RAFAEL NADAL PULLS OUT OF ROLEX PARIS MASTERS • DEL POTRO OUT OF NITTO ATP CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENTION

Written by: on 3rd November 2017
Tennis China Open
RAFAEL NADAL PULLS OUT OF ROLEX PARIS MASTERS • DEL POTRO OUT OF NITTO ATP CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENTION

epa06305786 YEARENDER 2017 OCTOBER Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after falling during his men's singles first round match against Lucas Pouille of France at the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China, 03 October 2017. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY  |

Nadal out of Paris Masters, Del Potro out of London contention

 

By Ricky Dimon

 

Rafael Nadal pulled out from his scheduled quarterfinal match at the Rolex Paris Masters on Friday afternoon due to a right-knee injury. Nadal was less than 100 percent in the latter stages of a 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 win over Pablo Cuevas on Thursday, but he eventually survived that battle after two hours and 20 minutes.

 

The world No. 1 warmed up earlier on Friday before deciding that he could not take the court for his match.

 

“Yesterday the pain during the match was too much, but I didn’t want to stop,” Nadal said. “It’s not the thing that I love to do. I have to pull out. Of course it’s a very tough decision for me, especially here in Paris, which has been the most important city in my career without a doubt. It’s a tough situation, but I tried my best. I did one treatment yesterday night to try and play today.”

 

The Spaniard, who clinched that year-end top spot in the rankings with his second-round victory over Hyeon Chung, is questionable for the upcoming Nitto ATP World Tour Finals in London. He has one week in between Paris and London with which to recover.

 

“I’m not thinking about London,” Nadal explained. “It’s about the longer term–to be able to continue playing tennis. It’s important to play tennis as long as possible. The knee is always bothering me a little bit, but sometimes it’s worse. I’m going to go back, check again with the doctors (like) I did after Shanghai…. Let’s see. I’m going to do my treatment. In the past it worked well.”

 

The only way Juan Martin Del Potro will play in London is if Nadal–or someone else–withdraws. Del Potro’s quest for top-eight qualification ended one step short, as he lost to John Isner in the quarterfinals when a semifinal spot would have been enough. Isner prevailed 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4 to end the Argentine’s hopes.

 

The 6’10” American is now two victories away, himself, from the eighth and final place at the O2 Arena.

 

“It was very satisfying and I was confident going into this match,” Isner commented. “I took the court knowing that I’ve been playing pretty well. And also playing with a bit of house money after yesterday, being down 5-2 in the third set (against Grigor Dimitrov). I sort of escaped yesterday and was given some new life today and I think I took advantage of it.

 

“Going into this tournament I wasn’t thinking about [London] at all. I was sort of thinking about what football games I’m going to watch back home when this tournament is over. But now–I’m certainly I’m not going to lie to you guys–it’s in my mind. It would be great to qualify for that.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.

 

Editors Note: To see RAFA trying to play was painful. He saw the trainer. The trainer taped knee. He ate dates. He left the court to see trainer again.

Instead of ATP Year End World Championships. It should be called “The Last Man Standing Year End Championships” (LJ)

 

Topics: , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.