Nadal Pulls Out of French Open

BREAKING: Rafael Nadal withdraws from the tournament with problem in wrist, problem a couple weeks old but worsening. #RG16

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) May 27, 2016

Nadal had been winning easy. Played with anesthesia injection yesterday, but felt worse last night and this morning. Had MRI. #RG16

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) May 27, 2016

“If I keep playing, it’s going to be broken in couple of days…if not RG I probably wouldn’t take risk of playing first couple days.”-Nadal

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) May 27, 2016

Well well, isn’t this a surprise? It must be pretty bad if it’s going to be ‘broken’ in a couple of days. That said, I’m never surprised when Nadal gets injured given he has the most taxing game style in the history of our sport.

I’m just surprised that his body lasted this long. This is, of course, pretty good news for Djokovic although I didn’t have any doubt myself that he would have defeated Nadal if they met. He pummelled him 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 last year and won the last seven matches and 15 sets against him.

Someone like Thiem may provide him with stiffer competition anyway. So no, there will be no asterisk here if Djokovic wins the title. I know Fedal fans desperately wants to believe it but it is just not true.

If anything Djokovic deserves this bit of good fortune after all the years of being cursed. This could be a sign that the stars are finally aligning for Djokovic. Let me also dispell the myth that this would be anything like 2009 was for Federer if Djokovic wins the title.

Djokovic did his due last year when he destroyed Nadal. Federer was never able to even take Nadal to five sets at the French. Nevermind win in straight sets. Last year was the year that Djokovic deserved to finally win the title but he got screwed over by the schedule and draw.

So it would only be fitting if he wins it this year!

Thursday it was the turn of the top half again and Djokovic was far from his best against Darcis but got the job done in straights 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. I thought that was about as bad as Djokovic can play but I guess you have to give credit to Darcis as well.

He has a good slice which seemed to bother Djokovic somewhat but only because he was playing poorly by his own high standards. One of the fascinating things about Djokovic is how he beats high-quality opponents with ease without being at his best.

Djokovic got broken twice in the match. I only remember once though and that was in the third set when he led 2-0. One of the times he got broken he got broken to love as well if I recall correctly. There were just many uncharacteristic unforced errors from him.

But a win is a win and he now plays Bedene who you’d expect him to beat in straight sets as well. As we have seen so many times from Djokovic he brings his best form when it matters most. He is a master at saving his form.

So that is the way I view the match against Darcis. He still had Nadal ahead of him when he played Darcis and he would have wanted to save as much good form for that match as he could. The worse he can play without losing sets the better for him in a way.

Sure it is nice to destroy everyone 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 but then when you come up against a good opponent you may get a shock. I would say Djokovic’s road to the final looks pretty comfortable now but nothing is guaranteed.

I would like to see a better performance from him against Bedene now that Nadal has withdrawn. Thiem had a good straight-set win over Garcia-Lopez as well and he will play Zverev tomorrow who he also played and defeated in Nice.

With the withdrawal of Nadal, this is now a big opening for him that he must cash in on after some very good form this year. He should make at least his first slam quarters here but hopefully semis. I’d love to see him play Djokovic in the semis.

Today was the bottom half’s turn and for once Murray won in straight sets when he beat Karlovic 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(3). He will now play Isner who defeated Gabashvili in five sets. I don’t expect Murray to have any problems there either but in the quarters, he could well be eliminated.

Kyrgios lost in straight sets to Gasquet today which was somewhat surprising although with Kyrgios you never know. Good win for Gasquet anyway. Verdasco pushed Nishikori to five before Nishikori prevailed 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-4.

In the third quarter, Stan continued to look good when he straight-setted Chardy 6-4, 6-3, 7-5. Winning Geneva did indeed give him the confidence boost he needed and it looks like he is going on another hot run.

The physical side may still be a question but if he keeps winning in straight sets he will get plenty of rest. So maybe we are looking at a rematch of last year’s final?

I actually wouldn’t mind that because that would give Djokovic a chance at revenge after a fair draw and schedule. Raonic is also still advancing smoothly and it looks like it will be a quarterfinal between him and Stan.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s action!

🙃