Wimbledon: Rafael Nadal is to miss Wimbledon because
of the wrist injury that forced him to pull out midway through the French Open
last month. It is a further setback for the 30-year-old Spaniard, who had
appeared to be recapturing some of his best form until the latest in a long
line of injuries that have interrupted his career.
Nadal’s appearance at Wimbledon, which starts a
fortnight on Monday, had looked unlikely from the moment he pulled out of the
French Open after his second-round match. The former world number one first
felt the injury at last month’s Madrid Masters. After suffering increased pain
at Roland Garros he was told that he could cause serious damage to the wrist if
he continued playing.
A statement issued on Nadal’s behalf said that he
would have to keep his left wrist in a cast for up to two more weeks, after
which he would begin “anti-inflammatory rehabilitation and physiotherapy-based
treatment”. He is still hoping that rest and rehabilitation will cure the
problem — inflammation of a tendon sheath in the wrist — without the need for
surgery.
This
will be only the second time since 2004 that Nadal has missed Wimbledon. He was
also forced to skip the 2009 tournament because of problems with his knees.
Between
2006 and 2011 Nadal won Wimbledon twice and was runner-up three times, but in
his last four appearances at the All England Club he has not gone beyond the
fourth round. However, he had shown a significant return to form this year
until he was struck down by his latest injury.
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