Tennis-Nadal to Skip US Open, Plans to Return at Laver Cup

20 July 2024, Sweden, Bastad: Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates after defeating Croatia's Duje Ajdukovic in the men's singles semi-finals of the Swedish Open. Photo: Steffen Trumpf/dpa
20 July 2024, Sweden, Bastad: Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates after defeating Croatia's Duje Ajdukovic in the men's singles semi-finals of the Swedish Open. Photo: Steffen Trumpf/dpa
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Tennis-Nadal to Skip US Open, Plans to Return at Laver Cup

20 July 2024, Sweden, Bastad: Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates after defeating Croatia's Duje Ajdukovic in the men's singles semi-finals of the Swedish Open. Photo: Steffen Trumpf/dpa
20 July 2024, Sweden, Bastad: Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates after defeating Croatia's Duje Ajdukovic in the men's singles semi-finals of the Swedish Open. Photo: Steffen Trumpf/dpa

Rafael Nadal has decided not to participate in the US Open due to concerns about his fitness, the Spaniard said on Wednesday while adding his next event will be the Laver Cup in late September.

For Nadal, who won the most recent of his four US Open titles in 2019, this marks the second consecutive year he has sat out the year's final Grand Slam.

"Writing today to let you guys know that I have decided not to compete at this year's US Open a place where I have amazing memories," the 38-year-old Nadal said in a post on X.

"I will miss those electric and special night sessions in NYC at Ashe, but I don't think I would be able to give my 100% this time."

Nadal added that his next event will be the Sept. 20-22 Laver Cup in Berlin.

The 22-times Grand Slam winner competed at the Paris Olympics where he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the second round of the singles competition and reached the quarter-finals of the doubles with Carlos Alcaraz, Reuters reported.

"Rafa is a tremendous champion and he will be missed during the 2024 US Open by the fans and all those associated with the tournament," US Open Tournament Director Stacey Allaster said in a statement.

"We wish him all the best and look forward to having him back at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center."

The 38-year-old former world number one has fallen to 159th in the rankings after struggling for two years with injuries and against Djokovic at the Olympics suffered one of his worst losses in a 6-1 6-4 defeat.

Nadal sat out the Australian Open in January after suffering a small muscle tear during his comeback from a long injury layoff and in May crashed to his earliest French Open exit when he lost in the first round.

The Spaniard skipped Wimbledon to prepare for the Paris Olympics where the tennis event was played on the clay courts at Roland Garros where he celebrated 14 French Open titles.

 

 

 

 

 



Athletics-Morocco's El Bakkali Retains Steeplechase Title after Shocking Girma Fall

Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 07, 2024. Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco celebrates after winning gold. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier Purchase Licensing Rights
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 07, 2024. Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco celebrates after winning gold. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier Purchase Licensing Rights
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Athletics-Morocco's El Bakkali Retains Steeplechase Title after Shocking Girma Fall

Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 07, 2024. Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco celebrates after winning gold. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier Purchase Licensing Rights
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 07, 2024. Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco celebrates after winning gold. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier Purchase Licensing Rights

Soufiane El Bakkali retained his Olympic men's 3,000 meters steeplechase title to deliver Morocco's first medal of the Games on Wednesday, as Ethiopian world record holder Lamecha Girma was taken to hospital after a horrific fall.

El Bakkali clocked a time of eight minutes 6.05 seconds as American Kenneth Rooks took silver in 8:06.41 and Kenya's Abraham Kibiwot claimed bronze, Reuters reported.

The win was overshadowed by the injury to Girma who tripped over a barrier on the last lap and fell hard to the track, lying motionless as medical staff rushed to attend to him.

His eyes were open and he was wearing a neck brace as staff members carried him off on a stretcher and a medic told Reuters that he was taken to a hospital. French media reported he was conscious and speaking.

"Following his fall in the 3,000m steeplechase, Lamecha Girma received immediate care from the on-site medical teams. Our thoughts are with him and we are sending him our very best wishes for a swift recovery," Paris 2024 said in a statement.

"Paris 2024 is in close contact with the Ethiopian NOC to stay updated on his condition."

The race had all the makings of an epic duel as El Bakkali waited in the middle of the pack before making his move with about 300 metres to go, chasing down Girma who was flying through the field.

Events took a jarring turn, however, when Girma fell, drawing gasps from the crowd.

El Bakkali chased down Rooks over the final bend but the American dug deep to produce a personal best time and claim a surprise silver.

The Moroccan held his arms out wide as he crossed the finish to become the first back-to-back winner of the event since Finland's Volmari Iso-Hollo in 1932 and 1936, while medical staff were still tending to Girma.

The fans at the Stade de France offered a smattering of applause as he was strapped to a stretcher and carried out through a tunnel.

"I actually didn’t know how bad the fall was - I didn’t know who fell until after the race - so I’ll just keep him in my prayers," said Rooks.