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robpal pisze:Rafael Nadal OUT
Adrian Ungur IN

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robpal pisze:Rafael Nadal OUT
Adrian Ungur IN

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Fellow players lament withdrawal of Nadal from US Open



By Matt Cronin
Thursday, August 16, 2012

As 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick says, hardcore pro tennis takes a serious toll on players’ bodies, so injury withdrawals nowadays are as common as seeing players wrapping tape around their knees.

Still, 2010 US Open champion Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from the 2012 US Open with chronic tendinitis in his left knee reverberated around the players lounge at Cincinnati’s Western & Southern Open. Nadal is not only an iconic player to fans, but he is one of the most well-liked players on tour.

Four of his premier rivals lamented the loss of his engaging personality and competitive fire at the event, a clear indication that despite having taken significant losses to him, all of them respect him and realize how important he has been to the sport’s success.

No. 1 Roger Federer, who has played Nadal in countless big matches, wrote him upon his arrival in Cincinnati when he realized that Nadal would miss another event. The Spaniard has been off tour since his surprising second-round loss to Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon on June 28 and has no set a definitive date for return, although he has left open the possibility of competing in Spain’s Davis Cup semifinal at home against the United States, which begins five days after the US Open concludes.

“It's disappointing for tennis, there's no doubt about it,” Federer said. “I would love to have him in the draw. In particular, sort of the 12 days before the Open, you figure he might still have time to fix what he has to fix to get ready. If he pulls out that early before the Open, it must be something serious. That's why it’s sort of scary. There is obviously the whole debate going on if he is going come back for this year. I hope he will. He's definitely got some more weeks off now because of it. I hope in hindsight this is a very smart decision by him. But it's obviously a big blow and disappointing news for the tennis world.”

No. 2 Novak Djokovic, who bested Nadal in a marathon four-set US Open final last year, noted that while injury withdrawals are part and parcel of the sport, the tennis world holds its collective breath anytime a legendary player is forced to skip a major.

“He's a great competitor, and he’s somebody I know really well on and off the court,” said Djokovic, who has faced Nadal in the final of four of the last five majors. “I'm sure that if he was able to perform in [the] US Open, he would come. So I wish him a quick recovery. The fact is that tennis is going to lose a little bit because of Rafa not being there and playing, because he's somebody that has made a history of this sport. We all know how good he is and how popular he is. There is everybody else except him who is going to play there, so I am sure we will have a good tournament.”

Andy Murray, who has taken so many difficult losses to Nadal at the Slams, including in last year’s US Open semifinals, looked pained when discussing the pullout. While almost every player has come into a Grand Slam event at less than 100 percent, it is considered preferable to do that and give oneself an outside chance rather than not being able to show up at all.

“Obviously a shame,” said Murray, the Olympic gold medalist who has a very good chance of passing Nadal for the No. 3 spot in the rankings after the US Open. “I like Rafa a lot as a friend. I'm disappointed for him. I think for tennis and also a major competitions, it's a huge benefit when you have the top players playing. It’s obviously tough for him. He's had trouble with his knees in the past. So I hope he can rest, doesn't come back too early, and gets them fixed so he can get back to playing his best tennis.”

And while a player such as 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro may benefit from Nadal’s withdrawal, he remains empathetic.

“Everybody knows Rafa,” Del Potro said. “He's a big fighter. He will be with us very, very soon, and could be dangerous for us when he come back because he gonna be much better than the rest of the players. He's still very, very young. He has many challenges to do it, so he will be ready very soon. I wish all the best for him because he's a nice guy.”

Veteran players tend not to be in awe of other competitors, but to the younger set, like U.S. teenager Sloane Stephens, Nadal takes on godlike status. She’s both a fellow player and fan of his. At previous US Opens, she has sat among the masses watching him belt heavy balls during practice. Nadal’s aura not only permeates Arthur Ashe Stadium but extends to the outside grounds, where fans would run to see him hustle around the practice courts.

“I love Rafa.” Stephens said. “I get star struck when I see him. I'm like, ‘Oh, my God I wish I could touch him.’ It will be sad with him not there. He's such an amazing player. I like seeing him practice. He's on [Practice Courts 1 through 5] and he's always on the first court so everyone can see. I like eating my lunch and watching him. I'm kind of bummed he won't be there.”

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Młodszy brat. Urodzony w 1994 roku, na zawodowstwo przeszedł w maju i już zdążył zaliczyć połówkę niezłego challengera i awansować na 500 miejsce w rankingu.

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