Nadal Forced to Cancel Madrid Exhibition Match With Djokovic

Written by: Staff on 5th July 2012

Nadal Forced to Cancel Madrid Exhibition Match With Djokovic

epa03286695 Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts as he plays Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic during their second round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 28 June 2012. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA |

Rafael Nadal has bowed to doctor’s orders and has been forced to cancel of the July 14 exhibition with No. 1 Novak Djokovic set for the massive Bernabeu stadium in Madrid .

The presence of Djokovic had been negotiated only a few months ago after Roger Federer decided that the one-off would not fit in with his preparations for the London Olympics starting late in the month. “I want to apologize to all, in particular to the fans that had already purchased a ticket to such a good cause, but unfortunately we won’t be able to play for the moment that match,” said No. 3 Nadal in a statement.

The two-time champion who lost in the Wimbledon second round last week, added: “Doctors have been checking my knee, and I suffer a tendinitis which will have me away from any practice or matches for 15 days, which makes it impossible to play with Novak Djokovic as we’d expected and announced.

“I was with my doctors on Monday and started already my treatment with the goal to be ready for the London Olympic Games and represent Spain once again.”

Ticket sales for the exho were reportedly well below capacity at the iconic football venue, perhaps a sign of Spain ‘s current economic strife.

“My apologies to Novak Djokovic as well as to the Real Madrid Foundation which has worked very hard together with my foundation so that everything would have been perfect,” said Nadal. “We are going to try to find a new date for this in the future, that’s for sure.”

Nadal said doctors told him he could not begin training for another fortnight, a deadline which will leave him only a few days to prepare for the Olympic event to be held at Wimbledon .

Topics: 10sballs.com, Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, exhibition match, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Serbian tennis news, Spanish tennis news, Tennis