Rafael Nadal’s Shuts Down 2021 Season, No US Open
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Rafael Nadal has officially ended his 2021 season, the former No. 1 announced today. Nadal cited ongoing issues with his left foot for putting an end to 2021.
He only played on event since the French Open, losing in his second match at Washington to Lloyd Harris.
The 35-year-old will hope to return next year.
“I am very sorry to announce that I will not be able to keep playing tennis during the 2021 season. But as you know I have been suffering too much with my foot for the last year. I have missed a lot of important events for me like the US Open now, like Wimbledon, like the Olympics and many other events that are so important and emotional for me.”
“After coming back from Toronto I took a couple of days to think about it. To talk with my family, with my team and with my doctors especially to understand what is going on. But the foot is not the proper way today. During the past year I was not practicing and preparing myself the way that I need to to be competitive at the standard I want to be, so we had to take that decision. But I am confident that I will recover 100% and I will be able to fight again for the most important things.
“The injury is nothing new. It is the same injury that I am having since 2005. In that moment the doctors were very negative about my future career, but I was able to have a career that I never dreamed about. So I am confident that I will recover again the foot and if the foot is better I am confident that my tennis, my mentality will be there again soon. The only thing you can be sure of is I am going to fight every single day to make that happen.
“Hope to see you soon. I want to say thanks in advance to all the fans for all the messages, especially during these hard moments, all the messages are helpful. Thanks for the support as always. Don’t have any doubt that I will miss you a lot I will be back and I will be back the right way.”
Nadal, who also missed the US Open, joins fellow Slam champions Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem among those ending their seasons early. Juan Martin del Potro is expected to follow soon.
Djokovic will once again be the lone Big 3 member at the US Open. Former champions Andy Murray and Marin Cilic will also be in the field.
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