US Open 2014: Rafael Nadal to miss Flushing Meadows due to wrist injury

Rafael Nadal has announced that he won’t play at the US Open next week.

The defending champion has been forced to pull out of the Flushing Meadows tournament due to a wrist injury which the Spaniard has been contending with since losing to Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon.

It is a tournament I love and where I have great memories from fans, the night matches, so many things

Rafael Nadal

The 28-year-old, who was crowned champion in New York in 2010 and last year, hasn’t played any tennis since his shock fourth-round exit at SW19.

Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Nadal said: “I am very sorry to announce I won’t be able to play at this year’s US Open a tournament on which I’ve played 3 consecutive finals in my last participations.

“I am sure you understand that it is a very tough moment for me since it is a tournament I love and where I have great memories from fans, the night matches, so many things…

“Not much more I can do right now, other than accept the situation and, as always in my case, work hard in order to be able to compete at the highest level once I am back.”