(Reuters) – Top seed Rafael Nadal withdrew from the Paris Masters shortly before his opening match against fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco on Wednesday, and as a result will lose the ATP No. 1 ranking to Novak Djokovic.
Rafa, who has not played since retiring injured in the US Open semifinals in September, cited an abdominal injury.
He said that he still feels fit to play, but doctors were concerned enough about the abdomen problem could become progressively worse if he was to play in Paris this week.
I decided I’m happy to be here and it has been a positive few days for my mental part too to be here again practicing with the guys. I enjoy that and I feel myself competitive but… I just can follow the recommendations of the doctor. I can’t go against that, in my opinion today especially before the tournament has started.
I don’t know if we can talk about a real injury. I can talk about a pain that bothers me overtime that I serve. It will not be fair to say it’s a real injury today but what is sure that if I continue then it will be a real injury.
Our champ needed to beat Verdasco to hold Djokovic at bay, but the Serb will now return to the No. 1 spot regardless of how far he goes in Paris.
Very happy Karen won. Such a good feeling. Hope Rafa takes care and plays in London only if he’s fully healed. No half measures.
Good luck Rafa!!
🤗🤗😘😘🍀🍀🍀
I put a small bet on Karen to beat Novak and it paid off. Judging by how Karen destroyed Zverev, i knew he was in with a real chance. I don’t think illness played much of a part as Novak was 3-1, 30-0 up and couldn’t sustain the lead because he came up against a confident, strong opponent who played a smart match. I’m glad Karen got the victory, because it means that the gap between Novak and Rafa is less than it would have been if Novak won. I doubt if a further week is long enough for Rafa to recover from his abdominal problem, but i live in the hope of seeing him play at the WTF. If not, then it would be great to have a brand new champion lift the trophy.
Don’t care who will win as long as it’s not Djokovic. Breaking my heart that he has re gained number one.
Praying very hard that Rafael comes back in the new year a complete new and fit player. So thrilled he won “player of the year.” Love him so much.
Karen Khachanov just won Bercy. WOWOWOWO denying Nole entre’ to the Nitto Finals. OMG
Maybe he will defect to the USA. Probably not. He is probably being feted by Putin and his regime.
Get that healing going Rafa. Your fans are suffering without you, this one is anyway.
So happy that Russian won. Hopefully great future for him. And,please don’t talk politics here…it’s tasteless.
Bravo,Karen.
And…Vamos,Rafa
C’mon Bis, your comment to me was disrespectful and tasteless. No politics at all in my comment regarding Karen’s win. Lucky for you I don’t take things here personally.
I will translate the ONLY portion of my comment which you misconstrued as being political, since you didn’t specify:
“OMG maybe he will defect to the USA. Maybe not. He is probably being feted by Putin and his regime.”
Translation: Many athletes and non-athletes alike have defected from various countries to the USA; the most famous athlete being Martina Navratilova. Heard of her? Ever heard of Nuyerev or Baryshnikov?
Then I go on to say “Probably not. He is probably being feted by Putin and his regime.”
I can only guess that Karen is a big star in his country and what government wouldn’t be proud of its star athletes? Why should he defect to the USA when he’s got the support of his countrymen.
Would you care to share what is political about my post?
You don’t need to translate your comment,Margo. I understood you perfectly well.And I don’t take things personally here either.
“Many athletes and non-athletes alike have defected from various countries to the USA; the most famous athlete being Martina Navratilova. Heard of her? Ever heard of Nuyerev or Baryshnikov?”
Yes,I heard of all of them ,but this happened in different time,last century, in the Communist era.We are talking about now.
And,no…I am not Russian.
But..” …Putin and his regime ” sentence doesn’t belong here in …comments about sports/tennis in my opinion. That’s set.
Nothing personal.
Vamos, Rafa!
Oh boy! You have conflated my sentences.
You have suggested I may think you’re Russian; this never entered my mind;
You have relegated the meaning of “to defect” to only a certain period in time;
You have brought in the commies;
You don’t know that Russia’s government is a regime.
Again, my comment is not political.
Nobody asked you about YOUR opinion on Russian government and this page is for sport,not political beliefs….
I know what I know(I visited the country couple times)and I don’t share YOUR belief ,but I will not go further because…again this is not a page for that.
But sweetie, I wouldn’t discuss my political views here. Never have, never will. You are the one who misinterpreted my comment. You are the one who is trying to make it political. Stop trying to bait me. It won’t work.
No comments
Margo,let’s not talk politics here.
Bravo,Karen
Vamos,Rafa
Dear Margo,
Please, Bis is RIGHT! This is a totally apolitical sight and so, politics and its appearances in whatever form, whether as rhetorics or innuendoes, SHOULD NEVER be discussed here.
Thumbs up to Bis!
But, as always, we’d see………hmmn
Thank you very much,Maria for understanding me correctly.
Whoaaa go Karen! What a fantastic display of power!
I know Doker was ill, and could have won on another day…but in this case I’m glad the cookie crumbled in someone else’s favour. Poor Rafa has only had crumbs recently.
And hopefully this will give the New Gens a kick of confidence. Maybe, if Karen starts denying Rafa later, I may change my tune… But for now, he gets a gold star!
Ahh djoker and Federer playing semi tomorrow. It hurts so much😭. Anyone else feeling this pain ?? 😰
I follow those scores with one eye. I’m hoping Thiem can finally get his hands on a Masters trophy:)
Djoker vs Federer? I’d rather Federer win:)
Knowing that Djokovic will win again…it’s making this even more painful
Well well. Khachanov put an end to all that! I should have figured something was up when he destroyed Zverev 6-2 6-1. Well done Karen!
Such hatery I know, but it’s good to see the Djoker lose in a final. I still can’t get over what he did to Rafa in Wimbledon.
MAC…you made my day with that news…I just wake up and didn’t know. Fantastic news!!!
Pain is still there for Rafa and Wimbledon in my heart too. I will never forgive Djokovic for stealing Rafa Wimby in the way he did it,very unprofessionally. I agree Djokovic is amazing tennis player, but that’s not enough for liking him. With his attitude he will never be the player I am rooting for.And he can win more in the end, but he will never with all his wins achieve the status what Rafa and Fed have.
I have the same thoughts Mac – I was delighted Novak lost the final. Shame he is still no1 though. And congratulations to Karen who thoroughly deserved the win.
Yes,Sussie…I am delighted too that Novak lost. I used to like the tennis player Nole,but I lost any respect to him after Wimbledon’s drama
OMG!!!! Please, no more injuries for you Rafa. You are such a fine human being, and the best, most exciting tennis player i have ever seen. Get well very soon, the whole world is wishing you the best!
😔😢😢