Rafael Nadal withdraws from Laver Cup due to ‘personal reasons’
Rafael Nadal withdrew from the Laver Cup on Thursday with ‘personal reasons’ after failing to reach the semi-finals for an 11th consecutive year.
Having lost just two matches on the trot this season, Nadal was seeded at the top of the draw with Swiss giants Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The four-time champion, who started this year’s ATP World Tour Finals with a 7-5 6-3 6-2 win over Roger Federer in the semifinals was in the form of his life as he opened his campaign with a 6-2 6-2 6-4 win over the 12-time grand slam champ Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.
Roger Federer was trailing Nadal 3-2 in the first set, but the Swiss champion rallied to take the next two sets to reach his first ever grand slam quarter-final, with Nadal winning just two of the seven games he played over the last six days.
Federer is the man to beat in the French Open final
Federer’s run in the last four of the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon, the past three years have taken him to three major finals in a row at the grand slams, although most of his achievements have been down the road rather than the French.
However, after Federer’s run in the last four of the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon, the past three years have taken him to three major finals in a row at the grand slams, although most of his achievements have been down the road rather than the French.
The 30-year-old has won 21 grand slams and holds a record of 11 consecutive titles at the French Open and seven at Wimbledon. With his fourth French Open title and the second at Wimbledon, it would be a first for Federer when they meet at the 2019 French Open final.
Federer also holds the record for the most Grand Slam men’s singles titles at nine, has won 20 singles titles in singles play, and is the only man to beat a 20-time grand slam champion in singles – the only man to beat a 20-time