Once Rafael Nadal dropped out of Cincy which ends a week prior to the start of the US Open, there were whispers whether he’d be ready to play the US Open.
Well, the answer is out.
Rafa is out of the US Open.
Rafa tweeted this announcement earlier today. He’s historically had problems with knee tendinitis. In 2009, he had to withdraw from Wimbledon after a shock loss to Robin Soderling at the French Open.
This really helps the other top 3 players, especially Andy Murray, who has struggled the most against Rafa losing to him in a large number of semifinals in the past few Slams.
This means one half of the draw is expected to be more challenging (whichever half gets Andy Murray) although given del Potro’s potential to do well, it may not be a cakewalk (and del Potro is seeded low enough, he could still be in the same half as Murray and which ever top seed is in that group).
Nadal last played tennis when he lost to Lukas Rosol in the second round of Wimbledon. Shortly thereafter, he withdrew from the Olympics, then shortly before Toronto, he said he would not play, then the same at Cincy.
