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Australian Open 2013: Why Rafael Nadal’s Withdrawal Was the Right Call
Published: January 5, 2013
First, let's go back and recap all of the highs and lows of Rafa's turbulent 2012.
He began the year by making the finals in the Australian Open where he lost in five sets to Novak Djokovic.
Nadal then went on to beat Djoker at Roland Garros for his record-breaking seventh French Open title.
On June 28, 2012, the 26-year-old Spaniard suffered an inexplicable second-round loss at Wimbledon to Lukas Rosol. Following the five-set loss to Rosol, Rafa issued the following statement. (via David Mercer of BBC Sport)
I played a great fourth set. He came back [after the delay to close the roof] and played unbelievable in the fifth.
The only thing I can do is go back home and rest, and I need and deserve it.
I'm very, very disappointed [but] it's not a tragedy, it's only a tennis match.
Nadal did go home and rest, forgoing the U.S. Open, and he hasn't played competitively since.
So why on earth would it be the right call to extend his absence and pull out of the Australian Open?
The Choice to Come Back May Not Have Been Rafa's Call to Make
I'm not in the business of fostering conspiracies—that is up to you, the reader—but it's been hard to ignore the widespread speculation that the Spaniard's six-month vacancy has been tied to a possible doping punishment.
These allegations were so overwhelming among tennis fans that Nadal's media manager Benito Barbadillo addressed them in a live chat on the UbiTennis site.
Barbadillo strongly came to Nadal's defense, ultimately hop...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis
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