PARIS (AP) — Nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Grand Slam tournament on Friday, citing an injury to his left wrist.
”A very tough moment, because you … wait for these two weeks for the whole year,” said a glum-looking Rafa, who announced his withdrawal the day before his third-round match.
Rafa was wearing a blue brace on his wrist during what he called ”one of the toughest press conferences in my career.”
Rafa, who owns a total of 14 Grand Slam titles, said he would not even have tried to compete at any other tournament with the injury, ”but it’s the most important event of the year for me.”
He played his second-round match Thursday after getting an injection to numb his wrist. But he said that he began ”to feel more and more pain” overnight and could not move his wrist much Friday morning, so went for an MRI exam.
”The results,” he said, ”are not positive.”
Rafa added that he can no longer practice and wouldn’t have been able to finish the tournament.
”I cannot play with my forehand,” Rafa said, referring to his best shot, a spin-laden uppercut.
Rafael Nadal of Spain announces during a press conference that he is withdrawing from the tournament due to a wrist injury on day six of the 2016 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2016 in Paris, France. (May 26, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain announces during a press conference that he is withdrawing from the tournament due to a wrist injury on day six of the 2016 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2016 in Paris, France. (May 26, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain announces during a press conference that he is withdrawing from the tournament due to a wrist injury on day six of the 2016 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2016 in Paris, France. (May 26, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain announces during a press conference that he is withdrawing from the tournament due to a wrist injury on day six of the 2016 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2016 in Paris, France. (May 26, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain announces during a press conference that he is withdrawing from the tournament due to a wrist injury on day six of the 2016 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2016 in Paris, France. (May 26, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain announces during a press conference that he is withdrawing from the tournament due to a wrist injury on day six of the 2016 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2016 in Paris, France. (May 26, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain announces during a press conference that he is withdrawing from the tournament due to a wrist injury on day six of the 2016 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2016 in Paris, France. (May 26, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain announces during a press conference that he is withdrawing from the tournament due to a wrist injury on day six of the 2016 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2016 in Paris, France. (May 26, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain announces during a press conference that he is withdrawing from the tournament due to a wrist injury on day six of the 2016 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2016 in Paris, France. (May 26, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain announces during a press conference that he is withdrawing from the tournament due to a wrist injury on day six of the 2016 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2016 in Paris, France. (May 26, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
He said there is inflammation in the tendon sheath in his wrist and was told that there is no way he could be given five more painkilling injections – one before each possible match, were he to make it all the way to the final – over the next 10 days.
”He didn’t want to make this announcement, but the people around him, his physicians, told him not to play, because the risk was that the tendon could break. It would take forever to come back,” tournament director Guy Forget said. ”So I think he made the right decision.”
Rafa said he does not need surgery ”at the moment,” but he might if he didn’t take time off now. He expects to be ready for Wimbledon, which starts exactly a month from Friday.
Source: Associated Press
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Oh Rafa sweetheart I’ve cried so much! Maybe I need a life, but I was looking forward so much to your next match, that when I saw news of this withdrawal, I hoped it was a bad dream directed by Eli Roth.
I know you would say there’s more to life than tennis. Get well soon and come back strong my dear. I’m so gutted. No tennis until you’re back. God bless you Rafa!
So sad and dissapointment for the fans! I hope he recover soon and stay healthy😍Rafa, all the best, take a good rest. Forever Rafa
PLEASE, PLEASE Skip Wimbledom, get completely well and hopefully you’ll be O.K. for the US open (provided you’re totally O.K.at that time).
Get well soon. Very sad today. Always with you <3 <3 <3
Primero TÚ….
He needs to stay away from the grass season – it is the worst for his knees. But he hates being away. I just pray he doesn’t spiral into anxiety and depression again.
Lo siento mucho mi shampion, espero que te recuperes muy pronto, sin ti se termino el French Open
Rafa, get well soon, please. We love you so much!! RG is over for me…it is really so..no Rafa no tennis. So please get well very soon and come back please. I will believe and pray you will be ok champion! We love you!!
