PARIS (AP) — Nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Grand Slam tournament on Friday, citing an injury to his left wrist.

He announced his withdrawal the day before he would have been scheduled to play in the third round.

The left-handed Spaniard wore a blue brace on his wrist during what he called “one of the toughest press conferences in my career.”

Nadal said that he would not even have tried to compete at any other tournament with the injury, “but it’s the most important event of the year for me.”

He won his second-round match in straight sets Thursday, playing after getting an injection to numb the pain in his wrist.

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