Rafael Nadal Withdraws from US Open Tennis 2014 Tuneups Due to Right Wrist Injury

Spanish tennis player, Rafael Nadal, will no longer participate in the U.S. Open tune-ups in Toronto and Cincinnati because of an injured right wrist.

Through an emailed statement, Nadal's manager, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, informed AP Sports and other media outfits that the tennis player hurt his wrist during a practice game in Mallorca, his home island. Nadal would need to wear a wrist cast for two to three weeks and undergo a series of physical examinations, including an MRI to ensure that he'll be well enough to play in the U.S. Open which will begin on August 25, the report added.

USA Today noted in a report that if Nadal recovers before the start of the tournament, he should be able to find his rhythm early on during the matches if he wants to defend his title in New York. It added that Nadal was lucky that his injury was only in the wrist and not on the knee as it could be more difficult for him to recover.

The tennis star currently stands on the No. 2 spot with a 44-89 record with four titles won in 201, AP Sports added. The report also noted that he has not yet competed since he lost to 19-year-old Nick Kyrgios during the Wimbledon's fourth round.

According to the New York Times, if Nadal fails to participate in the U.S. Open, it will be the second time in his career that an injury has erased his chances in defending a title. Knee issues have reportedly caused Nadal to miss the Wimbledon in 2009. The same issues forced him to quit the 2012 US Open and the Australian Open the following year, the report added.

But the New York Times also explained that despite these rough roads on his career, he still was able to achieve great results in his career last year and reclaimed the No.1 ranking.