Nadal out of London 2012

Nadal gutted to withdraw from London 2012

Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the London 2012 olympic games with a knee injury.

The world n.o3 is suffering from tendinitus, the same knee problem that saw him miss most of the 2009 season.

The last  match Nadal played was in round two at the All England Club when the world number 100, Lukas Rosol beat the Spaniard in five sets to cause one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history.

With news of his latest stint of the condition, it could be that the two-time Wimbledon champion was not at full fitness when he lost to Rosol, prompting his uncharacteristic five set defeat, only the fourth ever in his career.

Similarly in 2009,  the match prior to his first spell of tendinitus was the infamous defeat to Robin Soderling at Rolland Garros.

This still remains his only defeat on the french clay to this day.

In both of  Nadal’s shock exits mentioned above, the door was consequently left wide open for the likes of Roger Federer to win his first Rolland Garros in 2009, and then Andy Murray to reach his first Wimbledon final in 2012.

These are achievements that could quite possibly have never happened had the Spanish sensation’s unlucky knee problems  not let him down.

The ever hungry Nadal will have to wait another four years to win another Olympic gold medal, whilst the game’s top players will be a little happier to see the Spanish number one not arrive in London this week.

 

Nadal’s sublime seven

In 2005 a new face, and new style arrived at Rolland Garros.

19 year old Spaniard Rafael Nadal was the pre- tournament favourite after tearing up the clay court season prior to the slam, and was about to begin a clay-court legacy that would surpass any other.

His choice of clothing undoubtedly matched his playing style. The un-orthodox vests and three quarter sized pants had never been seen before on the tour, and neither had the vicious top spinning forehand and ‘bull like’ approach that saw the teenager set the clay alight in Paris.

After dismissing his soon-to-be rival Roger Federer in the semi-finals,  Mariano Puerta was the man left in the Spaniard’s way.

The Argentinian had overcome a two year drug ban to re-kindle his career on the highest stage, yet Nadal was too strong for him, winning in four sets.

A year later and Rafa’s Rolland Garros record was 14 wins, 0 losses. The Spaniard’s second consecutive French Open win in two attemps was a new feat in men’s tennis and saw Nadal deny Federer that elusive grand slam that would complete the world n.o1’s major title collection.

In the same year Rafa went on to reach the final at Wimbledon, only to lose out to the Swiss in four sets. This was a sign that the King of clay was beginning to challenge on the other surfaces, only time would tell if he would have what it takes to knock Federer off his Wimbledon throne.

By 2007 the story at Rolland Garros was becoming repetitive, the Spaniard equalling Bjorn Borg’s three consecutive French Opens whilst Justine Henin did the same on the women’s side. Once again Nadal denied Federer in the process, with people beginning to question whether the World n.o1 could ever beat the improving Mallorca native on clay.

2008 truly was Nadal’s year. Three became four in Paris, the reigning champion dropping only 4 games as he dismissed Federer in ruthless style. And whilst the tennising world was still digesting the Spaniard’s latest record, he was over in London on a rampage that would see him destroy Federer’s five year reign on the grass and go on to end the year as No.1.

2009 saw Robin Soderling of Sweden defeat Nadal for the first time at the French Open, leaving the door wide open for Federer to complete his career Grandslam.

Returning after an injury-stricken 2009, Rafa won his fifth Rolland Garros in 2010, closing in on Bjorn Borg’s record of six titles. He didn’t need to overcome Federer this time though, the Swiss losing out to the impressive Soderling in the quarter finals.

2011 was unarguably dictated by a certain Novak Djokovic, the Serb losing only once all year. The French Open didn’t reflect this however. Djokovic was beaten by the ever present Federer in the semi-finals. The now world No.3 was back to challenge Nadal in the final on Phillipe Chatrier once more.

He failed however, as Nadal took his sixth title in seven years.

Then there was seven.

The king of clay reached the final without dropping a set, destroying fellow clay court specialists  David Ferrer and Juan  Monaco on the way. Who was to doubt that he’d surpass Bjorn Borg’s ‘untouchable’ record?

He quashed Djockovic’s hopes of holding all four grandslams at the same time, and distinguised himself as arguably the greatest clay court player in history.

Yet at 26, there is still more to come.