Rafael Nadal has ended his 2021 tennis season early because of a left foot issue. The tennis legend cannot partake in this month’s US Open because of the left foot issue that has been troubling him for a year.
Nadal, who is ranked fourth in the world, suffered an early exit in Washington this month, where he kicked off his leadup to the final Grand Slam of the year.
Nadal’s left foot issue flared up at the French Open, and he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. Just last week, Nadal pulled out of Masters 1000 event in Toronto because of his left foot.
“I wanted to inform you that, unfortunately, I have to end the 2021 season,” Nadal tweeted in Spanish.
“Honestly, I have been suffering much more than I should with my foot for a year, and I need to take some time to find a solution to this problem or at least improve it to continue to have options for the next few years,” Nadal said. “I’m with the maximum enthusiasm and predisposition to do whatever it takes to recover the best possible shape to keep competing for the things that really motivate me. I’m convinced that with the recovery of the foot and obviously a very important daily effort … this can be achieved. I will work as hard as I can to make it happen.”
Nadal’s rival and fellow 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer withdrew from the US Open and is sidelined for months because he needs knee surgery.
