Rafael Nadal will not defend his US Open title as he has withdrawn from the tournament after failing to recover from a wrist injury.
The 14-time Grand Slam winner had withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters and the Rogers Cup in Toronto in the hope of healing from the injury. The left-hander was practising with a splint on his wrist after sustaining the injury during a training session last month.
Last week, Nadal issued a statement saying that he would take a call on his participation over the weekend. He postponed his decision to Monday and eventually announced his absence from the tournament today.
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The World No. 2 posted his decision on his Facebook page, breaking hearts of several fans who were eager to see him in action at Flushing Meadows. Here is his statement in full:
Nadal had won the 2013 US Open trophy by defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. The title march had catapulted him back to the World No. 1 position after he had undergone a seven-month injury layoff in late 2012 and early 2013. This was his second US Open triumph, having also won the American Slam in 2010.
With Nadal’s withdrawal, the path has cleared somewhat for the other major contenders, especially World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and five-time champion Roger Federer. Djokovic will be looking to add to his lone US Open victory achieved in 2011, while Federer, who yesterday won the Cincinnati Masters, will be hoping to extend his record tally of 17 Grand Slam titles.
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