Nadal to skip Halle

Copied from his Facebook Page: "I won't be able to come to Halle this year, after these
past months and all the matches I have been able to
play my doctors have recommended to rest after
Roland Garros and start after a few days my
preparation to play on grass courts. We all know the
transition is not easy and after these past months I
have to approach this in a different way. I am very
sorry for my fans in Germany and in particular in
Halle since the welcome I always had there was
amazing and last year, organisers also made me feel
very special. They have made a very special
tournament and it will be a success. I hope I can
return to play next year for sure."

A tad dissapointing, but its completely understandable, Wimbledon is the big fish.

Agreed. Fair decision.

The one thing I would suggest (and this is not a criticism of Rafa, because all players do the same) is that instead of announcing "I will play Halle" and then pulling out they should actually announce "I am putting Halle in my schedule but realistically if I reach the FO final, or even a tough semi, or aren't at 100% fitness the day before the tournament, then I will pull out, so there is a 70% chance overall I will play it." And each player's schedule would have some maybes on, not every tournament a yes/no.

The fans who are being sold tickets to events like Halle, Queens and maybe a few others, should be sold that honestly as well.

@HB... Caveat Emptor!

Television and video streams become a better value.

Very true. I think Nadal was planning to play, but he has played 44 matches this year, leading the tour in titles, matches, points and Time violations (not related, but he gets a bucket load). Form wise, there is no need for a "confidence boost", and I think the rest is quite necessary. He's team should have (and I suspect did) told the TD that there is a chance Nadal will skip the tournament, due to the sheer volume of matches played (if he went deep in RG). But I dont think TD's want players to say "I am most likely playing in Halle, subject to my progress in RG". Thats not good for ticket sales.

Expect to see this far more pronounced when the hard court season starts

I'm curious to see what is going to happen with Nadal after Wimbledon. I could see him having a few early exits up until the US Open and almost check out again for the indoor season

Federer deprived of a chance to help the H2H by facing him on fast grass....

Loss for the tournament, he'll probably find some other way to prepare though. Good to see him managing himself at this stage.

Glad. He should have skipped Barcelona too.

What with his reduced practicing schedule I'm not surprised really. It goes head to toe with looking after the knees. Pacing himself seems to have brought some longevity, maybe he's taken a leaf out of Feds book there.

TRuffin wrote:Federer deprived of a chance to help the H2H by facing him on fast grass....

Federer does have some tough matches ahead, including one possibly with Haas, who beat him last at Halle. He also played a close match with Raonic.

That specific quarter has Haas, Baggy, Gulbis, Brands, Monfils, Raonic.

Federer's quarter with Stebe, Zverev, Goffin, Petzschner, Janowicz is also a tough one. Comparatively, the other other half looks easier.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/share/event-draws.aspx?year=2013&eventid=500&draw=ms

Watching the doubles will be fun with Fed and Haas!

LF, my new nick is #princehector, and my new avatar is one I incurred because I lost a bet (on Simon). lol