RAFAEL ” RAFA ” NADAL WITHDRAWS FROM THE WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN COMING UP IN CINCINNATI OHIO , RAFA IS DEFENDING CHAMP HURT HIS RIGHT WRIST

Written by: Staff on 30th July 2014

RAFAEL " RAFA " NADAL WITHDRAWS FROM THE WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN COMING UP IN CINCINNATI OHIO , RAFA IS DEFENDING CHAMP HURT HIS RIGHT WRIST

epa04282816 Rafael Nadal of Spain plays Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic in their second round match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 26 June 2014. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Western & Southern Open defending champion Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the 2014 tournament due to a right wrist injury. Nadal has also withdrawn from the ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto, which precedes the Western & Southern Open.

“Unfortunately I injured my right wrist yesterday during practice and after the tests I have undergone today in Spain, including an MRI, and checking with my doctors, I will have to stay out of competition for at least 2-3 weeks. I am sorry and wish the best to the tournament and thank all of the fans for their support,” said Nadal. “I’m extremely disappointed that I am unable to defend my titles and compete in Toronto and Cincinnati this year. I was looking forward to coming and playing again after my great results last year.”

“It is very unfortunate that Rafa is unable to defend his title. He is a great champion, and his run to the title last year electrified our fans. We will miss him, and we wish him a very speedy recovery,” said tournament director Vince Cicero. “The men’s field remains incredibly strong, with five-time champion Roger Federer, two-time champion Andy Murray, and Novak Djokovic, who is on a quest to become the first to complete the Career Golden Masters with a title here. We’re looking forward to welcoming these men along with the top WTA stars to Cincinnati in just nine days.”

Nadal is one of five players to withdraw due to injury, joining Nicolas Almagro (foot), Alexandr Dolgopolov (knee), Tommy Haas (shoulder) and Florian Mayer (groin).

The withdrawals have allowed five players direct entry into the field, headlined by two-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt. Also joining the field are Julien Benneteau, Denis Istomin, Yen-Hsun Lu and Gilles Simon.

Twenty-three of the Top 25 players on the ATP World Tour remain entered in the Western & Southern Open. All 39 of the Top 39 ranked players on the WTA are on the initial entry list for the women’s tournament.

Both the men’s and women’s tournaments at the Western & Southern Open will consist of 56-player singles fields. Four men and up to five women will be awarded wild cards into the tournament. In addition, a two-round qualifying tournament will be held August 9-10 in which an additional seven men and 12 women will earn berths into the W&S Open. The main draw will be made on the evening of August 8.

The Western & Southern Open is one of only five tennis events in the world, outside of the grand slams, where the best men and women play during the same week at the same venue.

Editors note : This tourney is aptly named. Tennis fans from everywhere around the United States as well as the world. Great place Mason, Ohio. Great event! The tourney director there was Paul Flory. He ran that event beautifully for forty years and never got a salary. If tennis had more friends like Mr. Flory and less greedy undertakers and vampires our sport would be strong and solid. Last note. American tennis needs $$$$ put in American players’ travel accounts. Go away USTA. It’s not about facilities. It’s about players doing their own things with travel costs covered for their family or coaches or husbands or whatever. Not be forced into the system to get the perks. $$$$ in their pockets. Facilities when they choose to ask for additional fitness or training or coaching. Pat Mac may need to go to Washington DC ?

Official Tweet: “Wow I’m tempted to fly to DC and @CitiOpento see all the Americans in action tomorrow. Future is on display people. #weareacomin”

You’d think he be texting – “I’m on the way team! Proud of you all!”

About the Western & Southern Open

The Western & Southern Open will be held August 9-17, 2014 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, 20 miles north of Cincinnati in Mason, OH. The tournament is one of the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 events on the men’s tour and a Premier 5 event for the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), making it one of only five events in the world outside of the grand slams with events of that caliber occurring during the same week at the same venue. The tournament is also one of the last stops on the Emirates Airline US Open Series before the US Open in New York. Since 1974, the tournament has contributed more than $9 million directly to its beneficiaries: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the Barrett Cancer Center and Tennis for City Youth.

Topics: Andy Murray, ATP event, Novak Djokovic, Rafa, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, Western & Southern Open

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10sBalls_com says:

July 30, 2014 at 2:27 pm

RAFAEL “RAFA” #NADAL #WITHDRAWS FROM THE WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN COMING UP IN CINCINNATI OHIO, RAFA…- http://t.co/I4Qy8atkr0 @RafaelNadal