World number one Rafa Nadal announced on Tuesday that he will miss the upcoming Basel indoors tournament due to an over stressed knee. Nadal hinted at changing his schedule following his Shanghai Masters final defeat to Roger Federer on Sunday. The 31 year old has now decided to skip Basel in order to rest his body to be fully prepared for the indoor tournament at Bercy in Paris and the World Tour Finals in London next month.
He said on his official Facebook page: ‘‘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. I am suffering from an over stressing 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”.
‘’After two great weeks in China, with the title in Beijing and the final in Shanghai it is time for some rest.I want to send a special message to the many tennis fans in Switzerland which have always showed great support and respect also on my matches with Roger. Hope to see you next year.’’
Federer will now have the opportunity to close the gap on Nadal in his home country, with 500 points up for grabs for the winner. Should Federer win the event, he will cut the gap between them to 1,460, with 1,000 points up for grabs in Paris and a further 1,500 on offer at the O2 in London.
Image: Skysports
