Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the US Open due to a foot injury, ending his 2021 season.
The 20-time grand slam champion, who claimed his fourth Flushing Meadows title two years ago, also missed the Cincinnati Masters and Canadian Open last week because of the same foot injury.
Nadal announced on Instagram his decision, stating, “Hello everyone, I wanted to inform you that unfortunately, I have to end the 2021 season.
“Honestly, I have been suffering a lot more than I should with my foot for a year and I need to take some time.
“Having discussed it with the team and family, this decision has been made and I believe that it is the way forward to try to recover and recover well.
“It is a year that I have missed things that matter a lot to me, such as Wimbledon, the Olympics, and now the United States Open, as well as many other events that are also important to me.
“In view of the fact that during the latter year I have not had the ability to train and prepare and compete in the way that I really like to… I came to the conclusion that what I need is time to recover.
“I am (determined) to do whatever it takes to regain the best possible shape, to continue competing for the things that really motivate me and the things that I have done during all these years.
“I am convinced that with the recovery of the foot and obviously a very important daily effort this can be achieved. I will work as hard as I can to make it happen.”
Federer and Nadal are tied with world number one Novak Djokovic, who will be aiming to complete the calendar Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows, for the all-time record of 20 Grand Slam titles.