Spain’s Rafa Nadal will not defend his US Open title this month after failing to recover fully from a wrist injury, the world number two said yesterday.

The 28-year-old left-hander sustained the injury during practice last month and has been training with a cast on his right wrist.

“I am very sorry to announce I won’t be able to play at this year’s US Open a tournament on which I’ve played 3 consecutive finals in my last participations,” he said on his official Facebook account.

“I am sure you understand that it is a very tough moment for me since it is a tournament I love and where I have great memories from fans, the night matches, so many things.

“Not much more I can do right now, other than accept the situation and, as always in my case, work hard in order to be able to compete at the highest level once I am back.”

The 14-times grand slam winner also triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2010.

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