VIDEO: Juan Martin del Potro applauds Rafael Nadal off court after injury
This was the sad moment that Rafael Nadal’s US Open defence came to a limping end.
The world number one, who was hoping to win his second major of the season, was two sets up against Juan Martin del Potro when he decided that a knee injury picked up earlier in the tournament was too restrictive of his ability to compete.
Del Potro is a huge favourite at Flushing Meadows after his underdog win against Roger Federer in 2009, a win that remains his only Grand Slam crown, and he showed his class to the New York crowd once again by applauding Nadal off the court.
👏👏 for a champion…@delpotrojuan always showing respect…#USOpen pic.twitter.com/GaukdtprbL
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2018
Nadal won the US Open title last year and was hoping to launch a successful defence in his efforts to finish the end-of-year number one.
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