Defending champion Rafael Nadal out of U.S. Open with wrist injury

Spain's Rafa Nadal will not defend his U.S. Open title this month after failing to recover fully from a wrist injury, the world number two said on Facebook and Twitter on Monday. The 28-year-old left-hander sustained the injury during practice last month and has been training with a cast on his right wrist, forcing him to miss the Rogers Cup in Toronto and last week's Cincinnati Open.

"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.