ATP Finals: Rafael Nadal withdraws due to knee injury raising further career concerns
by Andy Schooler, at The O2
Doubts over Rafael Nadal’s long-term future in tennis have resurfaced after he withdrew from the ATP Finals in London shortly after suffering defeat in his first match.
The world number one, who has enjoyed a spectacular return to form in 2017, was clearly struggling with his long-standing knee problem during a three-set loss to David Goffin on Monday night.
And soon after the completion of the match, his 78th of the season and 49th on the hardcourt surface which causes him most bother, Nadal told the assembled media corps that he was ending his season by pulling out of his remaining two matches at the tournament, a decision which leaves Roger Federer as a heavy odds-on favourite to win the title for a record seventh time. Sky Bet offer 4/9.
He said: "I am off. My season is finished.
"I had the commitment with the event, with the city, with myself. I tried hard. I did the thing that I had to do to try to be ready to play. But I am really not ready to play.
"It is not a decision at all. Is about the pain. I cannot hold with enough power to keep playing. I tried, but seriously it was miracle to be very close in the score during the match (he lost 7-6 6-7 6-4).”
"It really don't make sense (to keep playing)."
Nadal's career has been beset by knee problems but 2017 had passed without the problem flaring up - until last month in China.
He was seen sporting tape on the joint as he lost the final of the Shanghai Masters to Federer, the arch rival he pipped to the year-end number one spot, and then withdrew from the Swiss Indoors and, mid-tournament, the Paris Masters.
All the talk before the ATP Finals had been about the injury and while Nadal gave it a go, he was clearly not fit.
However, he remains optimistic about being fit for the 2018 campaign - one which is already less than seven weeks away. He is due to play an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi in late December before heading to Brisbane for his opening ATP tournament of the season.
"I know what I have to do," he insisted. "I know all the things that happened in the past when I had these things, and I know the treatment that I had to do. I know the periods of time that I need to work. Then if the treatment works or not, we will see.
"The good thing is (it's) nothing new. Everybody on my team, we have the right experience on this thing. We hope to manage it well, to have the right rest, the right work, and try to be ready for the beginning of the next season."
Staying upbeat, the French and US Open champion added: "I am, of course, disappointed. But I am not going to cry. I had a great season. I really appreciate all the things that happened to me during the whole season. Thanks life for this unforgettable one.
"I going to work hard to try to give me more chances the next season to keep being at the top and fighting for the most important things."
Nadal will be replaced for the rest of the tournament by his fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, the US Open semi-finalist, who will now meet Dominic Thiem on Wednesday evening.
Sky Bet's updated title odds
Roger Federer 4/9
Alex Zverev 11/2
Grigor Dimitrov 6/1
David Goffin 14/1
Marin Cilic 25/1
Dominic Thiem 33/1
Jack Sock 33/1
Pablo Carreno Busta 50/1
Related links
MOST READ
Next Off
Fixtures & Results
