Rafael Nadal is out of the Australian Open after suffering a left knee injury. The world number one, 32, was forced to retire from his second-round match against Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis with a knee injury after trailing 1-6 7-6 (7/4) 2-2. “I’m really sad,” said Nadal. “It’s tough to play in this event without being 100 per cent.” He could now miss the entire clay court season and is unlikely to play at Roland Garros.
Spain’s Rafael Nadal is out of the Australian Open after suffering left knee injury.
Rafael Nadal is a Spanish tennis player. He has won 15 Grand Slam singles titles, including 10 French Open championships. Nadal is the only male player to have won the French Open in singles and doubles, as well as one of only two men to have achieved that in the open era. He also holds an all-time record for most titles at both Roland Garros (6) and Wimbledon (3).
Nadal was born on 3rd June 1986 in Manacor, Mallorca, Balearic Islands Spain where he began playing tennis at age three with his father Sebastián Nadal who was a professional football player for RCD Mallorca before becoming his coach later on when he started training professionally at 12 years old under Carlos Moyá’s guidance
The world number one, 32, was forced to retire from his second-round match against Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis with a knee injury after trailing 1-6 7-6 (7/4) 2-2.
The world number one, 32, was forced to retire from his second-round match against Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis with a knee injury after trailing 1-6 7-6 (7/4) 2-2.Australian Open championship.
Nadal looked to have been battling through the pain throughout his defeat but left court after losing the first set on Wednesday night and did not return for the second or third sets.
The Spaniard had appeared relaxed before the match started and joked with Australian Open officials about their decision not to allow him an exemption from wearing shorts in Melbourne’s cool weather conditions.
“I’m really sad,” said Nadal. “It’s tough to play in this event without being 100 per cent.”
The Spaniard, who has won the last two editions of the tournament, said that he had felt pain in his knee during practice on Friday.
“I’m really sad,” said Nadal after he was taken off court on a stretcher with an ice pack around his left knee and ankle. “It’s tough to play in this event without being 100 per cent.”
Nadal told reporters he had been feeling discomfort since December but could not pinpoint when exactly it started to affect him during matches. He also revealed that he had undergone tests earlier this week which showed nothing serious so far as injuries go but added: “Now is too soon.”
He could now miss the entire clay court season and is unlikely to play at Roland Garros.
Rafael Nadal has retired from his Australian Open second-round clash against Jiri Vesely due to a knee injury.
The world number one, who had been struggling with an ongoing problem in his right knee since January, was unable to continue after just over an hour on court in Melbourne.
The 32-year-old Spaniard could now miss the entire clay court season and is unlikely to play at Roland Garros – where he won a record 10th French Open title last June – with fears growing that his long reign as champion may be coming to an end.
Nadal had an injury last year and was able to come back and win Roland Garros
Nadal, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, had a serious knee issue last year. He was able to come back and win Roland Garros in June 2018 after a long layoff and months of rehab.
But he suffered another injury during this tournament, which is considered one of the most important in the sport alongside Wimbledon and the US Open.
Conclusion
Nadal said he was “really sad” to have left Australia so soon and added: “I’m not 100 per cent but I want to keep fighting. I love this sport, I love this tournament and I will come back as soon as possible.”
