The 2012 U.S. Open suffered a major blow Wednesday when Rafael Nadal announced on Twitter that he would have to miss the tournament because of injury.
“I am very sad to announce that I am not ready to play the US Open in NY. Thanks to my fans for their support and specially, the new yorkers,” Nadal, the world’s No. 3-ranked player and the 2010 U.S. Open champ, announced on Twitter.
Nadal hasn’t played since June 28, when he lost to Lukas Rosol, the world’s No. 100 player, in the second round of Wimbledon. He then dropped out of the Olympics, citing injury.
Nadal completed the career Grand Slam by winning the 2010 Open, and then lost in last year’s final to Novak Djokovic.
The 2012 U.S. Open would have presented a fascinating dynamic in which each of the world’s top four players had won a major event coming into Queens.
Djokovic, now No. 2, won the Australian Open. Nadal took home his record-breaking seventh French Open title. Top-ranked Roger Federer captured Wimbledon. And No. 4 Andy Murray beat Federer earlier this month to win the gold medal in the London Olympics at Wimbledon.
“I’m sure that if he could’ve played U.S. Open he definitely would,” Djokovic told Justin Gimelstob in Cincinnati. “It’s one of the four best tournaments that we have in the game, so it must be something very serious. Hopefully he recovers fast.”
David Brewer, the U.S. Open tournament director, confirmed Nadal’s announcement with this statement: “Rafa has informed us that he will not be ready to compete at the U.S. Open this year.”
Photo: AP
