Rafael Nadal Out Of Cincinnati Masters, Adds To Doubts Over US Open

Rafael Nadal has been suffering from a left foot injury since his French Open semi-final defeat vs Novak Djokovic in June.

Rafael Nadal withdrew from the ATP Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday, organizers said, just a day after his withdrawal from the Toronto tournament had already cast doubt on his fitness for the US Open. The 35-year-old Spanish star has been suffering from a left foot injury since his semi-final exit at the hands of Novak Djokovic at the French Open in June. Nadal, level with Djokovic and Roger Federer on a men's record 20 Grand Slams, is hoping to be fit for an assault on a fifth US Open title when the final Grand Slam of the year starts on August 30. World number four Nadal's withdrawal means that none of the "Big Three" will compete again before the New York fortnight. Top-ranked Djokovic, seeking to complete a calendar-year Grand Slam at the US Open, withdrew from Cincinnati on Monday, saying he needed more recovery time after the Tokyo Olympics. Djokovic, 34, could become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four major titles in one year.