September 4, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Spain’s Rafael Nadal has announced that he will be missing another two months of action due to a torn tendon and inflammation in the left knee. He was slated to participate in next week’s Davis Cup semifinal against the United States playing for Spain. Nadal last played in June when he fell at the hands of unseeded Lukas Rosol in the second round at Wimbledon, 7-6, 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6. On June 11, Nadal won his seventh French Open title, defeating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, and in the process, became the most-crowned man in Open Era history at the French Open.
“I really want to be back competing and enjoying the tennis tour, but I have many years in front of me and my knee needs some rest,” said Nadal. “I will be back when I have no pain and am able to compete with guarantee. I feel better after the meeting with my doctors and am happy knowing that the evolution of the past weeks has been positive and surgery has been avoided."
So far in 2012, Nadal has missed the 2012 London Olympics, ATP Tour Masters Series events in both Toronto and Cincinnati, and the 2012 U.S. Open. Nadal will likely miss the rest of the ATP regular tour season, but could play in the ATP Tour Finals which are set for Nov. 5-11 in London, as well as the Davis Cup Final should Spain win.
