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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Giri Nathan

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after the men's singles final match at the French Open.

Tennis

Rafael Nadal Found Process In Pain

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 29: Rafael Nadal of Spain, Novak Djokovic of Serbia competing in the Men's Singles Second Round during Day 3 of Tennis - Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Olympics

Rafael Nadal And Novak Djokovic Play One More For The Road

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

In ‘Twelve Final Days,’ Roger Federer Still Has The Magic

Rafael Nadal is playing against Alexander Zverev in the first round of the men's singles at the Roland Garros French Open tennis tournament in Paris, France, on May 27, 2024.

There Are No Tidy Endings In Rafael Nadal’s Clay Temple

ATP CEO Massimo Calvelli (left) sits alongside Kevin Foster, PIF Head of Corporate Affairs

ATP Tour Announces Deal To Accept More Saudi Money

<p>Lucas Hubbard is a North Carolina-based writer whose work has appeared in Microfiction Monday Magazine, INDY Week, Paste, and other outlets.</p>


Lucas Hubbard

A card with a bunch of love items about Rafael Nadal. There's one of him picking his wedge, one of him screaming after a point and him, in a heart, smiling. Also there are drawings of tennis balls and tennis rackets.

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Nadal

Rafael Nadal announces his withdrawal from the French Open

Rafael Nadal Will Be Out Of The French Open, And Out Of Tennis After 2024

Rafael Nadal Limps Out Of The Australian Open

Frances Tiafoe celebrates after his U.S. Open win over Rafael Nadal

Frances Tiafoe Refined His Bits And Toppled Rafael Nadal

Patrick Redford

Spain's Rafael Nadal (R) greets Australia's Rinky Hijikata (L) during their 2022 US Open Tennis tournament men's singles first round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, on August 30, 2022. (Photo by COREY SIPKIN / AFP) (Photo by COREY SIPKIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Rinky Hijikata Made The Most Of His U.S. Open Moment

Rafael Nadal pumps a fist during his Wimbledon quarterfinal.

Rafael Nadal’s Torn Abdomen Forces Him To Withdraw From Wimbledon

Alexander Zverev suffers a severe ankle injury at the French Open.

That Was Gnarly

Laura Wagner

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 24: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with the trophy after winning their match against Pablo Carreño Busta of Spain during Day seven of Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 2022 at Real Club De Tenis Barcelona on April 24, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain.

Carlos Alcaraz Is Not A Normal Guy

Tom Ley

Rafael Nadal Stands Alone

Defector Up All Night

That’s Pretty Much As Good As It Gets

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece plays a forehand during his Men’s Singles Quarterfinals match against Rafael Nadal of Spain during day 10 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 17, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia.