Nadal out of Toronto with ongoing foot injury

Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the National Bank Open in Toronto – due to the left foot injury that has persistently troubled him in recent months.

“I really wanted to play here a lot, but now is the moment to make a decision, and this is unfortunately the decision that I have taken,” said the Spaniard.

“I have had this issue for a couple of months, as people know. Of course, it is not a happy situation after all the success that I had here in Canada, not being able to play this year after missing a year. It’s a tough one, but that’s how it is today.

“I need to go back and try to find a way to be better again. At the end of the day, for me the most important thing is enjoy playing tennis. Today, with this pain, I am not able to enjoy, and I really don’t believe that I have chances to fight for the things that I really need to fight.”

Another Spaniard – Feliciano Lopez – takes Nadal’s spot in the draw as a lucky loser.