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ROLAND GARROS

Rafa Nadal retires from French Open due to wrist injury

The nine-time champion said, "It was impossible. They gave me an injection but I couldn't control the racquet." The announcement came ahead of his match with Granollers.

Rafa Nadal is forced to retire from the French Open with a wrist strain.
Dennis GrombkowskiGetty Images

A frustrated Rafa Nadal was forced to withdraw from the French Open in Paris just 24 hours ahead of his planned match against Spanish compatriot, Marcel Granollers. The courts at Roland Garros had become a bit of a home to Nadal until recent years where he had been hit by injuries and, as a Real Madrid fan, he was hoping that this year could have been his 'décima'.

The nine-time champion Rafael Nadal, who had received a letter of admiration ahead of the tournament, had a recurrance of a left wrist injury on Friday, but insisted the heartbreaking setback did not mean the end of his career.

"It's not broken, but if I continue to play it will be broken in a few days," said an emotional Nadal, the fourth seed.

A dejected Rafael Nadal announces his retirement due to wrist injury.
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A dejected Rafael Nadal announces his retirement due to wrist injury.Clive BrunskillGetty Images

"This is a very bad position, but that's life. If this was not Roland Garros I probably would not have taken the risk of playing in the first couple of days."

Nadal, a 14-time Grand Slam title winner, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, affecting his knees and wrist.

A right wrist injury forced him to skip the 2014 US Open.

No lip reading: Nadal times it perfectly to get his swear words out mid-rally.
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No lip reading: Nadal times it perfectly to get his swear words out mid-rally.PASCAL ROSSIGNOLREUTERS

Despite his latest setback, the charismatic Spaniard said he will keep playing although his participation at Wimbledon next month is now in serious doubt.

"Nine times in my career I have been able to be healthy here in Paris and win this tournament," he said.

"This is a tough moment and the toughest press conference I have ever had to give but it's not the end."

Nadal had coasted through the first two rounds in Paris dropping just nine games but revealed he had needed pain-killing injections in his wrist to take part.

His withdrawal gives compatriot Marcel Granollers a walkover into the last 16.

It's also a huge boost to Novak Djokovic's hopes of lifting a first French Open crown.

Nadal and Djokovic were due to meet in the semi-finals next Friday -- the date of the Spaniard's 30th birthday.