The left-handed Spaniard wore a blue brace on his wrist during what he called “one of the toughest press conferences in my career”.
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“I have to retire from the tournament because I have a problem in my wrist that I have since couple of weeks”, said Nadal.
Speaking of players’ revelations, if Nole confirmed his being a vegan (and pescatarian) since nearly a year, and Roger Federer said his back felt better, it’s Juan Martin del Potro, who attracted all attentions. “I know there are still things I can improve, so I’m still practicing and working on them”.
Mattek-Sands and Safarova, seeded second at Roland Garros, lost to Kiki Bertens and Johanna Larsson 6-4, 6-3. I have been playing well this year against some of the best players in the world.
The claycourt slam has been robbed of two of its biggest attractions after Roger Federer, the 17-times grand slam champion and victor in 2009, withdrew with a back injury last week. It’s only the second time in 13 years that both Federer and Nadal won’t play the third round of a Major.
Nadal, who has won the tournament a record nine times, cruised through his first two rounds of the tournament earlier this week, looking healthy and confident.
The signs had been positive for Eugenie Bouchard after she breezed past Laura Siegemund in round one and when the Canadian won the opening three games against Timea Bacsinszky her progress look set to continue.
With a victory over Marcos Baghdatis in the second round French Open, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga would become only the third Frenchman with 100 wins in Grand Slam tournaments.
The fourth-seeded Nadal, meanwhile, earned his the 200th Grand Slam victory of his career, something seven other men – including Djokovic – have done.
The 34-year-old top seed faces world number 81 Teliana Pereira of Brazil who has never got beyond the second round of a Grand Slam.
Nadal’s withdrawal gives compatriot Marcel Granollers a walkover into the last 16.
Nadal took his clay court title haul to 49 with triumphs in Monte Carlo and Barcelona this year before optimism was tempered somewhat by defeats to Djokovic and Andy Murray in Madrid and Rome in the build-up to the French Open.
On 3 June, Nadal turns 30 and while it’s easy to assume that this was probably his last shot at a Grand Slam title, the Spaniard has made a habit of proving his detractors wrong.
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That 50th clay title will go to Nadal sooner or later, it seems certain, but how many more chances he may have to lift that Coupe de Mousquetaires is less clear.
