“RAFA” RAFAEL NADAL PULLS OUT OF WIMBLEDON WITH HIS WRIST INJURY AND TSONGA IS SIDELINED FROM THE QUEEN’S CLUB TENNIS TOURNEY

Written by: Staff on 10th June 2016

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

"RAFA" RAFAEL NADAL PULLS OUT OF WIMBLEDON WITH HIS WRIST INJURY AND TSONGA IS SIDELINED FROM THE QUEEN'S CLUB TENNIS TOURNEY

epa05330031 Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Facundo Bagnis of Argentina during their men's single second round match at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 26 May 2016.??? EPA/IAN LANGSDON |

By Ricky Dimon

Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that he will not play at Wimbledon later this month because of the wrist problem that also forced him out of the recent French Open. Nadal coasted through two matches at Roland Garros before withdrawing prior to a contest in the last 32 against fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion posted the following on Facebook: “Hi everybody. I’m sad to announce that after talking to my doctors, and receiving the results of my last medical revision, I won’t be able to play at Wimbledon this year. As you can all imagine, it’s a very tough decision, but the injury I suffered at Roland Garros needs time to heal. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to join in the pre-tournament event #TheBoodles at #Stokepark that I attended in previous years.

“Thank you all for your support, especially my fans. Your kind messages mean so much to me.”

Nadal has an up-and-down relationship with the All-England Club. On the extremely positive side, the 30-year-old has won it twice. He outlasted Roger Federer in one of the most famous matches ever played in the 2008 title match before less ceremoniously crushing Tomas Berdych in the 2010 final. However, Nadal could not play in 2009 due to knee tendinitis, fell in stunning fashion to Lukas Rosol in the 2012 second round, and has since been the victim of upsets at the hands of Steve Darcis, Nick Kygios, and Dustin Brown.

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns to Dustin Brown of Germany in their second round match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 02 July 2015. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

The former world No. 1 will see only 45 ranking points come off the board when Wimbledon ends because he lost to Brown in round two last summer.

Wimbledon hopes to soften the blow of Nadal’s absence with, among many others, flamboyant Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The world No. 12’s presence is, however, in serious doubt after he retired from a third-round Roland Garros match against Ernests Gulbis and on Thursday withdrew from Queen’s Club.

”I am very disappointed that this injury means that I will not be able to play in the Aegon Championships,” Tsonga wrote on Facebook, noting that he booked a top 100 spot for the first time in his career at this tournament (2007) and also once finished runner-up (2011).

“I was looking forward to coming back,” he added. “I hope to return in the future…. ”A lesion on my long adductor was diagnosed! I’m in rehab this week and very optimistic to be back soon. I am hopeful to participate in the season on grass.”