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A22 sports
Thursday 1 November 2018

Switzerland’s Roger Federer holds the trophy during the victory
ceremony after winning the final against Romania’s Marius Copil
at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in
Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.
Associated Press
Federer turned down

an invitation to play

Rafael Nadal of Spain talks to media as he announces his withdraw from the Paris Masters tennis
tournament at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Saudi tennis event
Associated Press
Nadal pulls out of Paris By JEROME PUGMIRE, AP ago to play there. And my
Sports Writer
team is talking to them, to
Masters; will lose No. 1 rankinga PARIS (AP) — Roger Federer analyze the things. That’s
turned down an invitation it,” Nadal said when asked
to play in a planned exhi-
his position on Sunday. “It’s
bition match in Saudi Ara- terrible that one journalist
By JEROME PUGMIRE ly turned his form around, against Juan Martin del bia in December which his lost (his) life. I know some-
AP Sports Writer winning four of the last five Potro. He then skipped the rivals Novak Djokovic and thing happened very bad
PARIS (AP) — Returning tournaments he has en- Asia swing to recover, miss- Rafael Nadal have com- inside there. So we are
from one injury to play at tered, including Wimble- ing tournaments in Beijing mitted to play in. looking about how evolves
the Paris Masters, Rafael don, the U.S. Open and and Shanghai. Saudi Arabia is under grow- the situation and I hope the
Nadal pulled out with an- most recently the Shanghai “It has been a tough year ing pressure from the inter- things will clarify as soon as
other one. Masters. The 14-time Grand for me in terms of injuries national community follow- possible.”
This time it wasn’t the trou- Slam champion’s brilliant so I want to avoid drastic ing the killing of Saudi writer Djokovic also made it clear
blesome right knee which comeback makes him the things,” Nadal said. “The Jamal Khashoggi after he that the decision to play
had sidelined him since the first player to reach No. 1 doctor says if I want to play entered Saudi Arabia’s was made a long time ago.
U.S. Open semifinals in early after being ranked below the tournament, I want to consulate in Istanbul on “We have the commitment
September, but rather an 20th in the same season try to win the tournament, Oct. 2. He was a Washing- with them for over a year,
abdominal injury which just since Marat Safin in 2000, the abdominal with break ton Post columnist who had actually last year when we
crept up on him. according to the ATP Tour. for sure.” written critically of Saudi were discussing this poten-
Given his history of injuries, Djokovic faces Damir Nadal is optimistic his latest Arabia’s crown prince. tial matchup,” he said. “It
Nadal listened to advice Dzumhur in the third round, injury will pass, providing he Tennis stars Djokovic and was my professional ten-
and did not play his sec- the first time they have does not rush back. Nadal have expressed nis decision to do that. Of
ond-round match against played each other. “It would not be fair to say doubt as to whether they course I know, I’m aware of
Fernando Verdasco on For Nadal, it is the second it’s a real injury today but will play an exhibition what’s happening, and it’s
Wednesday. straight year he has with- what is sure, if I continue match at the King Abdul- sad, of course.”
“The last few days I start to drawn from the Paris indoor it will be a real injury,” he lah Sports City in Jeddah The top-ranked Serb also
feel a little bit the abdomi- tournament and he is not said. “When you come on Dec. 22, but they have stopped short of confirming
nal, especially when I was sure if he will play at the back after injuries, and you not withdrawn. Both play- his presence.
serving,” Nadal said. “The season-ending ATP Finals in push a little bit, the body at ers have said the invitations “My team right now is in
doctor says that is recom- London, starting Nov. 11. the beginning some issues were made at least one touch with the people in
mended to not play, be- “I cannot answer. I just go can happen.” year ago. Saudi Arabia as well as
cause if I continue the ab- day by day,” the 17-time Roger Federer also ad- Asked in Paris on Tuesday Rafa’s and of course we
dominal maybe can break Grand Slam champion vanced to Thursday’s third if he was also previously are all talking to under-
and can be a major thing.” said. “The most impor- round after big-serving Mi- invited, Federer said “they stand the situation better,”
This latest injury will cost him tant thing for me is to be los Raonic retired before contacted me too, yeah.” the 14-time Grand Slam
his No. 1 ranking, which healthy, be healthy and their match with a right el- The Swiss star was then champion said Sunday.
goes back to longtime rival have the chance to com- bow injury. asked why he turned it “Because right now we
Novak Djokovic next week. pete weeks in a row. Some- Raonic injured himself dur- down. “I didn’t want to play just don’t have obviously
Djokovic lost his top ranking thing that I was not able to ing a three-set win against there at that time,” the 20- enough information, and
to Andy Murray at the Paris do this year, playing only Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Tues- time Grand Slam champi- we have to look into that
Masters two years ago. nine events and retiring in day. on said. “So, for me, it was a bit more and then we’ll
As he then struggled to two.” “In the middle of second a very quick decision.” make our decision soon.”
come back from a lin- Nadal has dealt with off- set, I overextended my el- Amnesty International has He added: “We have to
gering elbow injury, the and-on knee problems for bow and it did some kind of urged Nadal and Djokovic get more information on
31-year-old Serb’s ranking years and the 32-year-old pain,” he said. “I went and I not to play. what’s happening so we
plummeted to No. 22 in Spaniard prefers to be cau- did an ultrasound and MRI, “Of course I’m aware of the can make a rational deci-
May this year. tious. At the U.S. Open, he and they found some kind situation. But I had a com- sion whether it’s good to
But Djokovic has complete- retired during his match of a lesion in the tricep.”q mitment since one year go or not.” q