Defending champion Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the U.S. Open with a wrist injury, potentially opening things up for world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and five-time Open champ Roger Federer.
“I am very sorry to announce I won’t be able to play at this year’s US Open,” Nadal said in a statement. “I am sure you understand that it is a very tough moment for me since it is a tournament I love and where I have great memories from fans, the night matches, so many things…
“[There is] not much more I can do right now, other than accept the situation and, as always in my case, work hard in order to be able to compete at the highest level once I am back.”
Nadal beat Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in last year’s U.S. Open final to add to his 2010 crown. He also reached the 2011 title match.
Nadal, the 14-time Grand Slam champion, injured his right wrist prior while practicing for the Rogers Cup in Toronto two weeks and was also unable to play last week in Cincinnati, where Federer won his sixth title. He has had a splint on his hand since suffering the injury July 30.
A year ago, Nadal won Montreal, Cincinnati and the U.S. Open to sweep the summer hardcourt events.
Had Nadal won the Open this year, he would’ve captured his 15th career Grand Slam title, moving him out of a tie with Pete Sampras and putting him two behind Federer’s 17.
Without him in the draw, Federer, ranked No. 3 in the world, figures to be the No. 2 seed and could face Djokovic in the final. World No. 4 Stan Wawrinka, the Australian Open champ, will likely be the No. 3 seed.
The U.S. Open runs Aug. 25-Sept. 8.
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