Nadal withdraws from Qatar Open, says ‘not ready to compete’
Former world no. 1 tennis star Rafael Nadal has further delayed his comeback after pulling out of the upcoming Qatar Open.
Stan Wawrinka, the 2016 US Open champion, has advanced to the quarter-finals in Flushing Meadows. The No. 23 seed broke for a 6-4, 7-5, 2-1 lead over World No. 1 Novak Djokovic on Sunday evening on Arthur Ashe Stadium when the 16-time Grand Slam titlist retired due to a left shoulder injury.
“It’s never the way you want to finish a match. I feel sorry for Novak. He’s a friend and an amazing champion. We’ve played some amazing battles all my career,” Wawrinka was quoted saying by atptour.com on the court after the match. “I want to keep my level [from] tonight. I was playing some very good tennis. I am happy to be back.”
Wawrinka defeated a World No. 1 for the fifth time (5-21), and he is into the last eight at the season’s final Grand Slam for the fifth time in his six most recent appearances.
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Djokovic, who received treatment on his left shoulder after the second set, had not lost before the quarter-finals at the US Open since 2006, when he was only 19.
Wawrinka, 34, will now face Cincinnati champion Daniil Medvedev, who secured a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 victory over qualifier Dominik Koepfer to book his place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Swiss legend Roger Federer crushed David Goffin in only 79 minutes to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open for the 13th time in his past 15 attempts. The 38-year-old will now lock horns with Bulgaria’s 78th-ranked Grigor Dimitrov.
18-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, who has never faced Federer at the US Open, will also return to court on Monday seeking a last-eight berth on the other side of the draw against 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.
(With inputs from IANS)
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