Rafael Nadal is walking away from tennis for the foreseeable future to spend time with his pregnant wife and says he has 'to fix things' in life - casting doubt over his career.
The 36-year-old is returning to Spain to spend time with partner Mery Perello after being dumped out the US Open by 22nd seed Frances Tiafoe 6-4 4-6 6-4-6-3.
Nadal's wife was admitted to hospital at home in Mallorca while he was away in New York ahead of the US Open, but the Spaniard assured the press his partner was 'fine'.
However, now Nadal is heading back home to spend some precious time with his wife. "As you can imagine, right now it is difficult for me to make a clear analysis of what my immediate future is going to be," the Spaniard said after the defeat.
"Right now what I have to do is go home, I have much more important things to attend to than tennis. It's been a few months a little difficult in every way, this is the reality.
"And from there, start again professionally speaking and, on a personal level, finish with something that is important in my life, which is having my first son and trust that everything will turn out well.
"I need to go back (home). I need to fix things, life, so I don't know when I'm going to come back. I'm going to try to be ready mentally. When I feel like I'm ready to compete again, I'll be there."
Nadal has won the Australian and French Opens already this year but exited Flushing Meadows at the fourth round stage. The former world number one is due to play at the Laver Cup at the O2 arena later this month but his appearance is now in doubt.
Reflecting on his fourth round defeat to Tiafoe, Nadal said: “The difference is easy, I played a bad match and he played a good match. I was not able to hold a high level of tennis for a long time.
"I was not quick enough in my movements. He was able to take the ball too many times very early, so I was not able to push him back."
