Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Canadian Open with an ongoing foot injury, less than three weeks before the US Open begins.
The 35-year-old pulled out of Wimbledon and the Olympic Games, saying he wanted to rest after the clay-court season.
Nadal played in Washington on 5 and 6 August, but now says he will return to Mallorca to try and “be better again”.
“I’ve had this issue for a couple of months. It is not a happy situation,” the four-time US Open champion said.
“The most important thing is to enjoy playing tennis. With this pain, I’m not able to enjoy [playing].”
In Washington, Nadal aggravated the injury in a second-round win over Jack Sock but said it had improved after he lost to South Africa’s Lloyd Harris in the third round.
Nadal – who may now miss the Cincinnati Masters before the US Open begins on 30 August – will be replaced in the Canadian Open draw by fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.
