Tennis News Today: Rafael Nadal involved in heated exchange with chair umpire during Madrid 2R; Son of Roger Federer's agent, Nicholas Godsick, leads Stanford Cardinal to Pac-12 Championship final

Rafael Nadal got into a fiery exchange with the chair umpire over a line call during his second-round match against Alex de Minaur at the 2024 Madrid Open. In other news, Roger Federer's agent's son Nicholas Godsick led Stanford Cardinal to the Pac-12 Championship final for the first time in nine years.

Meanwhile, Martina Navratilova criticized soccer star Megan Rapinoe for opposing the NCAA's proposed ban on transgender athletes in women's sports. Elina Svitolina shared a sneak peek of her spending time with her daughter Skai following the Madrid Open second-round exit.

On that note, here's a recap of today's top tennis news:

Rafael Nadal gets into heated argument with chair umpire in Madrid Open 2R

Rafael Nadal got into a heated exchange with the chair umpire during his second-round match against Alex de Minaur at the 2024 Madrid Open.

During the first set, Nadal contested a line call believing De Minaur's shot to be out, but the lineperson didn't make the call. Nadal pointed out the spot where the ball landed, indicating he wished to challenge the call. However, the chair umpire disagreed, stating that the challenges must be immediate, to which the Spaniard argued that marking the spot should prompt the umpire to review.

Unable to resolve the dispute, Nadal sought intervention from the tournament supervisor. Despite his reluctance, play resumed, but the challenge remained unresolved. Nadal eventually lost the serve, allowing De Minaur to level the set at 2-2.

Watch the video below:

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Rafael Nadal went on to defeat De Minaur 7-6(6), 6-3, and will now face Argentine Pedro Cachin in the third round.

Son of Roger Federer's agent Nicholas Godsick leads Stanford Cardinal to the Pac-12 Championship final

Nicholas Godsick, son of Roger Federer's agent Tony Godsick, has led Stanford Cardinals to the final of the Pac-12 Tournament for the first time in nine years. In a match against the No. 23 Arizona State, the No. 20 Stanford men’s team emerged as winners with a 5-1 score.

Nico Godsick posted a reel on his Instagram account to celebrate the achievement.

Martina Navratilova condemns Megan Rapinoe's stance against NCAA's proposed ban on transgender athletes in women's sports

Martina Navratilova has criticized Megan Rapinoe after the renowned American soccer star advocated for the inclusion of transgender athletes in NCAA women’s sports.

Rapinoe issued a statement reaffirming her belief that sports should be inclusive for all, including transgender athletes, and urged the NCAA to allow transgender athletes in women's sports.

"The time is now for the NCAA and the nationwide athletic community to speak up and affirm that sports should be for everyone, including transgender athletes," Rapinoe's statement read.

This stance sparked controversy, with former top-tier marathon runner Mara Yamauchi publicly criticizing Rapinoe on social media, arguing that Rapinoe’s successful career in women’s soccer wouldn’t have been possible if she had competed against transgender athletes.

Navratilova shared Yamauchi’s post and stated that Rapinoe’s position on this issue is misguided.

"Megan is wrong on this. And it’s a damn shame," Navratilova wrote.

Elina Svitolina shares adorable glimpse of cuddling her daughter Skai following Madrid Open exit

Elina Svitolina shared a glimpse of her spending with her and Gael Monfils' daughter Skai following her second-round exit against Sara Sorribes Tormo from the 2024 Madrid Open.

Svitolina posted a picture on social media where she can be seen cuddling Skai. Additionally, she shared an image highlighting the adorable relationship between Skai and their pet dog.

About the author

Shashank, a tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, joined the company about a year and a half ago. Despite his background in software engineering, his passion for the sport drove him to switch gears and dive into full-time journalism before which he worked as a tech writer.

With over 1000 articles and nearly 4 million views under his belt at SK, his stories stand out thanks to his deep dives into match stats, player tactics, and historical patterns, offering readers a fresh take every time. Above all, he is meticulous, making sure to double-check information from reliable sources before sharing it.

In Shashank's view, there's no room for debate: Novak Djokovic reigns supreme as the ultimate GOAT. He draws inspiration from the Serb's resilience, hard work, and relentless attitude, channeling those qualities into his own work.

Outside of his tennis musings, he finds joy in hitting the court himself, exploring new destinations during his travels, and watching movies.

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Edited by Neelabhra Roy