By: Christopher Menendez
Miami- Rafael Nadal, hunched over a changeover chair, elected to retire in the third set against Damir Dzumhur.
Nadal started the game normally and won the first set, 6-2. “Everything was fine until the end of the first set” says Nadal. The second set was a testament to his deteriorating state, 4-6. The sun scorched The Miami Open’s purple court with no cloud in sight for miles.“Finally, in the second set, I realized that I was not able to keep playing. I tried to resist, but I got a little scared to be too dizzy and lose.”
Nadal consulted a doctor three times in between games, even having his blood pressure checked. He hopes his performance was only due to the extreme conditions he faced on the court. In the past, similar sensations have overcome him, but he stated today was a bit worse, hence why he had to stop.
The last time the player retired from a game was at the 2010 Australian Open quarterfinals. The Miami Open has been on Nadal’s radar for a long time as it is the only tournament he has played in and not won. He has reached the finals four times in the past (2005, 2008, 2011, and 2014).
About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2016 Miami Open will be played March 21-April 3 at the Crandon Tennis Center in Miami. The two-week combined event is owned and operated by IMG. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a Premier Mandatory event on the WTA calendar, and features the top men’s and women’s tennis players in the world. The tournament is widely regarded as the most glamorous on the ATP and WTA calendars because of its exotic Miami location, thriving nightlife, five-star hotels and restaurants, beautiful weather and beaches, and its celebrity appeal. For ticket information, call +1.305.442.3367 or visit www.miamiopen.com.
About Itaú
Itau is the largest Latin America privately owned bank, with approximately 95,000 employees and operations in 20 countries throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. Itaú’s relationship with sport goes back to the 1970s, when Itaú first sponsored the Itaú Tennis Cup in Brazil in 1970. Itaú has been a sponsor of the Miami Open for the last six years, and also sponsors the Rio Open, the only combined ATP/WTA event in South America. Itaú also supports the Brazilian Women’s Tennis Circuit, only female professional tournament in South America, certified by the Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), as well as the Tennis Institute Training Center, responsible for the development of young, new talent.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion and media operating in more than 25 countries around the world. IMG’s businesses include Events Media, College, Golf, Tennis, Performance and IMG Academy, Fashion, Models, Clients, Licensing, Joint Ventures, and creative management agency Art + Commerce. In 2014, IMG was acquired by WME, the world’s leading entertainment and media agency. Together, the companies offer an unparalleled client roster; strategic partnerships with sponsors and brands; and marquee assets across sports, entertainment, events, music and fashion.
