Rafael Nadal withdraws from US Open and ends 2021 season due to foot injury

Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the 2021 US Open and will not compete again in 2021 due to a foot injury.

Nadal, the world No. 4 from Spain, has joined defending champion Dominic Thiem and Roger Federer to become the latest high-profile withdrawal from the final Grand Slam of the season.

Novak Djokovic will now have the opportunity to pass both Nadal and Federer’s joint all-time Grand Slam record without facing either of his rivals in New York.

It is the second consecutive Slam Nadal, 35, has missed after being forced to withdraw from Wimbledon with the same foot problem, while he also missed the Olympic Games.

Nadal did attempt a comeback in the American hard court swing, narrowly beating USA’s Jack Sock before losing to South Africa’s Lloyd Harris in Washington.

Most Grand Slam titles (ATP)

20 – Nadal
20 – Federer
20 – Djokovic
14 – Sampras

But the foot problem persisted and he returned to Spain. He will now target a return for the start of next season ahead of the Australian Open.

In an Instagram video, Nadal said: ‘I am very sorry to announce that I will not be able to keep playing tennis during the 2021 season.

‘As you know, I have been suffering too much with my foot for the last year. I missed a lot of important events for me like the US Open now, Wimbledon, Olympics and many other events that are so important and emotional for me.

‘After coming back from Toronto, I took a couple of days to think about it, talked with my family and my team and my doctor especially to understand what’s going on.

‘But the foot is not the proper way today and during the last year I was not able to practise and prepare myself the way that I need to to be competitive at the standards that I want to be.

‘We had to take that decision but I’m confident I will recover myself 100% and will be able to fight again for the most important things.’

He added: ‘The injury is nothing new, it’s the same injury I’ve had since 2005. In that moment the doctors were very negative about my future career but I was able to have a career that I never dreamed about.

‘I’m confident I will recover again the foot and if it’s better, I’m confident my tennis and mentality will be there again soon. I’m going to fight every single day to make that happen.

‘There remain a couple of beautiful years, I really think and I hope to see you soon.’

Nadal also missed last year’s US Open, deciding not to travel to New York during the coronavirus pandemic.

He will end the 2021 season without a Grand Slam title after being knocked out of the French Open by Djokovic in the semi-finals and after suffering a defeat to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, despite having a two-sets lead.

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