Injury set to keep Nadal out of action
RAFAEL Nadal will target January’s Australian Open after deciding not to play again for at least two months.
The Spaniard’s chronic knee problems forced him out of the London Olympic Games and US Open.
Doctors have found a partial tear in the patella tendon of his left knee. There is also inflammation in the knee around the Hoffa’s fat pad.
Since the diagnosis of that tear, Nadal has been receiving treatment consisting of medication, physiotherapy and a ‘ ‘ p r o g r e s s i v e p r o g r a m o f rehabilitation and muscular potentiation’’.
‘‘I have missed the Olympics and the US Open in the last few weeks, two of the most important tournaments of the year . . . that I really wanted to play,’’ Nadal said.
‘‘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. 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 happy knowing that the evolution of the past weeks has been positive and surgery has been avoided.
‘‘I will continue to work with the plan my doctors have established to be able to compete as soon as possible in the right conditions.’’
Doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro will hold a press conference in Madrid to give more specific details of Nadal’s injury.
Benito Perez-Barbadillo, Nadal’s media handler, said the world No.3 would miss the Davis Cup against the US next week. There was no immediate indication whether Nadal would be able to contest the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November.