Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem are going to miss the last part of the season and the US Open.
It was clear that Rafael Nadal would have skipped the US Open when he decided to go back to Spain after struggling with his foot injury in North America. Eventually, the Spanish champion decided to get a prolonged break to recover and also because he is historically not performing at his very best after the US Open.
With Rafael Nadal out, other players will have more chances to qualify for the ATP finals in Turin.
The Statement
“Hello everyone: I wanted to inform you that unfortunately, I have to end the 2021 season. Honestly, I have been suffering much more than I should with my foot for a year and I need to take some time.
After having discussed it with the team and family, this decision has been made and I think it is the way forward to try to recover and recover well. It’s a year that I’ve missed things that matter a lot to me, like Wimbledon, like the Olympics and the United States Open is going to be now, like many other events that are also important to me and in view of the fact that during this last year I have not had the ability to train and prepare and compete in the way that I really like do it.
In the end, I come to the conclusion that what I need is some time to recover to change a series of things to try to understand what the evolution of their feet has been in recent times it is not a new injury it is an injury that I have had since 2005 and it hasn’t prevented me from developing my sports career during all these years.
If it is true that I have been for a while that things are not going as they should, as we would all like, and it is time to make decisions, seek a slightly different type of treatment to find a solution to this problem or at least improve it.
In order to continue to have options for the next few years. I am with the maximum enthusiasm and predisposition to do whatever it takes to recover the best possible form
to keep competing for the things that really motivate me and the things that he’s done all these years. I am convinced that with the recovery of the foot and obviously a very important daily effort as this can be achieved.
I will work as hard as I can to make it happen. Thank you in advance for all the support, understanding and all your expressions of affection that are very important and more in difficult times like these.
I promise you what I am going to do is work hard to try to continue enjoying this sport for a while longer. A big hug to all.”
Federer and Thiem
Rafael Nadal is not the only top player who decided to stop his season earlier. Roger Federer announced that he would have his third surgery on his knee hoping to come back in 2022. Dominic Thiem was unable to recover from his right wrist injury. He also announced he will not defend his US Open title to be back to competitions only in 2022.
Rafael Nadal in 2021
At the moment ranked no.4, Rafael played his last match on the 5th of August when he surrendered to world no.46 Harris Lloyd 6-4 1-6 6-4 in the 3rd round in Washington (draw).
At present, during this year Rafael has achieved a compiled 24-5 record. Nadal clinched 2 titles in 2021 in Barcelona and in Rome.
Roger Federer in 2021
At the moment ranked no.9, the Swiss played his last match on the 7th of July when he lost to world no.12 Hubert Hurkacz 6-3 7-6(4) 6-0 in the quarter in Wimbledon (draw).
Currently, during this year the Swiss has a 9-4 match record.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer played each other 40 times. Their actual record is 24-16 for Nadal. Previously, the last time they locked horns, Roger Federer won 7-6(3) 1-6 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal in London (Wimbledon) in July 2019.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.
Dominic Thiem in 2021
Ranked no.6, Dominic played his last match on the 22nd of June when he had to retire when playing against world no.43 Adrian Mannarino in the 2nd round and the scoreline was 2-5 .
Presently, during this year the Austrian has a 9-9 match record. Dominic Thiem’s most significant result of the current season was reaching the semifinal in Madrid.
