Nadal out of Shanghai event

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:08

The Spaniard, who usurped Roger Federer at the top of the ATP rankings earlier this year following victories at the French Open and Wimbledon, made the announcement on Monday, just three days after pulling out of the Paris Masters with a knee injury.

The 22-year-old indicated in a statement posted on his personal website, www.rafaelnadal.com, that fatigue rather than injury was behind his withdrawal from the event in China.

Frenchman Gilles Simon will take Nadal’s place in the draw in Shanghai.

Nadal said on his website: “It has been a long and difficult year where I managed to obtain great results, both on a professional and on a personal level.

“I have mentioned on various occasions that the tennis calendar has been extremely hard with practically all weeks playing and where it forces players to compete week in week out, making it impossible for a top level player to be 100% on each event.

“On a personal level I had as one of my goals to become number one during this year and competing at so many events might have harmed, especially at the end of the season, my physical condition, taking away the freshness needed to play at the top level of the game on these last events.

“I don’t know if this has been a mistake or not but the fact is that with the goal achieved I also have to take one of the most difficult and painful decisions.

“I have decided not to compete on the Masters Cup in Shanghai.

“As I say this is one of the most difficult decisions in my career due to the importance of the event and above all, due to the fact of not making possible my will to be with the fans in China and the tournament organisers that always treated me in such special way.”

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