Rafael Nadal has pulled out of Roland Garros before his third round match. “I feel myself with the right motivation and the right energy to be back at Roland Garros the next couple of years.”
“This is one of the toughest press conferences in my career, probably.”
“I know that I cannot finish the tournament. It’s part of life and I hope I’ll come back for many years again in Roland Garros.â€
Tennis observes may find it rather odd that the greatest fighter in the history of the sport has suddenly decided to wave the surrender flag at his favorite tournament. Couldn’t a shot of something relieve the pain? Isn’t it possible the pain could subside?
Two things are for sure: Novak Djokovic’s road just got a whole lot easier. And Roger Federer has to be second-guessing his decision to bypass the tournament in favor of concentrating on fitness and grass court training. (Photo by Henk Abbink)
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Dan Markowitz · May 27, 2016 at 1:23 pm
Scoop, this is insane. I just heard the news. How can Nadal pull out with a wrist issue? Where’s the precedent for this injury? I mean he said he had this injury from back in Madrid. Then why did he play Rome? Why not get treatment on the wrist for a couple of weeks?
Nadal dominated in his first couple of matches. He had no trouble with either opponent. Now he has a wrist injury? I’m sorry I’m not buying it.
Now Scoop, you assured me Kyrgios was going to beat Gasquet and he goes down in three straight sets! What gives brother?
Also, Sock, ridiculous. You can’t lose to Ramos-Vinolas in a slam. I’m sorry. This guy cannot play slams. He’s good in doubles in slams, but boy is he a complete loser in singles slams. In the last 4 slams, Sock has won a total of 4 matches, and lost to Ramos, Rasol, Groth and Bemelmans. I mean that is whack!
Doogie · May 27, 2016 at 4:00 pm
@dan:
I watched the whole Sock match today: He was up 7:6 4:1 – and he somehow managed to lose the 2nd set 4:6. That can happen – but what should not happen: He was tired as hell from middle of 3rd (!!) set.
The guy is just not fit enough for grand slams (remember his collapse at US Open or his match vs Monaco in Houston).
A shame – he has such a good FH and a useful serve. His racket speed is sensationell – but when u cannot move right to the balls, you cannot beat good players.
Yes he won the 4th set because Ramos was tired also, but Sock is the so much better tennis player than Ramos.
Without stamina u cannot win close matches – very pity – I rate his talent very high!!
Dan Markowitz · May 27, 2016 at 7:06 pm
Thanks for the report, Doogie. I have noticed that about Sock. It showed particularly when he had to default at last year’s USO–when it was brutally hot–against Bemelmans. Sock needs a better coach, I’d think or at least a change in training. I know Ramos is a nice player, but if you’re thinking about seriously making a deep run at slams, and you’re turning 24 in three months, you’ve got to show more than Sock is.
Scoop Malinowski · May 27, 2016 at 7:21 pm
Doogie: AVR used the inj TO at 1-4 down in the first and Sock unraveled – just like the houston final when pico called the inj TO – to go to 6-4 in the fifth shows Sock is fit – I know he runs 400s and anyone who sprints 400s is a fitness beast – pressure and stress to factor in to these physical battles – I disagree with this assertion Sock is unfit – I think it’s the pressure and stress that contribute to these losses – Sock struggles in these high pressure super tense very close singles battles – hopefully he can fix this flaw –
Michael IN UK · May 27, 2016 at 7:32 pm
Off topic here, but did anyone else see the Viktor Troicki versus Gilles Simon match?
Fantastic play from Troicki, giving him a win in straight sets. Troicki had never previously taken a set off Simon, let alone beaten him.
my new favourite player!
Scoop Malinowski · May 27, 2016 at 7:39 pm
Troicki looked good beating Grigor in the first round – he’s a high quality player who people forget clinched the Davis Cup for Serbia vs Llodra – so he is a high stakes player – big strong solid player – not really a shock to see Troicki thriving like this –
sharoten · May 28, 2016 at 12:43 am
“Tennis observes may find it rather odd that the greatest fighter in the history of the sport has suddenly decided to wave the surrender flag at his favorite tournament. Couldn’t a shot of something relieve the pain? Isn’t it possible the pain could subside?”
Such good reporting from a tennis journalist. *rollseyes* You didn’t even watch the press conference or read a transcript, did you?
