Olympic Injuries Hurt Cincinnati Tennis Tournament

Written by: Staff on 13th August 2012

Olympic Injuries Hurt Cincinnati Tennis Tournament

epa03288123 Fernando Verdasco of Spain returns to Xavier Malisse of Belgium during their second round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 29 June 2012. EPA/JONATHAN BRADY |

The post-Olympic injury toll which many had feared is biting hard as the hard-luck Cincinnati Masters begins, with major names missing at the final major tune-up prior to the start of the US Open in just over a fortnight.

Spain ‘s Fernando Verdasco has joined a handful of compatriots in giving the Midwest event a wide berth, with the No. 19 citing a wrist injury. “I need to inform that I will not be in Cincinnati finally,” tweeted the Spaniard. “My wrist didn’t recover on time, will now try to be ready for the US Open.”

The list of missing Spaniards runs deep and is headed by Rafael Nadal, whose chronic knee problems could now look like keeping the No. 3 from the US Open after playing his last match in late June in the Wimbledon second round.

Nicolas Almagro won’t be there due to a shoulder injury suffered the week after Wimbledon on clay in Stuttgart , with the player’s tweeting proof of his condition with a picture of the damaged and swollen joint recently. Veteran Juan Carlos Ferrero, the US open winner nearly a decade ago, is skipping Cincinnati with no reason given.

Frenchman Gael Monfils has not played since May 23 – the week before the French Open – and will remain off the circuit with knee problems of his own which have plagued him for much of his career.

Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray managed to front up last week in Toronto and win a match but then withdrew with knee worries. The Scot and his team insist that he will be ready soon.

One good sign for beleaguered organizers is the presence of Roger Federer, the London silver medallst who skipped last week’s Canada stop to rest for a few days in his Swiss chalet. The 17-time Grand Slam winner who turned 31 last week was already hitting on the American hardcourt three days before the tournament start.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: American tennis news, Andy Murray, Cincinnati Masters, Fernando Verdasco, Gael Monfils, Nicolas Almagro, Roger Federer, Sports