RAFAEL NADAL TARGETS DAVIS CUP RETURN

Written by: Staff on 18th August 2012

Rafael Nadal pulls out of US Open with injury

RAFAEL NADAL TARGETS DAVIS CUP RETURN

epa03362373 (FILE) Photo dated 12 September 2011 shows Rafael Nadal of Spain during the trophy ceremony after losing to Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men's final match of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA. Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the US Open Grand Slam tournament due to injury, organizers said on 15 August 2012. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

(Original Link: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/08/Features/Nadal-Targets-Davis-Cup-Return.aspx)

World No. 3 Rafael Nadal is hoping to be fit for Spain’s Davis Cup semi-final clash against the USA in September, after revealing on Friday that he is suffering from Hoffa’s Syndrome in his left knee. The Mallorcan has already been ruled out of the upcoming US Open, where he won the title in 2010 (d. Djokovic).

It is a condition that has worsened since first troubling the Spaniard in February, and which forced him to withdraw from the Sony Open Tennis semi-finals against Andy Murray in March in Miami. It is not, he said, the same patellar tendonitis that he has suffered from in the past.

“It’s something different and I think that is a positive thing because my tendons are much better than they were three years ago,” said Nadal, speaking to Spanish media on Friday. “I was managing it until Roland Garros, but afterwards the pain worsened considerably. The season was very hard from Indian Wells to Roland Garros; I played all the matches I could with very good results.

“The most important thing is to recover well and at this point in time, my knee is not ready to compete in a Grand Slam. I’m going to try to recover as soon as I can, to get to a level where I am able to return with good feelings, and with the ability to compete and train the best I can.

“What makes me happy is feeling that when I compete, I have the chance to win. I’m going to do everything possible to get fit in time [for the Davis Cup tie from 14-16 September in Gijon, Spain]. If the captain picks me, it would be my dream to be there.”

Hoffa’s Syndrome is otherwise known as fat pad impingement. The fatty soft tissue gets pinched between the patella tendon and the end of the shin bone, which is a cause of considerable anterior knee pain.

Topics: Andy Murray, Davis Cup 2012, Hoffa's Syndrome, Rafael Nadal, Sports, tennis injuries, Tennis News, US Open