Rafael Nadal Withdraws From Balance Of The ATP Season

Written by: Resendiz on 26th October 2012

RAFAEL NADAL WILL BE THE SPANISH OLYMPIC TEAM FLAG BEARER

Rafael Nadal Withdraws From Balance Of The ATP Season

epa03306439 Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal delivers a speech after he received the Spanish national flag which he will bear during the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony, at Spanish Olympic Committee headquarters in Madrid, Spain, 14 July 2012. Nadal will be the Spanish olympic team flag bearer in the London 2012 Games beginning on 27 July 2012. EPA/BALLESTEROS |

The inevitable became fact as Rafael Nadal finally killed all optimism that he could make a return to the ATP scene this year when the former world no.1, sidelined since Wimbledon, announced his ongoing problems in the left knee decreed he must withdraw from both next week’s BNP Paribas Masters in Paris and the ensuing Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.

However there is still no mention of whether or not he is available for selection for Spain in the Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic in Prague, beginning November 16. And there remains expectation in the title-holders’ support rather than camp, that Nadal will still make an emotional return to play doubles alongside Marc Lopez although such hopes now seem slight.

Last week he admitted: “About the Davis Cup final, of course I would love to take part in it, but first I have to see if I will be ready technically and physically. We would have to ask whether I am the right choice to compete in a Spanish team that has been long preparing for this important tie considering also the months I have spent without playing. But that’s a decision that it’s not mine.”

Nadal’s last competitive appearance was the shock second-round loss to Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon on June 28. He subsequently missed the Olympics and the US Open after revealing he had a partial tear in his patella tendon.

In a statement issued from his native Majorca, the reigning French Open champion said: “It’s disappointing for me to miss the last two tournaments of the season in Paris and London, but it doesn’t come as a surprise.

“I will hopefully resume my tennis practice soon since I am making good progress with my recovery from injury. I am not ready to compete in time for these events so I will continue my recovery in Mallorca and work hard to be back as soon as possible.”

Brad Drewett, the ATP executive chairman and president, said: “We wish Rafa all the best as he continues his rehabilitation from injury.

“Rafa is an incredible champion and it goes without saying that he has been missed on the ATP World Tour over the past few months. We look forward to welcoming him back on the tour very soon.”

Nadal’s place amongst the leading eight in the ATP’s Race to London will now be filled by the ninth placed player with Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic currently filling that position.

Juan Martin Del Potro, the Argentine whose career was halted for almost a year because of wrist problems but has now clinched his London place with a 7-5, 6-1 defeat of American Brian Baker at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, spoke for the rest of the players when he said: “I’m sad for Rafa, he’s really trying in his comeback. But it’s not easy after such a long time away. I had the same feeling with my wrist.

“We miss Rafa a lot on the Tour. He is one of the best players in history, he will come back strong.  I’m sure it will be very soon. He will be ready to win a big event again, I know that he can play better than me when he makes his comeback, I wish all the best to him.”

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Topics: ATP tennis news, London Finals, Rafa, Rafael Nadal, Sports, tennis injury, Tennis News