The tennis world has been robbed of a potential blockbuster match-up after to Spain did not name 22-time grand slam champion Rafa Nadal in the Davis Cup team having been drawn against Novak Djokovic’s Serbia in the group stage.
Nadal hasn’t played a tennis match since withdrawing from Wimbledon’s semi-final clash against Nick Kyrgios last month.
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The Spaniard withdrew after re-injuring an abdominal tear suffered before the tournament.
Fans expected Nadal back at the Canadian Open last week, but the 22-time champion withdrew from the competition after admitting he wasn’t able to train due to the injury.
Nadal is expected to line-up at the Cincinnati Open this week.
While he was also expected to take part in the Davis Cup, Spain did not name the 35-year-old for their group stage encounters.
Spain named an incredibly strong team, which will be led by teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz.
Sergi Bruguera’s team will face Serbia, Canada and South Korea in Group B which is being staged in Valencia from September 13-18.
The 16-team event could mark the return to action for Djokovic who is set to miss the US Open because he is barred from entry into the country due to his unvaccinated status.
Djokovic has not played a competitive tennis match since winning a seventh Wimbledon title and 21st Grand Slam last month.
Unfortunately, fans will be robbed of a potential match-up between Nadal and Djokovic in their national colours.
Nick Kyrgios ruled out of Aussie Davis Cup team
For the Aussies, Nick Kyrgios has again opted out of the Davis Cup team with Alex de Minaur spearheading the Australian team in Hamburg, Germany next month.
Kyrgios has enjoyed a remarkable run since making the Wimbledon final having won 15 of his last 16 matches.
The Aussie won the doubles title in Atlanta, before taking out both the singles and doubles crown in Washington.
However, with the US Open coming up and having been away from Australia for quite some time, the Aussie has opted out of the Davis Cup group stage clashes.
Kyrgios hasn’t played in the team event since 2019 and would have been a strong addition given his sparkling singles form plus grand slam-winning doubles combination with Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Team captain Lleyton Hewitt has still included Kokkinakis as a singles option for the group stage, alongside Australia’s top-ranked player and World No.20 de Minaur.
with agencies
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