Nadal Withdraws From Doubles to Focus on Singles at Brazil Open
February 14, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Rafael Nadal has pulled himself from the doubles draw at the 2013 Brazil Open to rest his sore left knee ahead of his opening singles match at the event. Nadal had won his doubles match with partner David Nalbandian on Tuesday. Nadal is set to open play against Brazilian Joao Souza in singles on Thursday. Souza was leading Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 7-6(6) when Hidalgo retired due to a right ankle injury.
Nadal reached the singles and doubles finals in Chile, his first tournament after being sidelined more than seven months because of knee the injury last week and is eyeing his Grand Slam return at Roland Garros and the 2013 French Open in late May. World number 73 Horacio Zeballos upset the top-seeded Nadal 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-4 at last week’s VTR Open in Vina del Mar.
