Nadal withdraws from Cincy

[Deleted member 756486]

Rafa Nadal‏Verified account @RafaelNadal 23m23 minutes ago
I am very sorry to announce that I won’t be playing in Cincinnati this year. No other reason than personally taking care of my body and trying to keep as healthy as I feel now. I am very thankful to my friend Andre Silva, Tournament Director of the Cincinnati tournament, who after speaking to him on the phone understood what I said and understand the situation. I am sure the tournament will be a success and I wish him and his team all the best. I am also sad for those amazing fans in Cincy and around who always gave me great support. I am sure I’ll see them next year and I am sorry I won’t be with them this year. Thanks for all the support as always.

Discuss or disgust.

Reasonable decision imo. Can rest for USO and try to defend his title.

 

[estigma2001]

He's not young anymore, time to rest and be ready for US Open!

 

[MeatTornado]

Dude's been making great scheduling decisions this year for the first time ever.

No Acapulco, no Indian Wells, no Miami, no Queens, and now no Cincinnati. That injury that forced him to re-evaluate his schedule and take time off might actually lead to him being fresh enough to finally win the WTF this year.

And he's still on pace to end #1 by a healthy margin.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Lol.

He is pulling a Federer at an age when Federer was playing full schedule.

I want to see how the same people that criticized Federer for skipping clay will comment.

It will be very entertaining.

 

[ADuck]

I'm happy with the decision. When Rafa withdraws, from the perspective of a fan, you just know that it was the correct decision because he's always pushing his body to the limit. Whereas if he had played, I wouldn't have been sure if it was the right decision.

 

[tennis_pro]

Lol.

He is pulling a Federer at an age when Federer was playing full schedule.

I want to see how the same people that criticized Federer for skipping clay will comment.

It will be very entertaining.

I can't wait to see Nadal's schedule when he's 35.

Monte Carlo, Barcelona and the FO?

 

[weakera]

I don't like the move because even though he won the title I don't think Rafa was in top form.

However, the conditions in Cincinnati are much different than at the USO. So it could be a good idea to practice on a more similar surface in addition to resting.

 

[tennis_pro]

I'm happy with the decision. When Rafa withdraws, from the perspective of a fan, you just know that it was the correct decision, whereas if he had played, I wouldn't have been sure if it was the right decision.

I think the tough draw contributed to his decision. This way he goes undefeated to the US Open with high confidence.

 

[NBP]

Lol.

He is pulling a Federer at an age when Federer was playing full schedule.

I want to see how the same people that criticized Federer for skipping clay will comment.

It will be very entertaining.

Interesting point actually. Fed played 8/9 Masters at the age of 33(2014), and a full schedule until he was 34, so maybe it puts into perspective just how much tennis he has played in the last 20 years.

 

[weakera]

Lol.

He is pulling a Federer at an age when Federer was playing full schedule.

I want to see how the same people that criticized Federer for skipping clay will comment.

It will be very entertaining.

Lol. Fail. Federer had 41 matches played before Cincinnati in 2013. Rafa has now played 43 in 2018

 

[KDeezy]

Lol. Fail. Federer had 41 matches played before Cincinnati in 2013. Rafa has now played 43 in 2018

Ahahaha good one epic fail by Tennis-hands

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Does everyone here know what 'D' stands for?

 

[True Fanerer]

I wouldn't want to lose to Federer either. Good move.

 

[clout]

No surprise here as he's only won Cincy once, hence it's not his greatest tournament (by his hefty standards). Health-wise, it's definitely the right decision too as defending his USO title should be his one and only goal for the rest of the year. Well finishing number one would be good for him too, but he's gotta win NYC or at least make it deep to assure that first.

Also, he'll go into the USO as a well-rested and confident Masters champ and no one can gain any extra potential confidence against him in Cincy. It's about time he began to make smart scheduling decisions. Tbh, Federer skipping the entire clay season was a genius idea on his behalf whether you yourself like it or not.

 

[Towser83]

As expected. Shame, was looking forward to Djokovic vs Nadal! Sensible decision on Nadal;s part though

 

[Raining hopes]

Lol. Fail. Federer had 41 matches played before Cincinnati in 2013. Rafa has now played 43 in 2018

Yay look at my intelligence ! I picked the year where Fraud didn't go half as deep as in 2012 and 2014 . But we can only compare same age ,no? No matter Fraud had played 52,53 matches in 2014 before entering Cincinnati.
At an older age too.

