Rafael Nadal out of US open due to wrist injury

Reigning US open champion Rafael Nadal pulled out of the US Open because of an injury. This is the second time in three years that Nadal pulled out of a tournament due to injury.

Just one week before play begins at Flushing Meadows, Nadal announced his withdrawal due to a bad right wrist. Nadal posted on his Facebook page that it is a very tough moment for him to leave a tournament he loves and where he has great memories from fans and the night matches. He promised to work harder in order to be able to compete at the highest level once he is back.

The 28-year-old Spaniard was hurt on July 29 while practicing on his home island of Mallorca. Nadal had to wear a cast on his wrist for two to three weeks and he not be participating in Toronto and Cincinnati tournaments.

The 14-time major champion had at that time expected to return for the U.S. Open but could not make it in time. Nadal is the fourth man in the Open era to decline to try to defend his US Open title. Others like Ken Rosewall (1971), Pete Sampras (2003) and Juan Martin del Potro (2010) also declined to participate due to injury.

With defending champion Rafael Nadal out of the tournament Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are clear favourites to win it. US open tournament starts in 6 Days from August 25 to September 6, 2014. The schedule can be found here. Tickets can be bought here. The matches are telecast on CBS Sports Network and ESPN channels.