(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.
Good luck Rafa…see you in london
Never seen Rafa look quite so despondent. Very sad to see but then I thought his body language was ‘off’ all tournament. Was hoping to see him in London but it looks highly unlikely he’ll play:(. Hope he has something in the tank for his benefit in Mallorca – sure it’ll be a great success even if he can’t play himself.
Get fit and strong soon champion of champions. Siempre contiguous💪🏼
Siempre contigo💪🏼 (always make sure the spell check hasn’t taken over😊)
Feel soooo sorry for Rafa (for his injury not ranking). I hope his whole body heals well and he can play well again. If his career wasn’t plagued with so many injuries – serious ones – nobody else would’ve stood a chance against him.
I’m not worried about ranking just hope he doesn’t stop playing for a while still.
Love you Rafa! Get well soon!!!
It’s just sad and disappointed.
So who will become the oldest year-end no.1 if Djokovic is the year-end no.1 this year?
I think it will be djoker, beating Rafa’s record from last year
I’m a bit past caring who’s world no 1, and just want everyone to be healthy – it’s worrying that he’s got yet another injury. Fingers crossed it’s nothing serious.
too bad for rafa you should only compete if you are fit. Now rafa lost the nr 1 ranking it will be impossible for him to get it back next year unless novak will be injured again or lost form. Rafa should focuss the remaining years of his career on expanding grandlsam titles
Sad news ,I hope he didn’t get that pushing mud around… that s very heavy work,.I did wonder if that was wise at the time,just opening his academy to the victims of the flood was enough.
I doubt pushing mud around would cause an imminent abdominal muscle tear. Rafa said it himself, that only when he’s serving that he felt the pain and was afraid that it might lead to a muscle tear. He had that during USO2009, so I think he’s cautious this time round.
I hope his team and his doctor help him to prevent such thing from happening, if not it’ll always be a problem for him when he has to comeback from injury. I still hope he’s fit enough for WTF; for the longer he stops the more difficult for him to get back on track.
I also hope that after a few days rest he can start practicing and training again so that he can keep up with the momentum he has built coming to Paris.
I personally feel that Rafa was playing very well starting from the clay season and if not for him coming back from hip injury, thus his serve was affected imo, leading to him having to grind to win his matches, he would be winning more matches and more titles instead of getting injured again.
I hope Rafa really improves his serve again (just like in 2017) so that he won’t need to grind to win his matches; the Wimbledon match vs Djoko was a winnable one if only he could serve better esp during that third set TB.
Rafa is still capable of playing very good tennis and imo, when healthy with a good enough serve, he’s the only one who can stop or beat Djoko where it matters.
I sometimes have the negative thought of wanting Rafa to retire from tennis for good as he’s always getting injured so often year after year. However, seeing how hard Rafa tries to come back time and again, I know he still has the desire to win and he knows he can still do better and achieves more than what he has done now.
Here’s hoping that he and his team work on improving every aspect of his game, be it a little better or much more, and plans his schedule well to prevent any more injury in future. Best wishes to Rafa for a great 2019 – winning more majors, more Masters, the WTF and getting back to no.1 and year end. No.1 and defends all his titles he won this year and wins many more! Vamos Rafa!
Wise to follow medical advice as they know you well. Best of luck-look forward to seeing you healthy and back on court.💪👍👏🤗❤️
So sad to hear that Rafa will not be able to compete. Your health is more important, get better soon. You are still my No1 player and always will be😍xx
Praying for a speedy recovery. Hope you get better soon. Become fit to compete and win many more titles to come your way. Win or loss always a Rafa fan. Vamos💪💪💪
Rafa rocks
Vamos Rafa
Rafa get well !!
We feel sad for you but health is most important.
No 1 or No 2 hardly matters when your health is so so important !
Take care great man .
Cheers
Srini
VAMOS RAFA!
Feeling sorry for you Rafa. Recover fast. We are all waiting to see you on court again. I was extremely happy, that you were coming to play, n the suddenly, the news that you withdrew.
Never mind, we just need you to be heathy and fit.
God bless you Rafa. Love you always. 💙💖💟💜💛💚💓💞❤💖💖💖💖
World #2 after playing only half a season…. I can’t say I’m disappointed but I can’t stand to see him behind Chokovic when is injuries that cost him the ranking.
DearbGold Wolf,
Rafa is a wise person, he knows he does not stand a chance against Djokovic or even a Fernando Verdasco in the first round. What to do? Simple – play the Ostrich!
Whether healthy or I’ll, Rafa would have lost anyway.
Go away
So very sad For you Rafa but you’re health comes first I have enjoyed all your tennis you have been such a joy to watch yes very sad for you 💕😘😇Gold Coast Australia 🇦🇺
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That’s a real pity 😥 – Please get well soon Rafa Champ ❤️🍀
Sad news. And the consequences awful. But don’t need any new injuries.
Rafa lo primero tu salud…olvidate del ranking…cuidate y sigue adelante…siempre estaremos contigo!! siempre t seguiremos y querremos…CUIDATE!!!!!
Really sad for Rafa again. Get well soon champ <3