Madrid: Defending Olympic champion Rafael Nadal pulled out of the London Games with an undisclosed fitness problem Thursday, ending his chances of winning a second straight gold medal.
“I am not in condition to compete in the London Olympics and therefore will not travel as planned with the Spanish delegation to take part in the games,” the third-ranked Spaniard said in a statement.
Nadal did not mention any specific injury, but he canceled a charity match in Madrid on July 4 because of tendon problems in his left knee.
He has had recurring knee problems in the past. He has not played since he was eliminated in the second round of Wimbledon to then 100th-ranked Lukas Rosol, one of the most surprising results in the tournament’s history.
“I have to think about my companions, I can’t be selfish and I have to think of what’s best for Spanish sport, especially tennis and Spanish players and give fellow sportsmen with better preparation the chance to compete,” he said.
“I tried to hurry my preparations and training to the very last minute, but it was not to be,” he added.
Nadal, who won the singles tournament at the 2008 Beijing Games, was set to be the flag bearer for Spain during the opening ceremony.
He said that the decision “is one of the saddest days of my career as one of my biggest ambitions, that of being Spain’s flag bearer in the opening ceremony of the games in London, cannot be. You can imagine how difficult it was to take this decision.”
Nadal had hoped to return to Wimbledon this month to defend his Olympic title and his withdrawal echoes his plight of 2009 when a similar knee problem meant he had to withdraw from the grasscourt Grand Slam, a year after winning it for the first time in an epic final against Roger Federer.
Messages of support quickly flooded in for the Mallorca native, one of the first coming from compatriot David Ferrer.
“It’s a shame about Rafa, the most important thing is that he recovers soon. He is the best… Keep your spirits up,” the world number five wrote on his Twitter account. The COE president Alejandro Blanco said Nadal was devastated.
“It is a sad day for him but once again he has proved what a great person he is,” Blanco told Spanish radio.
“If he isn’t 100 percent, if he isn’t able to go for the victory, if he isn’t convinced he can be Olympic champion he prefers to let another person try.”
RFET president Jose Luis Escanuela said in a statement: “It is the worst news we could have. Rafa has always been an example of perseverance and tenacity… we wish him the quickest of recoveries.” The debate as to who would replace Nadal as flagbearer had already started in the local media.Sailing duo Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez were in the running along with basketball silver medalist Pau Gasol. (Agencies)
