Rafael Nadal ‘not doing well’ as he pulls out of Laver Cup and admits having ‘tough time’
Spanish star Rafael Nadal has revealed that he is ‘not doing well’ after he pulled out of the Laver Cup following his doubles loss with Roger Federer on Friday. Nadal was overcome with emotion on the night as Federer tearfully waved goodbye to his playing career after struggling with knee issues recently.
The pair lost 6-4, 6-7, 9-11 to Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe on the night, though that didn’t sour the mood as Federer emotionally bided farewell. And Nadal has now revealed that he is withdrawing from the Laver Cup singles, being replaced by Cameron Norrie.
The 36-year-old is set to welcome his first child to the world soon, though the pressure of that is taking its toll on the 22-time Grand Slam winner. He said: “I am not doing well. It’s been a tough time for me, I hardly slept, I was stressed. Luckily everything is okay and I was able to get here.”
Nadal then reiterated that message to the Spanish media when asked about his reasoning, expanding on his previous quote: “I’m not fine. I’m not going to play. If I’m going or not… I need to go back to the room and think about it. That’s where I have to say. I have a very important internal conflict and right now I can’t answer you. When all these moments of excitement I will go back to my room and see what I have to do.”
Nadal was visibly distraught at the O2 after the defeat to Sock and Tiafoe, with the fact that Federer would no longer be battling it out with him on court truly sinking in. The pair were seen in tears after the match concluded and were unable to hold in their emotion as both spoke to the press about the moment.
Though questions have been raised as to whether Nadal would even feature for Team Europe at the competition. Nadal continued: “They have been difficult weeks, few hours of sleep, a little stress in general.
“Situation’s a little more complicated than usual at home. I have had to deal with a different pressure than what you are used to in professional life. Luckily everything It’s fine, much calmer and in that sense, I have been able to come here, which was important to me.”
Nadal later assured fans that he would not be retiring in the immediate future, though was willing to confess that he had considered calling it a day on his playing days earlier this year due to injury struggles.
