Home » After breaking the bad news, Rafael Nadal said, “I have to be careful.”

Rafael Nadal, a five-time champion, won’t be competing in Montreal the following week despite his best efforts to prepare. After winning back-to-back championships in 2018 and 2019, Rafa will miss one of his favorite competitions for the second consecutive year.

Nadal thus lost the opportunity to equal Ivan Lendl’s record of six Canada Open titles. At Wimbledon, Rafa suffered an abdominal muscle injury, and it grew worse after his thrilling triumph over Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals, which took four hours and 21 minutes.

The Spaniard won by scores of 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, and 7-6, but it was a costly effort. Rafa examined the wound the following day and discovered it to be a seven-millimeter rip. Nadal made the decision to forego his chance to compete for a third Wimbledon championship by sitting out the semifinal matchup with Nick Kyrgios.

After spending a few days having fun with his loved ones, Nadal went back to the practice court to make sure he was in charge of the situation and taking care of his injuries. Rafa resumed practicing his serve after passing the baseline exams, but it did not go well.

The 22-time Major champion opted to forgo Montreal and not take a chance when he recently experienced a small discomfort in his tummy once more. Nadal expressed regret for skipping Montreal and expressed the hope to return to the country to compete in the future.

With eight tournaments completed in 2022, the Spaniard is ahead of his countryman Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP Race. To increase his total and reach 22 Major victories, Rafa won the Australian Open and Roland Garros.

Due to his need for additional recovery time, Rafael Nadal will not compete in Montreal.

Additionally, he won the ATP 500 championship in Acapulco before competing in the Indian Wells final.

Despite missing Miami and Monte Carlo and failing to go past the semifinals in Madrid and Rome, that is still Nadal‘s best Masters 1000 run in 2022. Ivan Lendl will take the lead next week since Rafa won’t be competing for his sixth Canada Open victory.

Nadal defeated rising stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev to win the Canada Masters in 2018 and 2019. He so continued his remarkable streak at this competition, which began with his first victory at the age of 19 in 2005.

“I’m looking forward to returning to Montreal to compete in the tournament there, which I adore and have won five times in front of adoring crowds. At this time, I can do nothing but exercise caution and consider my health “said Rafael Nadal.