Wimbledon 2016: Nadal Withdraws From Grand Slam Tournament Due To Wrist Injury
Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that he would not be participating in Wimbledon later this month.
Nadal sustained a wrist injury during the French Open back in May in a match at Roland Garros stadium. The former world champion took an injection to his wrist to allow him to complete his second-round match against Facundo Bagnis, but was forced to pull out the next day after the pain became worse.
The two-time Wimbledon winner confirmed the news for fans on his Facebook page.
“As you can imagine it’s a sad decision but the injury on my wrist at Roland Garros needs time to heal.”
Continuing to play during the French Open and in Wimbledon later this month would put Nadal at risk of suffering a break, which would take a significantly longer time to heal. At the moment, Nadal is unable to practice, making a bid for a Wimbledon title next to impossible.
The Spaniard is ranked fourth in the world, and many consider him to be one of the greatest players in the history of tennis. He is especially famous for his dominance on the clay courts, earning him the title “The King of Clay.” The four big tournaments that make up the Grand Slam tournaments or majors are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon (which is held in London), and the U.S. Open. There are different courts at each tournament: hard courts for both the Australian and U.S. Open, grass at Wimbledon, and clay at the French Open where Nadal has dominated. He won four straight French Open titles between 2005 and 2008 and another five consecutive championships from 2010 to 2014.
Nadal’s wrist problem is the latest in a string of injuries, which have derailed the tennis superstar’s career and prevented him from attending past tournaments. Nadal has suffered from back, knee, and shoulder injuries throughout his years of play. Despite these setbacks, Nadal has managed to secure 14 grand slam titles, an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and numerous other tennis titles.
Back in May, Nadal was advised by doctors to cease playing and allow his wrist to heal. While he did not need surgery, the MRI results were not promising. Nevertheless, Nadal expected to heal in time to participate in Wimbledon, so the recent news has both the tennis star and his fans devastated. But for most observers this was to be expected. The New York Times consulted Dr. Richard Berger of the Mayo Clinic who guessed that Nadal was probably “looking at a recovery period of at least a month or six weeks.” It is more likely that Nadal will be ready for the Summer Olympics in Brazil set to start in August.
Rafael Nadal is not the only high-profile tennis player to put his Grand Slam time on hold due to injury. Roger Federer withdrew from this year’s French Open as well to prevent further issues after experiencing problems with a prior knee injury. Unlike Nadal, however, Federer will be playing at Wimbledon. The high-profile status of both players – Federer ranks third in the world – lends itself to many comparisons between the two players. In light of all these injuries and absences, fans are wondering which of the two will be the first to retire.
Nadal has managed to come back from a number of injuries, but some are doubtful about how well the star can bounce back, especially considering how serious the injury is to his wrist. The New York Times reported that the injury was preventing Nadal from making his signature shot – a “whipping topspin forehand” – without experiencing severe pain.
Wimbledon will take place from June 27 to July 10 in Wimbledon, London, in the United Kingdom.
