Former Champion, Rafael Nadal, Withdraws from 2012 U.S. Open With Knee Injury
It’s a major blow for both Rafael Nadal, as well as the 2012 U.S. Open when a player of Rafa’s stature withdraws. There are also two other significant implications of Rafa’s withdrawal. By not playing at the 2012 U.S. Open, Rafa will be off the Tour for the longest
period in his career. At the same time, there will be a new fourth seed (most likely fellow Spaniard, David Ferrer) and subtle shift in the consistent dominance in the majors by the top four men over the past few years, i.e. Rafa, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. With this extended absence, there is also a strong chance that Andy Murray will move up to third in the rankings following the U.S. Open.
Nadal, who was sidelined for nine weeks in the summer of 2009, has vowed to return when he is in shape to compete. It’s unclear whether the current knee injury is the same tendonitis, which has plagued Nadal in the past or whether this is a different injury. At the same time, it’s still not known what treatment Nadal is pursuing, as well as when he will return to the Tour. It seems like Nadal has been on the Tour forever, but he is only twenty-six years old and has already won eleven Grand Slam titles., including a "career Slam” and a singles Gold Medal.
The major question in everyone’s mind remains when Nadal will return to the Tour and how well and how long his body will be able to withstand the physical stress that Rafa’s game and the long tennis calendar places on his body. At the same time, one can’t forget the mental toll that injuries take on a player’s psyche with respect to the frustrating time off the Tour and in rehab to heal the injured knee, as well as the struggles to regain confidence, when a player returns to the Tour and lacks matches and “match toughness”. Nadal has always been a player who likes a lot of matches and at this point, the focus will apparently be on 2013 and beyond regardless of whether Nadal plays any tournaments in 2012. We wish Rafa patience and a strong recovery and return to the Tour, once he’s ready...
Nadal, who was sidelined for nine weeks in the summer of 2009, has vowed to return when he is in shape to compete. It’s unclear whether the current knee injury is the same tendonitis, which has plagued Nadal in the past or whether this is a different injury. At the same time, it’s still not known what treatment Nadal is pursuing, as well as when he will return to the Tour. It seems like Nadal has been on the Tour forever, but he is only twenty-six years old and has already won eleven Grand Slam titles., including a "career Slam” and a singles Gold Medal.
The major question in everyone’s mind remains when Nadal will return to the Tour and how well and how long his body will be able to withstand the physical stress that Rafa’s game and the long tennis calendar places on his body. At the same time, one can’t forget the mental toll that injuries take on a player’s psyche with respect to the frustrating time off the Tour and in rehab to heal the injured knee, as well as the struggles to regain confidence, when a player returns to the Tour and lacks matches and “match toughness”. Nadal has always been a player who likes a lot of matches and at this point, the focus will apparently be on 2013 and beyond regardless of whether Nadal plays any tournaments in 2012. We wish Rafa patience and a strong recovery and return to the Tour, once he’s ready...
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