Two-time U.S. Open champion and world No. 2 Rafael Nadal will miss the 2014 U.S. Open due to a right wrist injury. He reluctantly announced his withdrawal on Facebook. Nadal sustained the wrist injury while practicing in Spain ahead of the North American hard court series.
Nadal’s absence will cost the tournament its defending men’s champion. His withdrawal has been a major letdown for the grand slam tournament and also marks a setback in his bid to overtake Roger Federer’s total of 17 grand slams. At the age of 28 with 14 grand slams so far, Nadal is being hampered by his injuries.
With Nadal’s absence, the door is now open for Novak Djokovic and Federer, who has been playing exceptionally well lately and captured the Southern and Western Open in Cincinnati.
