Messi reveals Nadal inspiration after World Cup hat-trick
By Lee Seng Foo2 hours ago
(AELTC/Matthias Hangst)
Lionel Messi drew comparisons between himself and Rafael Nadal after leading Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.
The Argentina captain made a strong start to the tournament with a hat-trick, moving level with Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history on 16 goals.
Speaking after the match, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said Nadal’s mentality and desire to keep performing at the highest level resonated with him.
“I like playing football, it’s been my passion since I was little, and when I’m feeling good I give my maximum,” said the Inter Miami star.
“We’re watching Rafa Nadal’s series and we’re very similar, I identify with him a lot.
“I always want to give my maximum and feel good, and that’s how I enjoy it.”
Nadal retired in 2024 as one of the most decorated players in tennis history, winning 22 Grand Slam singles titles including two at Wimbledon.
Aldila Sutjiadi and Janice Tjen have secured direct entry into the women's doubles draw at Wimbledon after being named in the 64-pair entry list for the 2026 Championships.
The Indonesian pair, who won women's doubles gold at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, have already competed together at several major events this season, including the Madrid Open, Italian Open and Roland Garros.
They have also used the grass-court swing to build momentum ahead of Wimbledon, competing at the Libema Open and Nottingham Open.
Filipino star Alex Eala joins her fellow Southeast Asians in the women's doubles event at the All England Club as she teams up with Czech Republic's Nikola Bartunkova.
Meanwhile, Thai players Pruchya Isaro, Lanlana Tararudee and Peangtarn Plipuech, along with their respective partners, are currently listed as alternates after missing out on direct entry into the doubles draws.
The doubles competition is also headlined by the return of Venus and Serena Williams, who have received a wildcard to reunite at Wimbledon for the first time since the 2022 US Open.
The Wimbledon main draw begins on June 29, with full live coverage available on SPOTV NOW.
Venus and Serena Williams will reunite at Wimbledon later this month after receiving a wildcard entry into the women's doubles draw.
The former world number ones will team up for the first time since the 2022 US Open.
The announcement is another step in Serena's comeback after the 44-year-old returned to competitive tennis earlier this month following an absence of nearly four years.
She recently competed in doubles alongside Victoria Mboko at the HSBC Championships and is scheduled to pair with Karolina Muchova at the Berlin Open this week.
Serena has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and seven Wimbledon crowns, while Venus lifted the singles trophy five times.
Together, the sisters captured 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, including six at Wimbledon.
Wimbledon has crowned some of the greatest champions in tennis history, from Roger Federer and Martina Navratilova to Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams.
Yet for every player who lifted the famous trophy at the All England Club, there are others who left London wondering what might have been. Despite winning Grand Slam titles, reaching world No. 1 and dominating their respective eras, several of the sport's biggest names were unable to conquer the grass courts of Wimbledon.
Ahead of the 2026 edition, which will be broadcast live on SPOTV NOW, here are 10 notable players who enjoyed remarkable careers but never managed to win one of tennis' most prestigious titles.
Ivan Lendl
Few players achieved more during the Open Era than Lendl. The former world No. 1 won eight Grand Slam singles titles and 94 ATP tournaments, establishing himself as one of the dominant figures of the 1980s. Wimbledon, however, remained the one major missing from his resume. Lendl reached the final in 1986 and 1987 and made five semi-finals at the All England Club, but was unable to convert those opportunities into a title.
Monica Seles
Seles was one of the most successful players of her generation, winning eight out of nine Grand Slam singles titles and reaching world No. 1 before the age of 20. However, she never won at Wimbledon, with her best result coming in 1992 when she lost to Steffi Graf in the final. Seles never returned to the championship match, especially after the infamous stabbing attack in 1993 that sidelined her for more than two years, with quarter-final appearances representing her best results subsequently at the All England Club.
Justine Henin
Henin enjoyed success on both clay and hard courts throughout her career, but Wimbledon proved elusive. The Belgian reached the final twice, losing to Venus Williams in 2001 and Amelie Mauresmo in 2006, leaving Wimbledon as the only Grand Slam title missing from her collection.
Mats Wilander
Wilander collected seven Grand Slam singles titles and rose to world No. 1 during one of tennis' most competitive eras. The Swede won major titles on clay and hard courts, including three Australian Open crowns and three Roland Garros titles. Wimbledon was the exception, as Wilander never progressed beyond the quarter-finals, making it the only Grand Slam where he failed to reach a final.
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
Vicario won four Grand Slam singles titles and spent 12 weeks as world No. 1. Although best known for her achievements on clay, the Spaniard also produced some of her strongest tennis at Wimbledon. The Spaniard reached back-to-back finals in 1995 and 1996 but lost both matches to Steffi Graf. Those runner-up finishes remained the closest she came to winning the grass-court major.
Marcelo Rios
Rios occupies a unique place in tennis history as the only male world No. 1 in the Open Era who never won a Grand Slam singles title. Wimbledon stood out as the Chilean’s least successful major, as his best result at the All England Club was a fourth-round appearance in 1997.
Andy Roddick
Roddick came closer than most to ending his Wimbledon drought. The former world No. 1 and 2003 US Open champion reached three Wimbledon finals in 2004, 2005 and 2009. Unfortunately for the American, all ended in defeat to Roger Federer, including their memorable 16-14 fifth-set battle in 2009.
Jim Courier
Courier was one of the dominant players of the early 1990s, reaching six Grand Slam finals in the space of three years. Four resulted in Australia Open and Roland Garros success, but the former world number one came up short at the US Open and Wimbledon. For the latter, he lost to Pete Sampras in the 1993 final.
Ilie Nastase
Nastase was one of the leading figures in men's tennis during the 1970s, winning two Grand Slam singles titles and more than 60 career tournaments. He had several deep runs at Wimbledon, including reaching the finals in 1972 and 1976, but defeats to Stan Smith and Bjorn Borg denied him a title.
Guillermo Vilas
Long before Argentina became a regular force in men's tennis, Vilas helped put the country on the global tennis map. The left-hander won 62 singles titles including four Grand Slam honours during a remarkable career. While he enjoyed major success on clay and hard courts, grass was a tougher challenge. Vilas never progressed beyond the Wimbledon quarter-finals, leaving the tournament as one of the few notable gaps in an otherwise outstanding career.
Pedro Acosta hailed Marc Marquez as one of the greatest riders in MotoGP history, pointing to the Ducati star's remarkable comeback from injury and adversity.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider discussed Marquez during an appearance on the Gypsy Tales Podcast, where he reflected on the nine-time world champion's return to the top of the sport.
After suffering a series of injuries that threatened to derail his career, Marquez fought his way back to claim the 2025 MotoGP world title and secured his first victory of the 2026 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“If he's not the G.O.A.T., then he's the same level as Valentino [Rossi],” said Acosta.
“If you just think about his comeback to MotoGP, winning on the second try, and how much he suffered.
“For me, what makes Marc one of the greatest is not how much he achieved, it's how much it cost to take it back.
“When you have the crown and it goes away, normally we have to understand [it can happen when] younger riders like [Fabio] Quartararo, Pecco [Bagnaia], [Jorge] Martin come.
“These guys are talented, and you are coming back from really difficult years to take back what is yours."
