SAY IT ISN’T SO – NADAL PULLS OUT OF WIMBLEDON
Nadal Drops The Bad News During A Press Conference
Rafael Nadal has announced that he will not defend his Wimbledon title.
The world number one player and top seed had said after the French Open that he would not play Wimbledon if he was not 100% healthy and so it has come to pass.
“I’m here and I’m just not 100%. I’m better than what I was a couple of weeks ago, but I don’t feel right, I don’t feel that I am in good enough condition to compete.” Nadal told a packed press conference on Friday evening at the all England Lawn and Tennis Club.
“To not play Wimbledon is one of the toughest decisions of my career.”
After suffering a shock defeat in the French Open to Robbins Soderling, Nadal received treatment on his knees in Barcelona and skip the traditional Wimbledon warm-up tournament at the Queens club in London in an effort to be fit for the championships. Rafa was diagnosed with tendonitis in both of his quadricep tendons as well as a small amount of fluid on the kneecaps. This is not the same injuries he had to his knees when he was diagnosed with patella tendonitis. Popular understanding was that Nadal was trying to heal his knees, but as it turns out this is a new problem for him.
“I tried everything. I didn’t feel terrible, but also not close to my best. When I entered tournament, my goal is winning and my feelings right now is I’m not ready to win.”
“It’s very painful for me, but I can’t play at the tournament this year. It’s tough, but it is what it is.” Nadal said looking very frustrated and disappointed at the same time.
Nadal revealed that he had been playing with considerable pain and he didn’t know how long he would be out of Tennis. But he said he expected to fully recover from his knee problems and that he would have a “long career”.
“I played with some problems on the knee for the last few months. I’ve been making efforts to play week after week. The truth is that sportsmen always play with pain and don’t know where the limit is, where you can get to. I think I reached that limit now.”
“I will work for a hard to come back as soon as possible. One of the problems is I’m thinking more about the knees than what is happening on the court and it’s very difficult to play like that.
When Nadal was asked about his many fans and how disappointed they would be that he was not appearing at Wimbledon, the 23-year-old replied; “no more than me”.
Nadal also said that he was not concerned that his absence would open the door for Roger Federer to reclaim the number one ranking. “If I lose that number one ranking, I’m going to accept it like the four years I was number two and worked very hard to improve and recover.”
Wimbledon will just not be the same without the number one player in the world in the draw. Just as the French Open was an empty win to see Roger accept the trophy. Anyone who knows anything about tennis knows that the way to the trophy is through Rafael Nadal and any other route is just not the same. Nadal will be back and when he’s healthy, he is incredibly hard to beat… especially in grand slam tournaments in the best of five format.
The Men’s Draw is now Roger Federer’s to lose. He will be a heavy favorite to win his 6th title in seven tries at the All England Lawn and Tennis Club. Andy Murray has a good chance, also, playing in front of what is considered to be a home crowd in London, even though he’s not a Brit, he’s a Scot. The British are desperate for a hometown champion, and apparently Scotland is close enough.
Vamos Rafa and get well quick. Tennis is just not the same without you.
Rafael Nadal The Defending Wimbledon Champ Pulls Out of AELTC
