Federer, Nadal Pulling out of Toronto Tennis Event

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Published on July 20 2016 6:19 am
Last Updated on July 20 2016 6:19 am

By ESPN

The Rogers Cup took two more major hits Tuesday as world No. 3 Roger Federer and No. 4 Rafael Nadal announced they were pulling out of the Toronto event, the first Masters Series tournament of the summer swing.

"I have made the tough decision to withdraw from the Rogers Cup," Federer wrote on his Facebook page. "Toronto is one of my favorite events on the calendar, and I am disappointed that I won't be able to compete in front of the great tennis fans in Canada."

Nadal, who hasn't played since withdrawing from the French Open with a wrist injury, issued a statement through Tennis Canada.

"I am disappointed to announce I won't be able to come to Toronto to play this year," the 30-year-old Nadal said. "I only started practicing a week ago after my wrist injury and I am not ready to play such an important event. I am very much looking forward to playing in Toronto in a couple of years since I have always been treated great in that tournament and have a lot of great Canadian fans."

Federer, 34, has missed copious time this season because of knee and back injuries but reached the semifinals of Wimbledon two weeks ago before falling to Milos Raonic.

"Looking ahead, it is best for me that I take more time after Wimbledon," Federer wrote. "I look forward to coming back to Canada next year and I wish [tournament director] Karl Hale and everyone at Tennis Canada a very successful tournament."

The decisions by Federer and Nadal to skip Toronto come a day after Wimbledon champion Andy Murray withdrew because of fatigue.

The addition of the Olympic Games has complicated an already busy summer schedule for numerous players. However, top-ranked Novak Djokovic and Raonic are still scheduled to play the Rogers Cup.