‘The US Open destroyed me’ – Rafael Nadal gives candid injury update

Rafael Nadal says that the hand injury that kept him out of the final day of the Laver Cup is unlikely to be serious enough to impact his season.

The world number two did not play on Friday, but appeared on at courtside with the rest of Team Europe, albeit with a heavily-strapped wrist.

He played two matches on day two, and was scheduled to play another two on Sunday, but withdrew on the morning.

However, he says it is just a leftover from the US Open and he is hopeful he will be fit for the Shanghai Masters.

“It is not my wrist by the way, it is my hand,” Nadal told the press on Sunday night after Team Europe claimed a third Laver Cup crown.

“My hand is a little bit inflamed. After New York I had a little bit of an issue probably after the final.

“I felt a little bit, the first day here, then a little bit more every day.”

“Yesterday [Saturday] I did an infiltration to play. When you do an infiltration the next day it can be a little bit better, the same or a little bit worse.

.@rogerfederer and @RafaelNadal combine once more to provide @ThiemDomi with their coaching expertise.#TeamEurope #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/2sUxFijgwx

— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) 22 September 2019

“This morning it was worse so I really don’t see a real reason to make another infiltration to play because I will not be at 100 per cent and without being at my 100 per cent there are other guys who are better than me.

“Honestly the best decision for the team is what we made. Dominic [Thiem] played on my singles spot and Stefanos [Tsitsipas] on the doubles.

“Both of them made a good job and on my end of the year I really believe and hope this problem will not change my personal calendar or my personal goals.

“Now is time to enjoy this victory, for me it has been an amazing month-and-a-half.

“After New York I was just fully destroyed for a week and then I came here.”

Both Thiem and Tsitsipas lost the matches in which they replaced Nadal, leaving Alexander Zverev to win a nailbiting decider against Milos Raonic.

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