Rafael Nadal knee injury gifts Roger Federer chance to close gap on year-end No 1 spot at Basel
Spaniard will miss the Swiss indoors tournament with Federer looking for back-to-back titles after Shanghai triumph
World number one Rafa Nadal has withdrawn from the upcoming Basel indoors tournament due to a knee issue, the Spaniard has said.
With the ATP Finals coming up next month, Nadal said on his Facebook page he had made the decision to pull out of next week’s Basel tournament after getting medical advice.
Nadal’s 16-match winning streak was ended in the Shanghai Masters final on Sunday by world number two Roger Federer, who will now have the chance to make up some ground in the rankings chase.
“I sadly announce that I have to pull out of the Swiss Indoors Basel, after seeing my doctor in Spain just after landing from Shanghai,” said Nadal.
“I am suffering from an overstressing of the knee and the problems where already present at the tournament in Shanghai which now forces me to take a time off on advice of my doctor.”