Rafael Nadal will not be at the start of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. The knee injury from the US Open is still inferior to the world number one.
It would have been the big coup at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna: Rafael Nadal was in conversation as the leader of the starting field. Those responsible had hoped until the end, but now it is certain. The number one in the world is not going to serve in the Vienna Stadthalle.
The Spaniard had resumed training after his knee injury at the US Open about ten days ago, but it is not yet enough for the start in Austria’s capital. “I’ve been on the phone with Rafa almost every day. Unfortunately, there is no good news. Nadal’s not fit yet. He wanted to come to Vienna, but his body wouldn’t take part,” explained Vienna tournament director Herwig Straka at krone.at.
In the semi-finals in New York, the Spaniard had to give up due to injury and has not played a match since. For the ATP final in London, however, the Spaniard should be fit again. But Straka already has a plan how to present an absolute top star to the fans in Vienna.
None other than Novak Djokovic is to come to the metropolis and take Nadal’s place. Tournament director Straka is hoping for a positive discussion: “We now have to deal more intensively with Novak Djokovic. We want to give the fans a real blast.”
Djokovic, who would arrive with his 32nd Masters title in his luggage, would be a coup for those responsible for the ATP-500 event. In Shanghai, the Serb was once again unstoppable and also belongs to the top favourites at the Masters in Paris-Bercy.
Whether the “Djoker” will really serve in Vienna is still uncertain. Djokovic has not yet been able to get any information about his tournament schedule for the rest of the tennis year. In the fight for first place in the world rankings, the 500 world ranking points would just be enough for the reigning Wimbledon and US Open winner.