World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and in-form Daniil Medvedev have been drawn together in Group Andre Agassi for this year’s ATP World Tour Finals. The pair are joined by defending champion Alexander Zverev. Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas is also in Group Andre Agassi.
Group Bjorn Borg will feature 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer, Austrian Dominic Thiem, ATP Finals debutant Matteo Berrettini and Novak Djokovic.
Earlier today, Rafa’s PR manager Benito Barbadillo said:
MRI scan revealed he suffered a right abdominal strain.
He will travel to London to train, will start serving on Thursday or Friday, and hopes to be ready to play on Sunday or Monday.
Rafa posted on Twitter:
Hello everyone. Yesterday I had a resonance in Mallorca and despite having a small strain in the right abdominal rectum, I will travel to London.
Thursday or Friday I will start adapting to the surface. The idea is to be able to play the ATP Finals in London. Thanks for the support!
Our champ has withdrawn from the finals on four occasions since it moved to London in 2009, while he pulled out after just one match in 2017 following defeat to David Goffin.
All the best Rafa . Will be watching and wishing you all the best…..
ATP released an article that’s titled … ” Moya Upbeat About Nadal’s London Prospects ”
“We arrived yesterday in London and trained at Queen’s,” Moya said. “Today was our first practice session at The O2 and it went well. We’re going step by step. We’re cautious but we also know that we have four days ahead of us.
“Today was the first time that Rafa has served since we left Paris. He didn’t put a lot of power today. His evolution is going fine. He should be ready to compete on Monday.”
This is encouraging… slowly Rafa is getting his rhythm and he’s lifting his arms…
Fingers crossed our boy is ready for Monday but most of all I hope he’s feeling strong and healed…
This isn’t a one and done tournament…. There will be a lot of serves … a lot of stress on the body…
Hopefully Rafa can withstand it and if not… then I hope he walks the walk….
AO isn’t far off…. a new year is around the corner… Let him be well, and strong, and ready for that!
I saw some short videos of Rafa practicing slices and drop shots with Carlos. No serves….yet. No kind of stretching. He is taking it slow which is smart. We may not know until Sunday if he will play, or sooner if he feels he can’t. Hoping for no further damage.
Group B will start the tournament on Sunday.
All times are local.
All matches to be on Center Court.
SUNDAY:
Djokovic vs Berrettini [14:00]
Federer vs Thiem [20:00]
MONDAY:
Medvedev vs Tsitsipas [14:00]
Nadal vs Zverev [20:00]
Duplicate posting – sorry. First one done in error!
As the world’s best face off against each other in London, it’s a big challenge for a fully fit Rafa never mind a recovering one. I’ll be anxiously holding my breath to see if Rafa can withstand the attack from his own body as well as his opponemts.
Fingers crossed that all will go well for our champ. Take it easy with those practice sessions, Rafa.
When you are playing tennis my world is the best. Never miss your matches on TV. Hope also to see you live
in BNP Paribas Indian Wells in March. Be well and have a great Championship in London. Lots of love to
you and Maria From Pamela and Family in Utah USA
What follows is a translated statement yesterday to TVE from Rafa’s physician, Dr. Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, posted on Twitter.
TVE: How is Rafa Nadal?
Dr. Cotorro: Fine. I think tests have been somehow positive, as they show the abdominal is strained and I think this allows us to travel to London, practice there and see how the re-adaptation is going till the very last minute to decide on his participation.
TVE: Are you optimistic?
Dr. Cotorro: Taking into account the tests’ results & that he’s traveling there, we’re optimistic. It’s an injury we know well, as it happens in tennis quite often, & also know how it evolves. Thus we’ll be cautious, carefully advancing step by step & we’ll see if things work out.
TVE: The Davis Cup Finals will also take place in 15 days. I guess his participation in this event also depends on how things evolve.
Dr. Cotorro: I think we have to go step by step. First we need to see if he can play in London. Then we’ll see how things are going day by day. Obviously, if he plays in London it’ll be because he’s fit to do so. But only time & evolution of things will tell us.
Wishing Rafa the best. If he decides to play it won’t be a walk in the park so I’m hoping he doesn’t exacerbate his injury.
WORLD NO. 1 LOOKS GREAT ON RAFA
Best of luck on your complete recovery, Rafa! And don’t forget, even if you get there and it turns out you can’t play, PLEASE DO NOT take any unreasonable risks. Just drop out if need be! Your ongoing health is the most important factor!
you are the BEST of all time RAFA. Never let your soul down to others. smash all and be year end no.1.
Vamos Rafa
He Wants to Play in London and win it one last time. It’s Impossible right now but Only He can do impossible as he is achieving it from last 3 years when he was cornered by so called Experts. For me if he plays Aus open will be doubtful but I am with Rafa and I know he can do anything
You are my world no. 1
So excited you are ready to play!
Best of luck Rafa
Always a fan through thick and thin!
Vamos!!!!
Great news Rafa;
Hope you will be able to
Play without Any
Strains…..
We will cheer you on the screen as slways…..
Guadslupe
Sent from my iPhone
Best wishes to you in London and always, Rafa❤
Vamos!
Be careful Rafa and if your body is ready to go: all the best for London. Always with you <3
Best of luck with your recovery Rafa good luck vamossssss we love ❤️ 🎾😘❤️🇺🇸
All the best in London. We hope the strain is not aggravated. Regardless, enjoy the time in London.
You are deservedly Number 1, and nothing will diminish your accomplishments this year.💪👏👍🤛🎾❤️
Good Luck Rafa Win big if you can just remember we would rather have you healthy then injured. No Win is worth you getting injured and off not being able to play Tennis.Stay well Champ . love ya man
your forever fan
Kathie
Like good, old Uncle Toni said, “”Rafa is an injured person playing tennis”
Very apt.
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY LOTS OF FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) KEEP SLIDING AND GLIDING AND ENJOYING YOUR BLESSED STRIDE SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO KEEP SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
“…..and he’s lifting his arms…..”? That doesn’t say much and it doesn’t leave much time at all for Rafa to go full throttle on Monday – and he needs to if he’s going to be a serious contender in the competition. I wonder if part of the pla is for him to drop shot as much as possible. I hope, wait and pray for a good outcome.
Best of luck with your recovery, Rafa! Hope you’ll be in good condition to play! Vamos, Champion!!
As the world’s best face off against each other in London it’s a big challenge for a fully fit Rafa nevermind a recovering one. I’ll be anxiously holding my breath to see if Rafa can withstand the attack from his own body as well as his opponents.
Fingers crossed that all will go well for our champ. Take it easy with those practice sessions, Rafa.