Rafael Nadal pulls out of Paris Masters due to injury, leaves ATP finals participation in doubt

Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Paris Masters due to a knee injury on Friday. This has put doubt over his status for the ATP Finals which take place from November 12 to 19 in London.

The world number one told a news conference ahead of his quarter-final match against Serbian Filip Krajinovic that he was suffering from a right knee problem. Nadal added that he was going to try his best to be fit for the season-ending ATP Tour finals.

The Spaniard said he was not in condition to commit to another three matches and would try his best to be ready for the season-ending event in London, but confessed his focus is on long-term fitness.

"The way that I am today, I do not see myself playing three more matches," Nadal told a media conference. "It's a very hard decision, a tough and sad situation. I tried my best. I had treatment yesterday night (Thursday) but it's impossible to go on court. Yesterday, for some moments I couldn't move. "

"I'm going to try my best to be ready for London. "For me, it's not about London, it's about the long term."

Nadal secured the year-end number one ranking by winning his Paris opener against Chung Hyeon, but he was taken to three sets by Pablo Cuevas in the third round of Thursday.

The 31-year-old pulled out of the Swiss Indoors last month due to a knee issue, which will be a concern given his long history of problems. Bouts of tendinitis stopped him defending his Wimbledon title in 2009 and kept him out of the 2012 US Open.