Injured Nadal vows only to return when fully fit

Rafael Nadal said in an interview published Tuesday that he has not picked up a racket since Wimbledon limping for almost three months and return to competition once he is fully fit.

"I'm in no condition to go to the court at the time. I have not touched a racket, but I'm working hard every day," he was quoted as saying in an interview with four European newspapers, including French sports daily L 'Equipe.


Nadal has been on the bench after his shock second round exit at Wimbledon to unheralded Czech player Lukas Rosol in late June and has been receiving treatment for a torn tendon in his left knee.


The 26-year-old, whose injury has led him to miss the London Olympics, the Masters Series events in Toronto and Cincinnati and the U.S. Open, said he has been swimming every day for keep fit and is also working in the gym.


On September 5, Spanish Tennis Federation doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro discarded surgery, raising hopes that it might make a change last Davis Cup in Spain against the Czech Republic in November.


But Nadal seemed to pour cold water on a quick return when asked when he would be seen later on the court, told reporters: "I do not know.


"The situation is very clear in my mind. First I have to take care of myself completely and return to full fitness before deciding when and where to play again.'ll Just come back when I'm 100 percent.


"I never want to pitch again with permanent doubts about my fitness."


Nadal, the former world number one, has had repeated injury layoffs in recent years due to knee problems, which have much of the tension in his very physical style of play.


The player said he was approaching his recovery in stride but admitted there were "difficult times", including missing the Olympics and the honor of carrying the flag of Spain in the opening ceremony.


"I was very, very low for a couple of weeks. Losing a Grand Slam is tough, but it occurs every four years. I hope with all my heart to be in the Games in Rio (2016). That's one of my goals, "he added.

Clijsters clash for Robson

British No.3 comes through in straight sets

Laura Robson will take on Kim Clijsters in the second round of the US Open after coming through a tight tussle Samantha Crawford at Flushing Meadows.

The 18-year-old was not at her best but won the points that mattered in a 6-3 7-6 (8/6) victory - with a clash with three-time champion Clijsters, who is playing in her final professional tournament, her reward.

Robson was playing in a grand slam as a direct entrant on ranking for the first time and found herself in the unusual position of being the senior player.

American Crawford, 17, came through qualifying and is ranked only 393rd compared to Robson's 89, so this was a great opportunity for the British No.3 to reach the second round for the second successive year.

The pair have similar games, hitting plenty of winners but also making a lot of errors, but it was Robson who was just the steadier in the opening set.

Robson had the better of three straight breaks to lead 5-3 and then held to take the set, but quickly found herself down a break in the second.

Smashed

Robson hit back to level at 3-3 and from there both players held serve to take the set into a tie-break.

Robson donated the first set point to her opponent with a double fault, and Crawford should have taken it but smashed the ball straight back to her opponent after the British player's return had flown up in the air off her frame, and then dumped a volley long.

The American certainly possesses a lot of power but Robson traded well to bring up her first match point and took it when her opponent drilled a return wide.

Robson said: "She was really tough. I'd never seen her play before. For the first few games I was just trying to stick with her basically because she seemed to rip every shot that I hit.

"She definitely played like she had no pressure on her. It was an interesting match but I thought I played okay. She's taller than me so she felt older."

Djokovic battles into semis

Serbian one of four players to get through two matches on Friday

Novak Djokovic stormed into the semi-finals of the Toronto Masters with two wins at the rain-hit event on Friday night.

The world number one, who was among several players on court twice after rain washed out Thursday's play, overcame American Sam Querrey 6-4 6-4 in a match broken up by weather delays.

Four hours later, the Serbian was back in action as he defeated Tommy Haas of Germany 6-3 3-6 6-3 in a match lasting two-and-a-half hours.

Djokovic will take on countryman Janko Tipsarevic for a place in the final after the fifth seed beat Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-2 6-4 before seeing off Spain's Marcel Granollers 6-4 6-4.

The second semi-final will be between 14th seed Richard Gasquet and American John Isner, ranked eighth this week.

Big-serving Isner knocked local hope Milos Raonic out 7-6 6-4 after earlier overcoming Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in three close sets. Raonic had walked into the last eight following Andy Murray's withdrawal.

Gasquet had a huge win over fourth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4 6-2 and then defeated American Mardy Fish 5-7 6-1 6-2.

"For sure to play two matches in a day is very difficult," said the Frenchman. "I saw he was a little bit tired at the start of the second set.

"First set he played very good, I couldn't do anything. I'm in the semi-finals, I'm feeling confident so I'm sure I can win more."