1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
IranIsrael-Hamas warIndia elections

Nadal out

July 19, 2012

Reigning men's singles champion Rafael Nadal will miss the London Olympics due to a knee injury. Nadal's absence means a new gold medalist will emerge.

https://p.dw.com/p/15b9B
Rafael Nadal
Image: Reuters

Nadal, who in 2008 won singles gold in Beijing, said he had not yet recovered from  a knee injury.

"I am not in a condition to be able to compete," the Spaniard said in a statement.

"It is one of the saddest moments of my career," he added.

Nadal was forced to pull out of a charity match earlier this month against Novak Djokovic, saying he was suffering from tendonitis and needed to rest. Nadal, who was set to be Spain's flag bearer, also said he will not travel to London for the July 27 opening ceremony.

After winning a record seventh French Open title in June, Nadal has not competed since he was shockingly eliminated in the second round of Wimbledon to then 100th-ranked Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic on June 28.

The Olympic tennis competition begins on July 28 at the All England Club. Djokovic, of Serbia, is seeded one.

bm/sej (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)