TENNIS : RAFAEL NADAL BOWS OUT OF 2016 ; VOWS TO BOUNCE BACK IN 2017 !

TENNIS : RAFAEL NADAL BOWS OUT OF 2016 ; VOWS TO BOUNCE BACK NEXT SEASON !

Tennis Legend Rafael Nadal has now called it quits for 2016.

Due to his on-and-off wrist injury that has been bugging him for quite some time.

The 14-Time Grand Slam Champion says he pulled-out of the Tour early this year, so he would prepare 'intensively' for the 2017 Season.

In a statement published on his Facebook page, Rafael Nadal said his 'forced recovery' for the 2016 Olympic Games last August has caused him pain, forcing him to exit from tennis action early this year.

With now both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal out of the picture for the rest of 2016, this would mean the year-ending climax ATP World Tour Finals in November 2016 would be without the two Legends - Federer and Nadal - for the first time in 15 years.

Nadal, acknowledged as 'The King of Clay' of Tennis for his record 9 French Open Titles, has vowed to come back stronger in 2017.

At 30, seems age is now slowly catching up with him. Like Federer.

Can Nadal - or Federer for that matter - still win another Grand Slam?

That's what Great Champions do.

Defy the undefiable.

It is no secret that I arrived to the Olympic Games short of preparation and not fully recovered, but the goal was to...
Posted by Rafa Nadal on Thursday, 20 October 2016

It is no secret that I arrived to the Olympic Games short of preparation and not fully recovered, but the goal... https://t.co/bvU9pfQfGd
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) October 20, 2016

Rafael Nadal has prematurely ended his season in a bid to be fully fit for 2017. https://t.co/vFn6ASUdtj
— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) October 20, 2016

Rafael Nadal ends his season because of left wrist injury https://t.co/93cJP4uQAb
— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) October 20, 2016

Rafael Nadal has been struck by injury again.
He's had to end his season early.https://t.co/brO0mTzg7i pic.twitter.com/XVZqrlrPIz
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 20, 2016

.@RafaelNadal ends his season to focus in injury recovery @ITF_Tennis pic.twitter.com/AswUAYymfq
— Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) October 21, 2016

.@RafaelNadal ends 2016 season due to wrist injury. More: https://t.co/NvyC2Ynx3x #ATP pic.twitter.com/GsLuzdVmCQ
— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) October 20, 2016

Thanks Roger Federer for helping us with the inauguration of the Rafa Nadal Academy! A pleasure to have your support!!
Posted by Rafa Nadal on Wednesday, 19 October 2016

Joined @RafaelNadal at the opening of his Academy. We'll share a lifetime of memories from the 🎾court. Wouldn't miss this one off the court# pic.twitter.com/JfWB85ahXj
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) October 20, 2016

.@RafaelNadal: "The sport is my passion & creating this tennis academy is the most important part." More: https://t.co/1WExwlqAAs pic.twitter.com/jij2R4ySoQ
— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) October 20, 2016

#Repost @rafanadalacademy ・・・ @RogerFederer, the President of #Telefonica, #JoséMAlvarezPallete and @RafaelNadal at the inauguration of the #RafaNadalAcademy
A photo posted by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal) on Oct 19, 2016 at 9:50am PDT

Thanks @RogerFederer for helping us with the inauguration of the @RafaNadalAcademy! A pleasure to have your support!!
A photo posted by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal) on Oct 19, 2016 at 10:06am PDT