Tennis participation grows to more than 25M players in the US even as pickleball's popularity surges

Rafael Nadal had a lot to smile about this week. That's not a statement that could be made often this season, as everyone knows. But he blasted Stan Wawrinka, 6-2, 6-1, to set up a semifinal showdown at the Shanghai Masters event against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. And during that encounter, he executed what immediately became the most graceful tumble ever taken on a tennis court.

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Seriously, though, that was just as good -- if not better -- than any fall Roger Federer would ever take, were the Fed given to actually slipping to the ground more than once a decade. In the end, Nadal's tennis couldn't quite buoy him to victory against Tsonga, and he ultimately lost, 6-4, 0-6, 7-5, to his foe. Even so, the takeaways from another confidence-infused week of tennis are mighty for the Bull from Mallorca.

Well done, you black (and blue) swan.

Follow Jon on Twitter @jonscott9. News tips gladly accepted. Serving tips kindly refused.

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Nadal lands the most graceful fall of all-time on a tennis court

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