The Spanish Rafael Nadal, who already claimed to finish the 2017 season as number 1 in the world rankings, withdrew from the Masters 1000 Paris-Bercy due to a right knee injury, just before playing the quarterfinals against Serbian Filip Krajinovic (N. 77).
“Yesterday the pain was very strong but it was not the time to stop. I had a treatment yesterday to try to play today, but unfortunately it is not possible. In the state I’m in, I don’t see myself playing three more games, “said the Spaniard at a press conference about reaching an eventual final on Sunday.
“It is a sad day for me,” he added, downplaying his ailment: “It just happens that the year has been long, I have played many games.”
Nadal, who had resigned from the Basel Tournament to rest after a grueling Asian tour that ended with a sore right knee, beat Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas in the second round on Wednesday.
This match, which went to three sets; 6-3, 6-7 (5/7) and 6-3, ended it with a bandage on his right knee.
After the absence in Paris of Federer, second in the ATP, Nadal made sure to finish 2017 as world number 1 after beating South Korean Chung-Hyeon in the first round.
If their physical condition allows it, Nadal and Federer will close the season in the Masters Tournament, which brings together the eight best tennis players of the year in London from 12 to 19 November.
“I will continue my treatment and do everything I can to play in London, but I can not speak now,” he said this Friday.