After 10 matches in 13 days, ‘time’ for Nadal to take rest

Madrid, October 18 

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal said he was pulling out of the Swiss Indoors Basel, an ATP 500 event that starts next week. “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,” Nadal said on his Facebook page.

The 31-year-old lost to Roger Federer in the final of the Masters 1000 event in Shanghai and it appeared that he was having some problems moving around on court. “I am suffering from an over stressing of the knee and the problems were already present at the tournament in Shanghai which now forces me to take a time off on advice of my doctor,” Nadal said.

Nadal, a 16-time Grand Slam champion, has played 10 hardcourt matches in the past 13 days and 75 this year, an extremely grueling schedule. “After two great weeks in China, with the title in Beijing and the final in Shanghai, it is time for some rest,” Nadal said.

Less than two weeks ago, Nadal beat Nick Kyrgios at the China Open, clinching his 75th career title. Nadal is now just two championships behind John McEnroe, who is fourth on the list of titles in the Open Era. Nadal is still scheduled to play in the Masters 1000 Paris-Bercy event, which starts on October 30, and the ATP World Tour Finals in London on November 12-19. — IANS