ATP Tour - Nalbandian pulls out of Barcelona

Eurosport - Thu, 23 Apr 21:18:00 2009

David Nalbandian has pulled out of his quarter-final against world number one Rafael Nadal the Barcelona Open due to a hip injury.

TENNIS 2009 ATP Barcelona Almagro N. - Nalbandian D. - 0

Tournament doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro said Nalbandian, who went through to the quarters when he beat Spanish 10th seed Nicolas Almagro 6-3 6-4, had sustained an inflammation of the right hip and had been forced to withdraw.

"He is not in the right condition to contest a match of the intensity of a quarter-final," Ruiz-Cotorro said.

The injury deprives top seed Nadal of the chance to level the head-to-head record between the pair at 2-2.

"I'm sorry for (Nalbandian)," the Spaniard said on hearing the news.

"It's never a nice thing to go through in this way but you have to see the positive side which is that I am in the last four."

In their last meeting, Nadal saved five match points before coming through 3-6 7-6 6-0 in a classic fourth-round encounter at the Indian Wells Masters in March.

Nadal therefore goes straight into the semi-finals as he bids for a fifth straight Barcelona title.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. Ahh poor david was looking forward to him playing­ Rafa.Get well soon David.

    From AJ, on Sat 25 Apr 12:25PM

  2. Nalbandian run scared !!!

    From AndJustice4All, on Fri 24 Apr 6:53PM

  3. Its make Nadal to be easier to hold the trophy. Go­ Nadal You are still the best

    From nabil.alvaro, on Fri 24 Apr 3:15PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hello, fans!I'm an open minded girl from UK. I like­ this team very much.
    I have a blog on -–SeekingBi C o­ M-- I like to share the funny things with other­ fans,esp handsome guys~~

    From lindashake01, on Fri 24 Apr 11:07AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I have never seen such must mediocrity in tennis. There­ is only one tennis player and many mediocres.
    No­ wonder, why Nadal wins all the tennis tournaments.­ Nadal will win 25 grand slams. I do not see any other­ tennis player.

    From Prophet, on Fri 24 Apr 2:12AM

  6. Well said mikestark78.

    From rhymes450, on Thu 23 Apr 11:42PM

  7. IT IS SAD RAFA VS DAVID IS OFF,BUT THERE IS STILL SOME­ GOOD TENNIS TOMMOROW IE:FERNANDO GONZALEZ VS FERNANDO­ VERDASCO I BET THAT'S GONNA BE A SMASH HIT­ ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THEY BOTH PLAY VERY­ OFFENSIVELY AND BOTH SEEM TO HIT THEIR FOREHANDS AS­ HARD AS THEY CAN,SHOULD BE ONE HELLUVA MATCH!

    From mikestark78, on Thu 23 Apr 10:38PM

  8. Nalbandian knows better than to face Rafa on clay.

    From Nabucodonosor, on Thu 23 Apr 9:50PM

  9. THAT'S A REAL SHAME.I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO­ WATCHING R.NADAL & D.NALBANDIAN DO BATTLE ON CLAY.

    From simonramond, on Thu 23 Apr 8:16PM

  10. i am a fan of rafa but i am really sorry for david­ because he is my third favorite after rafa and marat­ and i was expecting to see a wonderful match tommorow­ but unfortunately david cant contest ...i hope that­ rafa will win the title :)) again

    From Damaris, on Thu 23 Apr 7:50PM

  11. Bad luck David and get well soon.
    Hope this doesn't­ appear twice, sorry if it does!

    From beryll, on Thu 23 Apr 7:16PM

  12. I commented and it hasn't appeared

    From beryll, on Thu 23 Apr 7:15PM

  13. Bad luck David! Get well soon.

    From beryll, on Thu 23 Apr 7:14PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Nadal in not only the best player, but the luckiest.­ Bandy gave hime a good scare last time, forced him to­ save 4 matchpoints. Luck favors the greats it seems

    From Vassilis, on Thu 23 Apr 7:09PM
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