He played his last match with his wrist anesthetized, that’s how bad the pain was. It got worse through the night and the next morning he couldn’t move it so went for an MRI and other tests. The doctors told him if he tried to play another five matches the injury would worsen to the point of needing surgery. With treatment and immobilization, the prognosis is the wrist will heal in four weeks or so which will allow him to play Wimbledon and his beloved Olympics.
Scoop Malinowski · May 28, 2016 at 9:56 am
All I know sharoten is that Nadal looked awesome winning his first two rounds in Paris (and much of the clay season) with no signs of injury and then suddenly this pullout – if you’re not a tiny bit suspicious that there could be another reason for this sudden withdrawal you’re not being honestly open minded – If saw an injury time out for the wrist or some signs of pain or discomfort I’d buy his explanation fully – but we didn’t see that – And yes I did see the transcript and video but I don’t believe everything 100% at face value that ANYBODY tells me through the media – thanks for supporting and avidly reading out site for the couple years you have – you’re always welcome here 🙂
sharoten · May 28, 2016 at 7:18 pm
Wrong again, as usual. If you kept up with tennis news from around the world instead of just American players, you’d know that Rafa’s injury wasn’t sudden at all, he’s been struggling with it for several months but it’s only gotten worse.
On his way back to Mallorca from Miami, he stopped off in Barcelona and had some treatment and was photographed wearing a splint. He’s had it taped for most practices and matches since then and his trainer is always giving it special attention. In Madrid against Sousa in very heavy conditions he tweaked it again and went back to the clinic in Barcelona for more tests and treatment before Rome. At that point they still thought it was manageable so he played Rome but it only worsened. He admits that if it was anything other than the French Open he wouldn’t have gone to Roland Garros and tried to play but it’s such an important tournament for him, he had to give it a try.
Just because you weren’t watching closely enough to see him occasionally wince or shake his wrist or massage it on changeovers doesn’t mean he wasn’t affected by it. Good lord, the guy should be given immense credit for playing through all the injuries and pain he’s had in his career and instead yahoos like you question his honesty and commitment.
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2016 at 8:07 am
Then why didn’t Rafa ease up on his clay schedule and preserve the wrist for Paris? Paris was the ultimate goal – Just doesn’t make sense that he would overplay it – I don’t buy the explanation or the injury fully – and no I’m not sorry for disagreeing with you – I’ve seen enough fake injury timeouts by Rafa over the years to believe everything he says regarding an injury –
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2016 at 8:32 am
Alberto Ramos Vinolas just beat Raonic – guess Sock losing to Ramos 46 in the fifth doesn’t look so bad now does it?
sharoten · May 29, 2016 at 7:53 pm
Why didn’t he ease up? Because he’s a professional tennis player and it’s his JOB to play tennis and the clay season is the most important time of the year for him. Every tennis player plays with niggles and pain. Why did Tsonga play the French when he was coping with an injury? Rafa has played and won slams while dealing with problems and he and his medical team were hoping with treatment and care he could get through these tournies. He couldn’t. It happens. To everyone. But for some reason Rafa is held to a different standard.
And you, the ultimate ass kisser of the king of MTOs Djokovic maligning Rafa is just a joke.
Scoop Malinowski · May 30, 2016 at 8:18 am
Djokovic hasn’t used mtos for a long long time – I can’t think of any besides the eye trouble vs Lopez earlier this year – of course Djokovic had and or feigned a lot of injuries in his younger days as Roddick told us and I have noted this aspect about Djokovic – as I have regarding Nadal’s annoying use of supposed injuries which provoked the Rod Laver arena fans to boo him in the Aus Open final vs Wawrinka – Again I’m not buying this official explanation by Rafa it could be true or it could be a convenient cover for something else related to the accusations by the French woman – I’m a follower of the historic quotation: “Nothing is ever as it seems” and I am a believer that mass media manipulation exists in our world today – If you take everything Rafa says at FACE VALUE good for you 🙂 I don’t when it relates to public figures with an agenda –
Bryan · May 30, 2016 at 3:30 pm
Was surprised Nadal withdrew. Even if his wrist hurt he should’ve gotten injections each match. Eventually he’d fall apart but fact is this is the only major he had a chance at winning this year. He’s a dead man walking at Wimbledon and the US Open.
As for Jack Sock, put a fork in him. He gets hype every bloody year due to his great forehand and spin. So what? He chokes at majors every time.
Scoop Malinowski · May 30, 2016 at 5:57 pm
Not even close to being ready to pick up the fork out of the drawer to stick in Sock 🙂
Moskova Moskova · May 31, 2016 at 8:02 am
sock sucks lol