Madrid: The 2021 season for Rafa Nadal is over. The Spaniard announced Friday that he will end his 2021 season early due to a foot injury. The move means that Rafa Nadal will not take part in the US Open tennis tournament starting August 30.
“I wanted to inform you that unfortunately I have to end the 2021 season. Honestly, I have been suffering much more than I should with my foot for a year. So I need to take some time off the court,” Nadal tweeted.
“After having discussed it with the team and family, this decision has been made. I think it is the way forward to try to recover and recover well to the best of my physical shape. It’s a year that I’ve missed things that matter a lot to me, like Wimbledon, like the Olympics,” Nadal added.
The troublesome foot injury had caused the 20-time Grand Slam winner to miss the Cincinnati Masters and Canadian Open last week. The foot issue flared up at this year’s French Open. Nadal had lost to eventual winner Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the French Open.
“I am (determined) to do whatever it takes to regain the best possible shape. I want to continue competing for the things that really motivate me and the things that I have done during all these years. I am convinced that with the recovery of the foot and obviously a very important daily effort this can be achieved. I will work as hard as I can to make it happen,” the 35-year-old signed off.
Nadal will be the third big absentee from the men’s singles event in the US Open. Defending champion Dominic Thiem has been ruled out due to wrist injury. On the other hand Roger Federer ended his season prematurely for further knee surgery. There is speculation that the third knee surgery may prompt Federer to end his career.
R