Rafael Nadal withdraws from Laver Cup due to ‘personal reasons’
Rafael Nadal withdraws from Laver Cup due to ‘personal reasons’
BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — Rafael Nadal withdrew from the U.S. Open after admitting he will not play in Friday’s title match, which he won two days ago.
Nadal’s announcement came after he beat Nicolas Mahut 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-0 in his most impressive match of the fortnight in the third-round match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. His withdrawal was the result of a personal matter, which he discussed in detail in an interview with The Associated Press.
“I’m not going to play,” Nadal said on Thursday. “I just have a personal problem.”
A statement from the organizers of the U.S. Open followed: “The United States Tennis Association (USTA) would like to personally thank Rafael Nadal for his participation in this event, and for his tireless dedication to our game over a period of such extraordinary success.”
It’s not the first time the top-ranked Spaniard has withdrawn from a major tournament. In 2010, Nadal withdrew from the French Open because of a back injury suffered the previous year, but he returned to win the clay-court event.
Nadal appeared determined to win the U.S. Open this season, but he was unable to do that. His latest victory came after returning from a knee injury earlier this year. He was ranked No. 4 in the world at the time.
Nadal’s withdrawal leaves only Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on the men’s side. That leaves only one man who has won the U.S. Open since 1990: Pete Sampras.
Sampras, who had won three straight titles at the U.S. Open, withdrew in 2005 because of a foot injury. That was the last U.S. Open won by a man other than Djokovic, Federer and Nadal. Nadal is the only man to