Stupid uncle Toni and team Rafa to let him play these tournaments with that injury. Stupid stupid stupid !
totally agree with you vamosrafanadal27
Totally agreed! Sooooo stupid! Unbelievable and unbearable!
Absolutely devastated that’s all I can say right now. Vamos Rafa!
I can’t understand why his team allowed to him to play Rome as he got injured in Madrid. They should have advised him to skip Rome and rest his wrist and just wait until french open. What is uncle Toni doing and his physio? In no way he should have played Rome. Are they not there to give him the right advice?
Why do so many blame Uncle Toni for decisions that Rafa makes. It was his decision to play the FO and the tournaments prior to that. He actually said he wanted to play for his tenth title at RG. Usually he says things like I hope to be ready or, I am working hard, etc. And don’t forget that Rafa is known to be very stubborn.
My gut tells me that as he gained in confidence he may have brushed aside the pain he was feeling hoping it would go away. It is a known fact that he has played for years while in pain.
He didn’t want to be disappointed nor did he want to disappoint anyone else. I am sure it came as a crushing blow to him because he is not prone to tears as he was at the presser.
Be thankful for the many years he brought joy to so many and hope that he recovers spiritually and physically.
LUV YOU RAFA
I think i am entitled to have my opinion. Besides you have been using this website as a place for chit chatting posting irrelevant comments that have put off many here.
Of course you can have a difference of opinion. That is what most blogs are about.
I simply feel bad for Rafa because some feel that Rafa, at age thirty, has no capability of making his own decisions; from what he himself has said only demonstrates he is in charge. That is the Rafa I know. My opinion. That was supposed to be a general post but I inadvertently posted it to you. My error so don’t take it personally.
As for the rest of your remark, I looked all over for rules governing this site. All I found was a statement that RNF is in no way connected to my champion. Nothing else. I’ve never been on a blog much less a fan site.
If I had a problem with another fan, as I did with someone filling up the screen with a gazillion imojis, I would have requested that it stop. I made a post and it did stop.
Not one fan advised me what I was writing bothered them. Not one. RNF did post something recently about staying on topic and that is what I have done since their post. Funny that you wait until now to complain.
I was checking today what time he would be playing tomorrow and did not see his name. Panic set in, then to find out about his withdrawal.
I am soooooooo sad, No more tennis for me until RAFA is back, even when he is not scheduled to play, I feel good that he is on the grounds practicing, making his fans happy and excited.
The Roland Garros app has been deleted.
My girl, Victoria Azarenka also retired with injury.
Bye guys.
RAFA fan forever.
He said he had the problem in the last 3 tournaments. Why the heck does he deny injury like this? I’ve always questioned why he plays with painkilling injections. I know you’re a warrior Rafa but that is just crazy!
I am so disappointed for Rafa and for us fans..but health first ..I really thought he had a shot at “la decima” this year..never mind get well soon Rafa..hope to see you at Wimbledon Vamos
He’s been wearing a bandage on that wrist since Madrid on and off..
Rafa, is it allowed for me to be pissed that you were playing with wrist pain even before the FO and that you waited until now, when you can’t even move it, to have it checked out? BAD BOY! I hope the waiting did not exacerbate the injury.
GET WELL
Such devastating news, but maybe Rafa will heal quickly without more training. I do not care about his wins or losses, but just the pleasure of watching him play. The two matches he played at RG were so exciting compared to everyone else. Sadly, what makes Rafa so special also takes a toll on his body. I just want him to get well and be happy. He can now enjoy some time on his beautiful yacht. Get well soon Rafa!
Get healthy; FO is not the same without your presence. Best wishes for a complete recovery.👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊❤️
you will back just as good when your wrist is better,get well soon,my thoughts are with rafa.
A gladiator. The best I ever witnessed play tennis!! A genius..
You are missed.
RAFA ROCKS