Nadal pulls out of Dubai

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:19

The 22-year-old Spaniard suffered a knee injury in the second set of his defeat by Andy Murray in the final of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam last week, but insists there is “nothing to be worried about.”

Nadal said: “I am very disappointed not to be able to compete in Dubai but the doctor has advised me to stay home and rest after the pain on my knee in Rotterdam last week.”

He added: “(It is) nothing to be worried about but it needs some rest. I ask my fans and the tournament organisers to understand and I am sorry for this. Dubai is one of my favourite tournaments and I have always played there.

“The field is always great and, more important, the crowds are always supportive. I expect to be back in competition the following week for the Davis Cup tie in Benidorm against Serbia and I will then be travelling to Indian Wells and Miami after.”

World number two Federer withdrew earlier this week in order to rest his back after being troubled by injury at the end of last season.

The withdrawal of the top two stars is a major blow for the tournament, which is one of the richest on the ATP Tour calendar with a prize fund of more than US dollars 2million.

Now get the WORLD’S BEST TENNIS MAGAZINE here