Rafael Nadal withdraws from Laver Cup due to ‘personal reasons’
By the end of the year, Nadal’s Laver Cup run will be over. With his ranking in the top 20 the year after, it didn’t make sense to compete anymore. Nadal is the only player to have won a major since 2002, with his only loss at the Australian Open the last time he competed in Melbourne, where the draw is the toughest in tennis.
Nadal and his coach, Fernando Verdasco, now has two more chances to go deep into the season. The French Open begins in two weeks.
“I will try to come back and win more matches, but no more. I was not able, because of the injury I have had over the past months,” said Nadal.
“I know it’s not the end of the season, I know there are other tournaments to come and I won’t be able to win them. I also know that I cannot win until Paris and I am looking forward to the French Open. This is the only tournament that will be my final tournament in a year. It’s the last chance, the final chance.”
Nadal was born to French parents, and has lived in France since he was an infant. His parents are former Olympic rowers. Nadal himself has two brothers and two sisters.
Laver Cup final
Nadal and Verdasco have been working on getting a third player to be a finalist since the season began. But with the draw becoming harder, making it to the semifinals of a tournament is difficult.
“The draw of the tournament will allow you to play a finalist who has never won a final. We are looking for someone who can compete against [Lleyton Hewitt, Tommy] Haas, Roger and Rafa. It is not easy, and we need someone who is very motivated. We have a week to find that person,” said Verdasco, who was in the final match of the event in 2009 and lost to Novak Djokovic.
“This is going to be his last chance