to dig himself out of a hole by winning five straight points when he faced triple breakpoint while serving for the first set.

“I came on court trying to be aggressive with my shots from the the baseline and it worked very well,” Nadal said in an on-court TV interview. "It's been a very positive match for me, (and I ) have the chance to play again tomorrow."

The only blip for Nadal was a warning for a time violation for taking too long in a locker-room break between sets. He shrugged it off, saying it was so humid he needed to change his clothing. He promised he'd work on getting faster this year.

He'll play another Australian, Jordan Thompson, in the quarterfinals on Friday. Thompson got a walkover when fourth-seeded Ugo Humbert withdrew from their second-round match because of illness.

Victoria Azarenka is in familiar territory after reaching the quarterfinals in Brisbane, where she won her first WTA title in 2009 when the tournament was staged for the first time.

Azarenka beat Clara Burel of France 7-5, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals for the fifth time in six trips to the key Australian Open tune-up event.

The two-time Australian Open champion — in 2012 and 2013 — will next face third-seeded Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion who beat big-serving three-time Brisbane International winner Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

Pliskova went into the match on a 10-match winning streak in Brisbane and was coming off a second-round win over another former No. 1, Naomi Osaka. But Pliskova was often on the back foot with Ostapenko hitting 50 winners.

Azarenka opened Day 5 on Pat Rafter Arena and quickly took a 4-1 lead before withstanding a comeback from the No. 56-ranked Burel. She took an early break in the second set and finished off in 92 minutes.

“I felt that whenever I needed, I was able to step up my game,” Azarenka said.

No. 2-seeded Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, also stepped up her game in a 6-1, 6-0 win over No. 13 Elise Mertens.

Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, was playing a night match against Zhu Lin.

On the men's side, 2017 champion Grigor Dimitrov beat Daniel Altmaier 6-1, 6-2 with 20 winners and just five unforced errors. Dimitrov will next play Australian wild card Rinky Hijikata, who beat Czech qualifier Tomas Machac 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (4).



Saudi Arabia’s Sports Boulevard to Showcase Transformative Urban Development at MIPIM 2025

Saudi Arabia’s Sports Boulevard to Showcase Transformative Urban Development at MIPIM 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s Sports Boulevard to Showcase Transformative Urban Development at MIPIM 2025

Saudi Arabia’s Sports Boulevard to Showcase Transformative Urban Development at MIPIM 2025

Saudi Arabia’s Sports Boulevard Foundation announced its participation in MIPIM 2025, the world’s leading real estate investment event, taking place in Cannes, France from March 11 to 14.

As part of the “Invest Saudi” delegation, the foundation will present key investment opportunities and urban development insights, reinforcing Riyadh’s evolution into a global hub for sports, wellness, and sustainable living.

Sports Boulevard—one of Riyadh’s mega-projects—is set to become the world’s largest urban regeneration linear park, spanning more than 135 km across the capital. The project integrates cutting-edge sports infrastructure, vibrant public spaces, and sustainable mobility solutions, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030's goals of enhancing quality of life and economic diversification.

The first phase of Sports Boulevard, opened in February 2025, includes five key destinations along an 83 km stretch, marking a significant milestone in the foundation’s commitment to innovative urban development.

As of December 2024, the project has secured substantial investments, including a combined real estate investment fund valued at approximately $1.47 billion (SAR5.5 billion), which will further boost private-sector participation.

At MIPIM, the foundation will engage with global investors, urban planners, and real estate developers, showcasing prime opportunities across various sectors. Sports Boulevard offers over four million square meters of gross floor area (GFA) earmarked for private-sector participation, including high-end residential units, commercial and retail spaces, and sports venues. This strategic space is poised to attract global investors and developers eager to contribute to Riyadh’s transformation.

CEO of the Sports Boulevard Foundation Jayne McGivern commented: "Sports Boulevard is more than an urban development; it’s a movement towards a healthier, more sustainable future. We are showcasing Riyadh as a global model for active living, where sports, wellness, and urban infrastructure converge to foster a thriving community."

"With world-class sports facilities, green mobility networks, and vibrant public spaces, the project offers unmatched investment and innovation opportunities in real estate and sustainable urban planning," he said.

With over 4.4 million square meters of green spaces, 220 km of cycling pathways, and an extensive 135 km pedestrian network, Sports Boulevard is redefining urban livability in Riyadh. The project also includes 15 km of dedicated horse-riding trails, more than 50 multidisciplinary sports facilities, and a network of tree-lined walking paths and shaded areas, encouraging outdoor activities in the city’s evolving landscape.

Sports Boulevard is unlocking significant investment opportunities for local and international investors across core asset-class real estate, sports, and infrastructure. Launched by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on March 19, 2019, and chaired by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the project aims to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors by offering integrated infrastructure, pedestrian pathways, cycling and horse-riding trails, and world-class sports facilities.