 

[weakera]

Yay look at my intelligence ! I picked the year where Fraud didn't go half as deep as in 2012 and 2014 . But we can only compare same age ,no? No matter Fraud had played 52,53 matches in 2014 before entering Cincinnati. More than Rafa presently at an older age, no?

LOL. Silly me picking the same age, right?

Oh, and do you think Rafa missing SEVEN WEEKS of the tour with injury might have something to do with not having played 10-20 more matches this season?

 

[Antonio Puente]

If YE#1 were prominent in his mind, he should just show up and get points. For YE#1, he essentially only needs to show up and get QFs and SFs everywhere. That said, at this point, it's all about slams. Whatever he believes gives him the best chance at the USO is what he should do, and if he does win the USO, he'll probably be #1 until at least next summer.

 

[GabeT]

Lol.

He is pulling a Federer at an age when Federer was playing full schedule.

I want to see how the same people that criticized Federer for skipping clay will comment.

It will be very entertaining.

No one should criticize Fed for his scheduling decisions.

Having said that the equivalent year for Fed was 2013. I think he missed three masters that year and didn’t win anything relevant. So Nadal seems to be doing comparatively better.

 

[NBP]

If YE#1 were prominent in his mind, he should just show up and get points. For YE#1, he essentially only needs to show up and get QFs and SFs everywhere. That said, at this point, it's all about slams. Whatever he believes gives him the best chance at the USO is what he should do, and if he does win the USO, he'll probably be #1 until at least next summer.

Can't believe he may overtake Djokovic with weeks at number 1. Mad considering where they both were in like July 2016 or something

 

[Sport]

It would be dumb to play Cincinnati. Nadal played specially great at Wimbledon because he skipped Queens. Good movement to be rested and prioritize the US Open.

The YE #1 is important for Ralph, but not as relevant as the US Open.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Can't believe he may overtake Djokovic with weeks at number 1. Mad considering where they both were in like July 2016 or something

I think it’s fair also considering how many weeks Nadal has been ranked #2.

248 weeks Nadal has been ranked #2!

 

[zverev2018]

I had a feeling he would withdraw. Wise decision IMO.

 

[Technology Ruined Tennis]

"I was told there would be no more fast courts."

 

[King No1e]

- Skip either IW or Miami
- Skip Cincy, maybe Canada if he can't win in the future
- Skip fall season except YEC for that sweet all-round glory

 

[King No1e]

I think it’s fair also considering how many weeks Nadal has been ranked #2.

248 weeks Nadal has been ranked #2!

Djokovic was also ranked #2 for many, many weeks. Behind Rafa, no less. 2010-11, then 2013-14. So neither has had it easy. Don't forget he was also ranked #3 most of the time Nads was #2.

Fedr really made them earn it

 

[jaggy]

Scared of murygoat

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Scared of murygoat

Scared of Judy, maybe.

Oh wait that’s a different Spaniard..

 

[ohiostate124]

Scared of that draw?

 

[Bartelby]

Now Nadal is stealing the 'preserve my body' line!

 

[King No1e]

Scared of Judy, maybe.

Oh wait that’s a different Spaniard..

 

[AlexanderTheGreat08]

Yay look at my intelligence ! I picked the year where Fraud didn't go half as deep as in 2012 and 2014 . But we can only compare same age ,no? No matter Fraud had played 52,53 matches in 2014 before entering Cincinnati.
At an older age too.

Wait till he Nadal gets to that age lol

 

[Sport]

Now Nadal is stealing the 'preserve my body' line!

Because not only Federer gets old? Ageing is a universal biological process which affects all human beings, not only Federer.

If Nadal says that he has to preserve his body is because he is 32, not because he is trying to steal Federer's lines to look cool.

 

[Bartelby]

Nadal is not that old! It's just too close in time.

 

[mightyrick]

Yep, I definitely think this is a good decision for Nadal. However, I don't think he is proactively managing his body. Given his history, this probably means he is injured in some way and needs to rehab whatever is ailing him. The guy doesn't skip tournaments unless he is injured in some way. As opposed to Federer, who skips tournaments in order to prevent injury.

If Nadal is skipping tournaments in the HC season, then this doesn't bode well for him at the US Open. I predict there might be an early exit at the US Open and Nadal will take some time off to rehab during the indoor HC season. Who knows? He may not even play the WTF.

 

[weakera]

Yep, I definitely think this is a good decision for Nadal. However, I don't think he is proactively managing his body. Given his history, this probably means he is injured in some way and needs to rehab whatever is ailing him. The guy doesn't skip tournaments unless he is injured in some way. As opposed to Federer, who skips tournaments in order to prevent injury.

