Abdominal issue forces Nadal from Montreal

Rafael Nadal on Friday called off his trip to Canada as the five-time Montreal Masters winner withdrew from next week’s event with an abdominal injury.

The 36-year-old’s pullout came just a few hours before the draw for the major US Oen run-up event was due to be made.

Nadal told organisers that doctors have advised him to rest an abdominal injury suffered this week at home on Mallorca during training.

“I have been practising for a while now without serving and started with serves 4 days ago. Everything has been going well,” he said.

“However yesterday, after my normal practice, I felt a slight bother on my abdominal (muscle) and today it was still there.”. 

“After speaking with my doctor, we prefer to take things in a conservative way and give a few more days before starting to compete.

“I am very sad not to finally travel to Montréal. It’s a tournament that I have won 5 times and I love to play there.

“I seriously hope I can come back there to play in front of the amazing crowds up there.” 

Nadal last competed in a Wimbledon semi-final, where he lost to Nick Kyrgios.

The Spaniard has won Montreal five times – including two of the past three editions staged there in an event which alternates annually between French and English-speaking Canada.