Wounded Nadal limps out of Open

Wounded Nadal limps out of Open
by Jason Phelan

Wednesday, 24 January, 2007

Spanish No.2 seed Rafael Nadal has revealed the pain caused by an undisclosed leg ailment was a major factor in his upset straight-sets defeat at the hands of Chilean Fernando Gonzalez on Rod Laver Arena on Day 10.
Nadal left the court to receive treatment for the injury to his left leg early in the third set of the quarterfinal with the red-hot Chilean holding a two-sets-to-love lead, but said the pain persisted.
"Well, he's playing very good level, that's for sure. Maybe was not a good match for me. I don't know if I can say I am playing bad, but for sure I can't play at hundred per cent, no?," Nadal said.
"I have problems in my leg, so I cannot run. I can't run a lot. Was difficult play one match like this, quarterfinals of one Grand Slam, with pain, without the best conditions, no?"
"When I am on court, I am trying to run. Hundred per cent run, well, I can't. I can't start. Was difficult and disappointing for me, no?
"I don't know if is a good opportunity because Fernando is very tough match. But for sure when you are in quarterfinals of a Grand Slam and you can't play with your best feelings, your best conditions, is difficult, no?"
The Spaniard said he had sustained the injury "after the last match of Murray" referring to the epic five-setter he played against the Scot on Day Eight and while he had trouble describing the exact nature of the complaint, he did show he had not lost his sense of humour.
"Well, it's not just the one place. I have pain here, in my famous ass," he said with a smile in reference to recent press about his three-quarter length playing shorts.
"After I feel a little bit here, too (pointing to the inside and outside of the thigh). That maybe it's just tired, no? But down this way and in the ass is very, very painful, no?
"I don't feel the pain in the match of Murray, no? I feel later, I feel after. Well, I don't know, I was thinking was just tired, normal. I was playing very tough match, I just feel tired.
"(But) maybe is not just tired, because is not normal. Walking right now I have lot of pain. Maybe is a little bit more than tired."
Nadal will leave for Spain on Friday where he will undergo scans in a bid to rectify the problem so he can take his place in the Spanish Davis Cup squad.
"I want to play the Davis Cup after one week. I hope be hundred per cent for Davis Cup. Is one of my goals always, play for your country is always special for me," he said.
"But I need go to the doctor and watch what I can I do right now, no?"
Nadal missed last year's Australian Open with a foot injury and had been in some doubt for this one after he withdrew from the Medibank International lead-in tournament in Sydney with a hamstring strain.