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Kvitova out as Nadal withdraws from Roland Garros

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Hackers release Farah, Nadal, others' medical records

Roland Garros suffered a “cloudy” day six under shinning sun on Friday when the clay court major lost its nine-time champion Rafael Nadal to a left wrist injury, while women’ s singles No. 10 seed Petra Kvitova lost the other big talking point.

The fourth seeded Nadal was to meet compatriot Marcel Granollers in the third round, but granted walkover to the world No. 56 who plays last 16 against the winner between 13th-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem and German Alexander Zverev.

“I do not need surgery now but could if I kept playing,” said the world No. 5 Spaniard at a emergent press conference.

Nadal just reached a milestone at Roland Garros on Thursday after seeing off Argentina’ s world No. 99 Facundo Bagnis to come out the eighth man in history recording up 200 Grand Slam match wins.

“The injury involves the sheath of a tendon in my wrist. It’ s not same as previous wrist issues, felt first in Madrid,” said Nadal, humbled by world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in a one-sided quarterfinal last year.

Read also: French Open: Serena powers on, Djokovic, Nadal secure wins

“Nine times in my career I’ ve been able to be healthy here and win this tournament. Now is a tough moment. But it’ s not the end,” added the clay-court expert, who turns 30 years old in 7 days.

Nadal has been the second mega star announcing his withdrawal from the 2016 French Open following Swiss Roger Federer, as the 2009 winner too pulled out right before the start due to a back injury.

On the tennis court, the shock came from the women’ s singles draw as two-times Wimbledon champion and former French Open semifinalist Kvitova was sent packing 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-0 by 108th-ranked Shelby Rogers.

The American thus reaches the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her career.

Joining Kvitova on the sidelines was her own countrywoman Lucie Safarova after the 2015 finalist bowed out with a 6-3, 6-7 (0), 7-5 loss to the 2010 runner-up Samantha Stosur of Australia.

Second seed Agnieszka Radwanska and the 2014 runner-up Simona Halep also faced tough third-round opponents but managed to make through.

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