Rafael Nadal will miss the rest of 2016 in order to further recuperate his previously injured wrist. Our champ posted on his official Facebook page:
It is no secret that I arrived to the Olympic Games short of preparation and not fully recovered, but the goal was to compete and win a medal for Spain. This forced recovery has caused me pain since then and now I am forced to stop and start preparing the 2017 season. I am very saddened for not being able to play next week in Basel since I have a great memory of the tournament and the final played against Roger Federer last year. I won’t be able to compete either in Paris-Bercy, where the crowds and the FFT staff have always treated me so well. Now it is time to rest and start preparing intensively the 2017 season.
Stay strong Rafa!
Dear my favor I going to miss your match , no Rafael play no any exciting to watch . Wish you quick cover and see you soon . Best wish the rest of the year
I knew it and the best decision he could make. We all want to see Rafa winning , more aor less to fight in his so special way, but not seeing him fighting without success by his bad condition. Both, forehand and backhands are no longer weapons to keep his opponents down. To my opinion he should start to play doubles and leave the single tennis as one of the TOP 10 players. Although some us us will kill me now, I don’t see Rafa in shape to win a Masters 1000 or French Open. And if Toni wants to see him dropping from Top 10 to Top 30 than Rafa will play till 2020. Being sure most of us don’t want to see Rahfa only reching 3rd or 4th round…
Best Wishes, tennis is not the same without you. Recuperating is best as long as needed. Health is more important.
Since Roland Garros was so fearful that this will happen. Now it happened. Will have to go to Basel without seeing him there. Paris I cancelled. He decided wisely. I only wish he had decided earlier in this way. Also missed him in Wimbledon. 2016 is my personal tennis-hell. Get well soon Rafa, whatever it is that made you stop the season. Always with you / and in tears.
I, along with family and friends, often discussed how long it would be before Rafa completely dropped out of the tour due to his latest injury.
Having waited only two months post-injury before preparing for the Olympics was a surprise to all of us. We all hoped that the injury was not as bad as we had thought. All we can do now is to wish him well.
RAFA THE HUMBLE GLADIATOR
“All we can do now is to wish him well” so true! See you later dear RN Fans. I’m off now.
Keep safe Rafa, u will always b n my prayers. Looking 4fard 2 c u n d tour nex yr. Stay safe, God bless.
Wow. I guess I need to find a life until 2017.
Rafa you better come out of the blocks super strong when you return, and knock everybody out!
And please, I better not see any news headline about ‘Rafael Nadal press conference’… coz that will only mean one thing. Don’t do that to me sweetheart.
So, enjoy your time away, learn to love your body and adapt to the way it is now. Improve your serve. Keep the fire.
Until next year then, Rafa baby!
Sad not to see Rafa for the rest of 2016 but looking forward to his return next year fully recovered. There is no one in tennis who is so exciting to watch and he will be sorely missed. He has given his fans so much joy over the years.
I agree with the other posts that Rafa made the right decision for him. I should have realized it when he moved his decision to today. He rightly did not want this news to dominate on the opening of his academy. It was clear that carrying the flag and playing in the Olympics was very important to him. I hope that he also uses this time to heal and to rethink his game. Roger has done a better job than him to retool his play. I seriously think this is the time to bring in a new voice as a consultant. Uncle Toni will be busy with the Academy too.
I think you are very right. If he had decided to play Basel he would have announced earlier. He also does need to retool his game. If that formidable forehand does not come back immediately he needs to think about using his backhand more aggressively. And also, very importantly, the serve. No idea why the serve comes and goes.
@va4favre Rafa was going to play in the Olympics no matter what. I just hope his gold medal was not a Pyrrhic victory. His decision to play so soon after his wrist injury did not augur well for continued on court success. His “forced recovery” (whatever that means) was short-lived.
Regarding Roger, his resurgence is attributed to the changes he made to his game. Who knows if Rafa can follow suit: the condition of his wrists will be the deciding factors.
Here’s to a better Rafa in 2017!
RAFA THE HUMBLE GLADIATOR
Good decision Rafa
Health is the most important thing. I wish and pray God for you to recover completely and starts 2017 fully healthy and well prepared for the competition.
