Washington (AFP)
Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters 1000 (August 15-22), organizers announced on Wednesday, the day after the Spaniard's withdrawal from the tournament in Toronto due to a left foot injury, and three weeks away. the US Open (August 30-September 12).
"I have had this problem for a few months," explained Nadal (35) on Tuesday, who had already given up on Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics after his semi-final lost against Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros.
The fourth player in the world also joins the Serbian, the first player in the world, in the list of absent from the event.
Last week in Washington, Nadal, winner of 20 Grand Slam titles was eliminated in the round of 16 by South African Lloyd Harris, 50th player in the world.
"I have to go back (to Mallorca) and try to find a way to get better, Nadal said on Tuesday. The most important thing is to have fun playing tennis," he said.
"With this pain, I am unable to take pleasure".
In the absence of Nadal and Djokovic, the first seed in Ohio will be Russia's Daniil Medvedev, ranked 2nd in the ATP.
In their press release, the organizers also announced the package of Canadian Milos Raonic (N.23), hit in the heel.
These withdrawals are added to a rain of packages announced in recent days by several stars of the circuit.
Injured in the leg since Wimbledon, Serena Williams said Tuesday that she too was ignoring Cincinnati, like her sister Venus and her compatriot Sofia Kenin.
Roger Federer had announced to him on August 5 that he would not participate in the tournament in Toronto or in Cincinnati.
© 2021 AFP