'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Clay King and French Open champ and the defending Olympic champion, Rafael Nadal has pulled out from the upcoming London Games. His chance of defending his gold medal and also winning it for the second straight time at the most esteemed event came to and end citing an undisclosed injury.
Nadal’s injury has been a major setback to Spain’s preparation for the London Games, 2012. He was set to be the flag bearer for his country during the opening ceremony. Though the 26-year-old didn’t refer to any specific injury but said the decision was made keeping in mind what’s best for his country. Rafael Nadal has not played a single match after getting eliminated in the second round from this year’s Wimbledon.
Trending
The defending champion later stated that the decision was the saddest, toughest and the most difficult of his life. His dream of becoming his country’s flag bearer got shattered when he pulled out of the Olympic Games. Nadal’s absence paved way for his compatriot, Feliciano Lopez who gets a direct entry into the singles competition. He even pulled out of a charity match on 4th July against rival Novak Djokovic at Spain’s Bernabeu stadium stating he was suffering from an injury and needed to rest.
Nadal’s injury was a big setback to his country as well as for the worldwide tennis lovers. His absence from the scene has almost put an end to Spain’s gold medal winning chances in both singles and doubles tennis event in the Olympics. The country’s Olympic committee later said that they would look for a replacement flag bearer for the game parade on 27th July. Rafa’s friend, Marc Lopez will play in the doubles partnering with Marcel Granollers for Spain in Nadal’s absence.
The gold medal winner at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 was struggling with an undisclosed injury and failed to recover from a knee problem. Rafa’s injury also dashed the hopes of millions of fans once again after the Wimbledon, who were hoping for another Federer vs Nadal final, for the first time in Olympics. Nadal after having won the French Open for a record seventh time this year, struggled because of his nagging knee problems.
Nadal’s absence has led to a clear road for Roger Federer at the All England Club once again. The defending Olympic champion’s decision of pulling out from the biggest extravaganza is still a shock to the entire world. Rafael Nadal will be thoroughly missed on the grass court and especially by his biggest arch rival, Roger Federer