No importa Campeon, te espero en Indian Wells 2017
I knew he made this decision a week ago. I am happy he did not change his mind after rethinking about it for several days. His injury was never completely healed but he chose to play with pain. We always heard he said the wrist is not “getting worse”, but he never said it is pain free. When he was younger he can probably do that sometimes but now he must change to a more careful strategy if he wants to keep playing for many more years. I know this must be a very tough decision for him because he has to give up more race points, the ranking will slip further, and he will have to miss London too. I know he does not want to give up any of the above because he is such a warrior, but sadly at this stage of his career he has to give up all these other things and choose the GSs as the top priority…. I hope he thinks about this positively, cheers up, rests well and enjoys the rest of this year with his family, friends, and also at the beautiful RNA…. 🙂
Bye bye Rafa for 2016! See you in 2017 playing great again! Of course you are not done yet!
Very wise decision. Come back strong my love. You will have my support, always. Next year i’m hoping to see that sparkle in your eyes again. And last but not least your lovely smile. Get well soon Rafa.
always with you and your decision rafa
i hope in this two month u find that tranquility and the spark in ur game
sad part is u will not available to us for more than 2 months 80 days that’s huge rafa
and will miss u immensely
wishing u a great health and speedy full recovery from wrist issues
it’s not the same without u rafa
vamos rafa
Rest up, prepare and win all 4 grand slams in 2017!!! #alwaysnumber1 #surprisethemall
Rafa is doing the right thing and maybe has taken a leaf out of Roger’s book – rest and relaxation and of course gentle practice and hopefully we will see him back in 2017 better and stronger
Rafa I will miss your presence in these tournaments but I think you have made the right decision for you. Maybe talking with Roger helped you come to a wise conclusion. Rafa and Roger come back strong in 2017 your fans will be counting down the days . Take rest and enjoy the rest of 2016 with your families.😍😍
Maria. I think Rafa would have found it easier to end his season after talking with Roger as both he and Roger go back a long way and he has a lot of respect for Roger.
In a way it seems fitting that they both drop in the rankings at the same time just as in past years they were the top 2 for quite a long time.
It is also obvious that they will not lose the support of their true fans, only those who lived in their reflected glory while they were at the top and then tossed them aside once the rankings dropped.
Rafa will have the pleasure of being involved at his wonderful academy during these early days and uncle toni will be able to get his coachjng position at the
academy underway at this time as well as assisting Rafa in his goal of being ready for 2017.
The only thing that worries me about this is something that I have touched on before in other posts. It is Rafa’s obsession with over practicing to the extent that he hinders rather than helps the recovery period. Practice certainly, but not that his practice times exceed what would be normal playing time in tournaments.
I know I am no expert in these matters. Rafa is the professional and will do what he and his team will consider necessary but I hope his doctor gives him advice on length of practice periods and dangers of over doing things.
Roger does not appear to over practice at all and so will have a good chance of returning in 2017 fully refreshed with a full recovery from his injury. I wish Rafa would take a leaf out of his book in this regard.
But whatever he does I am his fan forever. Nothing or no one can take away from all his achievements over many years and nothing or no one can deny all the qualities which make him a wonderful person and role model.
We love you Rafa and want you to become fully fit, before you return to tennis. Please take the time off and only come back when you are ready. Love and best wishes for 2017 and we know you will come fitter and stronger xxxx
Rafa, you have chosen wisely; of that we do not have a doubt!!! AND, of course, we will continue to support you, AS ALWAYS!!!! We look forward to seeing you compete when YOU are confident that your physical problems allow you to play freely and passionately, as has always been your custom!!!! VAMOS RAFA!!!! QUE DIOS TE BENDIGA!!!!!
Very sad. Come back soon, champ. We are always with you. Vamos Rafa <3
Rafa, you are wise to allow full recovery of your wrist before playing again. It only sets you back and prolongs your winning ways. You’ll be back stronger than befor with this decision. I applaud it and you!
I think he should retire… Health and a happy life after tennis is more important.
He may very well have sealed an earlier than expected retirement having competed so soon after his left wrist injury.