Tennis Ace Rafael Nadal Quits from London Olympics
Tennis Ace Rafael Nadal Quits from London Olympics
Defending tennis champion and Spain's team flag bearer for the opening ceremony Rafael Nadal quits from the London Olympics on Thursday due to undisclosed injury, leaving the tennis competition absent of one of its leading stars.
Nadal won the French Open for a record seventh time this year but has recurring left knee problems during the season. He lost to 100th-ranked Lukas Rosol in the second round at Wimbledon shortly after winning his 11th Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. The tennis champion has not played since.
Rafa Nadal, the 26-year-old Spaniard who has won two Wimbledon titles and claimed gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said Thursday he wasn't in condition to compete at the Olympic tennis tournament, which will be held at Wimbledon.
Nadal did not mention a specific injury in his statement but he canceled a charity match in Madrid on July 4 because of tendon problems in his left knee. He has had recurring knee problems in the past.
"I am not in condition to compete in the London Olympics and therefore will not travel as planned with the Spanish delegation to take part in the games," Nadal said. "(This) is one of the saddest days of my career as one of my biggest ambitions, that of being Spain's flag bearer in the opening ceremony of the games in London, cannot be."
It wasn't immediately known who would replace Nadal on Spain's tennis team or who would carry the flag at the opening ceremony in his place.
Nadal's absence leaves top-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland and No. 2 Novak Djokovic of Serbia as the favorites, although Wimbledon runner-up Andy Murray of Britain will again likely have a wave of home support as he tries to reach the final at the All England Club for the second time in less than a month.
Posted by
Andre Monohan
on Saturday July 21 2012, 7:10 AM EST.
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