World No.1 Rafael Nadal is set to withdraw from Spain’s upcoming Davis Cup tie after sustaining a right knee injury during the US Open.
Nadal was forced to retire during his semi-final clash with Juan Martin del Potro in New York after trailing the match by two sets. The Spaniard underwent two medical time outs to have his right knee taped before calling it quits. Making it the second time he has withdrawn from a grand slam match this season after the Australian Open.
“I had some issues during the tournament. In the second or third match, then I think it was a little bit better. But at two-all and 15-love in the first set I felt something on the knee. After that I was just trying to wait for some improvement.” Nadal said during his press conference.
“But it did not happen. I waited as much as I could. You could imagine, it was very difficult for me to say goodbye before the finish. But at some point I had to make a decision. But it was so difficult for me, so much pain. It was not a tennis match at the end, one player playing, and the other just staying at the other end.”
According to Argentinian journalist, Guillermo Salatino, Nadal has suffered a minor injury to the patella tendon in his knee. Reporting that the Spaniard will be sidelined from the tour for a month. Although this hasn’t been confirmed by Nadal’s team yet.
Meanwhile, Spanish journalist Angel Garcia Muniz has confirmed that Nadal will return back to his country to undergo further tests to establish the exact issue. He has also spoken with the Spanish Davis Cup captain, Sergi Bruguera, about his current situation. Saying that Nadal will give a formal decision following the tests. Although Bruguera has described the situation as ‘very complicated’ and the team will travel to France without Nadal.
It is not the first time the 32-year-old has suffered with knee problems. During 2012 he missed two months of the tour after tearing a tendon in his knee. He has also been hampered by issues with his feet, back, wrist, hamstring and legs during his career.
Nadal is scheduled to play in four tournaments during the remainder of the year. He is currently set to play in Beijing, Shanghai, Paris and London. The first of those tournaments, Beijing, will get underway on October 1st.
UPDATE: Nadal has formally withdrawn from the Davis Cup. He will be replaced by Albert Ramos.
https://twitter.com/spaintenis/status/1038517607132016641