If Nadal is skipping tournaments in the HC season, then this doesn't bode well for him at the US Open. I predict there might be an early exit at the US Open and Nadal will take some time off to rehab during the indoor HC season. Who knows? He may not even play the WTF.

U wot m8

 

[GabeT]

Yep, I definitely think this is a good decision for Nadal. However, I don't think he is proactively managing his body. Given his history, this probably means he is injured in some way and needs to rehab whatever is ailing him. The guy doesn't skip tournaments unless he is injured in some way. As opposed to Federer, who skips tournaments in order to prevent injury.

If Nadal is skipping tournaments in the HC season, then this doesn't bode well for him at the US Open. I predict there might be an early exit at the US Open and Nadal will take some time off to rehab during the indoor HC season. Who knows? He may not even play the WTF.

So you just went from Nadal skipping Cincy right after winning Canada so as to not overdo it to he may not play WTF in just one paragraph? May be a new TTW record.

 

[Sport]

Nadal is not that old!

32 is old to be a professional tennis player. Now you can reply that "Nadal is not old, because there exist older players like Federer". According to that logic, "Federer is not old, because there exist older players like Karlovic".

According to your reasoning, if a man is 90, he is not old, because there are men older than him which are 100 years old.

 

[mightyrick]

So you just went from Nadal skipping Cincy right after winning Canada so as to not overdo it to he may not play WTF in just one paragraph? May be a new TTW record.

Not sure about a TTW record, but it wouldn't be a record for Nadal. He's been down this road before... more than a few times. I honestly hope he isn't injured and hope he's proactively saving his body. That would be a great change for him. I think it would extend his career.

 

[Bartelby]

Nadal is in training to beat the shot clock for the USO, that's all.

Toweling off routines will be practiced assiduously.

The pant tug routine will be shortened.

Lahyani must be beat! Cincy must wait til next year.

 

[kishnabe]

Wonder what the VB Group think of Rafa ducking Federer at Cincy? They said the same thing about Federer during the Clay Season, no?

Now that Rafa is skipping to preserve his body.....hmmmm

 

[Deon Sanders]

Roger is in the draw

Running from competition as usual

 

[EloQuent]

He's doing exactly what Federer did last year, and it's working.

 

[GabeT]

Not sure about a TTW record, but it wouldn't be a record for Nadal. He's been down this road before... more than a few times. I honestly hope he isn't injured and hope he's proactively saving his body. That would be a great change for him. I think it would extend his career.

Anything can happen but he certainly didn’t look injured today. I think he understands he needs to pace himself.

 

[AlexanderTheGreat08]

Wonder what the VB Group think of Rafa ducking Federer at Cincy? They said the same thing about Federer during the Clay Season, no?

Now that Rafa is skipping to preserve his body.....hmmmm

You could say the same thing about Federer skipping Canada , Nadal is just skipping a Masters , Not 3 + 1 Major , Anyway it doesn’t matter cause it’s actually smart for Federer to do that , Even though he still lost at Halle & Wimby

 

[octobrina10]

Wonder what the VB Group think of Rafa ducking Federer at Cincy? They said the same thing about Federer during the Clay Season, no?

Now that Rafa is skipping to preserve his body.....hmmmm

Hmm. Fed also skipped Toronto...

 

[Winners or Errors]

Smart. I certainly hoped Nadal would make this decision. His chances at TRS are slim. Why put on the extra wear and tear? US Open is going to be very interesting.

 

[kishnabe]

You could say the same thing about Federer skipping Canada , Nadal is just skipping a Masters , Not 3 + 1 Major , Anyway it doesn’t matter cause it’s actually smart for Federer to do that , Even though he still lost at Halle & Wimby

Nadal skipping IW and Miami for the Clay Season.

Federer skipping Clay Season for Grass Season.

Federer skipping one of the Summer HC Masters (best to skip Canada).

Nadal skipping one of the Summer HC Masters (best to skip Cincy)

Both players doing the right things and paying off.

 

[AlexanderTheGreat08]

Nadal skipping IW and Miami for the Clay Season.

Federer skipping Clay Season for Grass Season.

Federer skipping one of the Summer HC Masters (best to skip Canada).

Nadal skipping one of the Summer HC Masters (best to skip Cincy)

Both players doing the right things and paying off.

Nadal was unable to play IW & Miami, He was recovering from injury and decided that the best thing is to go straight to the clay

 

[Bender]

I can't wait to see Nadal's schedule when he's 35.

Monte Carlo, Barcelona and the FO?

Miami
Cincinnati
WTF