Shortly thereafter, once Andy Murray wrapped up his interview, the tournament’s worst fears were confirmed.
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Rafael Nadal (ESP) at a change of ends during his match against Facundo Bagnis (ARG) on day five of the 2016 French Open.
“Well, just, hello”, the nine-time champion started. Nadal himself appeared shattered at his news conference, his quest for an incredible 10th Roland Garros title over for now. Every day was a little bit worse. Yeah, and we went deep into night.
But, in gloomy conditions, 11-time Grand Slam singles victor Djokovic just managed to wrap up victory before play was abandoned for the day. In that moment, Jo left the court to receive the treatment and when he came back he could only inform his rival and the referee about his retirement, hiding his face under the towel and leaving the partisan crowd broken hearted.
Serena beat Brazil’s Teliana Pereira 6-2 6-1 before ninth seed Venus produced the same result against fellow American Louisa Chirico to reach the third round for the first time since 2010. I and tennis fans everywhere really want him to be alright and come back ready to go at Wimbledon. How about those people living there, you know?
Rafael Nadal, seeded fourth this year, said he arrived in Paris before the French Open with “a little bit of pain” but that it progressively worsened.
For Djokovic, it would complete his career grand slam, as he has never won the top title on the clay of Roland Garros.
“If I keep playing it’s gonna be broken in the next couple of days”, the crestfallen Spaniard said of the injury to his left wrist tendon.
“Yesterday I played with an injection in my wrist”. I know he doesn’t have anything to lose. “To win the tournament I needed to play five more matches, and the doctor said that’s 100 percent impossible”.
Thiem did make it through to the fourth round with a hard-fought 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win over German teenager Alexander Zverev yesterday, and he has no regrets over not having another crack at the greatest claycourt player of all time on the Philippe Chatrier Centre Court. Nadal added that he can no longer practice and wouldn’t have been able to finish the tournament. Is no chance that I can even practice more today.
“I worked so hard to recover my level, and I think I was there”.
“He’s our biggest champion here”, tournament director Guy Forget said.
Nadal has not won against Djokovic in all of their three meetings this year, including tournaments in Doha, Indian Wells and most recently in Rome. He has always made a priority to play our event.
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Nadal’s exit means the man who was supposed to be his next opponent, Marcel Granollers of Spain, gets a walkover into the fourth round; win that, and Granollers will reach his first quarterfinal in 35 appearances at majors.
