• ATP Tour

No Queen's return for Nadal in 2012

ESPN staff
October 12, 2011
Rafael Nadal will not be back at Queen's Club in 2012 © Getty Images
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Organisers of the AEGON Championships at The Queen's Club have suffered a blow after Rafael Nadal informed them he will not play at the event next year.

Nadal, who lost in the final of Wimbledon to Novak Djokovic in 2011, has traditionally used the event as a grass court warm-up for the All England Club grand slam - with his last absence from the tournament, in 2009, only a result of a recently-suffered injury.

But a lucrative appearance fee of £750,000 has tempted the Spaniard to play the rival Gerry Weber Open in Halle next year, with Queen's organisers admitting defeat in their bid to persuade the world No. 2 back for their event that week.

"Rafa will not be with us next year," tournament director Chris Kermode told the Daily Mail. "It's disappointing but we know how much he enjoys our event and we hope to be welcoming him back soon."

Andy Murray is the defending champion at Queen's, after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final in June. The Frenchman was responsible for the defeat of Nadal, who exited the competition in the quarter-finals after a surprise 6-7(3) 6-4 6-1 loss.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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