Nadal loses his first game after returning from injury
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Rafael Nadal's first match since pulling out of the Wimbledon semi-finals due to injury ended in a loss to Croatian Borna Coric at the Cincinnati Open.
The 36-year-old Spaniard lost 7-6 (9-7) 4-6 6-3 to world number 152.
Nadal has spent six weeks recovering from his abdominal muscle injury and the loss in the round of 16 is a blow to his preparations for the US Open.
The last Grand Slam tournament of the year begins on August 29.
"As far as New York is concerned, it's a Grand Slam, a different type of tournament," said Nadal, who won the US Open in 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019.
"I've only been able to play two sets before this match in the last 40 days.
“I know to get in condition. I will have to be on the circuit to train with the guys.”
American Taylor Fritz, whom Nadal beat in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, beat Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-3 6-2 to reach the third round.
Fritz went on to criticize the ATP Tour's off-court training trial, saying allowing players to receive instructions during a match goes against the idea that tennis is an individual sport.< /p>
"It's a stupid rule," said the world number 13.
"Why don't we make it an individual sport? A lot of tennis is as much mental as it is physical, and a big part is that you have to figure it out on the court for yourself.
"I think it's ridiculous that you're not there mentally, not good at analysis, not good at analyzing things and coming up with strategies, and someone can tell you what to do. I hate that. "
Fritz next faces sixth seed Andrey Rublev after the Russian beat Italian Fabio Fognini 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas won 6-3 6-4 over Serbian Filip Krajinovic while Pole Hubert Hurkacz lost to American John Isner 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 ( 7-5) 6-2.
Elsewhere, Canada's seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Australia's Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-2 and compatriot Denis Shapovalov fought back to win 3-6 6-4 6-3 against the American Tommy Paul.
Shapovalov will next face world number one Daniil Medvedev while Auger-Aliassime will face Italian Jannik Sinner.
Please share this story:
Rafael Nadal's first match since pulling out of the Wimbledon semi-finals due to injury ended in a loss to Croatian Borna Coric at the Cincinnati Open.
The 36-year-old Spaniard lost 7-6 (9-7) 4-6 6-3 to world number 152.
Nadal has spent six weeks recovering from his abdominal muscle injury and the loss in the round of 16 is a blow to his preparations for the US Open.
The last Grand Slam tournament of the year begins on August 29.
"As far as New York is concerned, it's a Grand Slam, a different type of tournament," said Nadal, who won the US Open in 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019.
"I've only been able to play two sets before this match in the last 40 days.
“I know to get in condition. I will have to be on the circuit to train with the guys.”
American Taylor Fritz, whom Nadal beat in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, beat Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-3 6-2 to reach the third round.
Fritz went on to criticize the ATP Tour's off-court training trial, saying allowing players to receive instructions during a match goes against the idea that tennis is an individual sport.< /p>
"It's a stupid rule," said the world number 13.
"Why don't we make it an individual sport? A lot of tennis is as much mental as it is physical, and a big part is that you have to figure it out on the court for yourself.
"I think it's ridiculous that you're not there mentally, not good at analysis, not good at analyzing things and coming up with strategies, and someone can tell you what to do. I hate that. "
Fritz next faces sixth seed Andrey Rublev after the Russian beat Italian Fabio Fognini 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas won 6-3 6-4 over Serbian Filip Krajinovic while Pole Hubert Hurkacz lost to American John Isner 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 ( 7-5) 6-2.
Elsewhere, Canada's seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Australia's Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-2 and compatriot Denis Shapovalov fought back to win 3-6 6-4 6-3 against the American Tommy Paul.
Shapovalov will next face world number one Daniil Medvedev while Auger-Aliassime will face Italian Jannik Sinner.
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