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Aging tennis superstar Rafael Nadal announced Thursday he would withdraw from the 2024 Laver Cup.
The announcement follows the 38-year-old’s decision to sit out the US Open as he’s dealt with complications related to a surgically repaired hip. In a statement, Nadal said he believes there are “other players who can help the team deliver the win.”
The Spaniard, who is currently outside of the top 150 in the world, told Eurosport that injuries aren’t to blame for his decision. He just doesn’t feel he’s “in a position to win anything.”
Team Europe announced it would replace Nadal with Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, the No. 10–ranked player in the world. Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe are set to play at the tournament, which runs Sept. 20-22. Novak Djokovic and 2024 US Open winner Jannik Sinner are not participating.
The Right Decision
This year would have been Nadal’s fourth Laver Cup, tennis’s version of the Ryder Cup, which pits six men’s tennis players from Team Europe against Team World. The Laver Cup, which will be played in Berlin, is in its seventh year. It was established in 2017 in part by Roger Federer’s management company Team8 Sports & Entertainment.
Team USA’s vice-captain Patrick McEnroe spoke to Front Office Sports following Nadal’s announcement, and said that while it was “disappointing” for the fans, he understood the decision of the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
“Knowing where he’s at and knowing what he’s been struggling with, I think it was the right move,” McEnroe said.
He pointed out the Laver Cup is played on hard court—and that is one of the surfaces that has tested Nadal’s body in the past.
“Indoor hard court is always the surface that he struggled the most on, not just from a game standpoint, but also with his body with the stopping and starting,” McEnroe said.
McEnroe added he hopes to see Nadal back in action later this year or continue on to 2025 for one more run.
“Tennis certainly misses him,” McEnroe said. “He’s been one of the all-time icons of tennis, and is very popular amongst his team and our team as well. We love Rafael Nadal.”
