Rafael Nadal Pulls Out of US Open, Will Miss Rest Of Season

The U.S. Open will be played without Rafael Nadal, who just can't go anymore.

In case you didn't know, Nadal has been dealing with a lingering left foot injury. He said on Friday that his 2021 season is ending early because of it.

"Honestly, I have been suffering much more than I should with my foot for a year, and I need to take some time ... to find a solution to this problem or at least improve it in order to continue to have options for the next few years," Nadal tweeted.

"I'm with the maximum enthusiasm and predisposition to do whatever it takes to recover the best possible shape to keep competing for the things that really motivate me.

"I'm convinced that with the recovery of the foot and obviously a very important daily effort ... this can be achieved. I will work as hard as I can to make it happen."

Nadal, 35, is ranked No. 4 in the world and the injury has caused him to withdraw from several of matches in recent weeks, including the Masters 1000 last week in Toronto. His foot flared up at the French Open, where he lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

As ESPN noted, "Nadal's great rival and fellow 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer is also out of the US Open and will be sidelined for months because he needs knee surgery."