Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.

The world's top-ranked player made the announcement in a statement on his Web site Monday.

"I have decided not to compete at the Masters Cup in Shanghai," said Nadal.

"I have mentioned on various occasions that the tennis calendar has been extremely hard with practically all weeks playing and where it forces players to compete week in week out, making it impossible for a top-level player to be 100 percent on each event,".


"Competing at so many events might have harmed, specially at the end of the season, my physical condition, taking away the freshness needed to play at the top level of the game on these last events."

"I want to recover and be ready for the important Davis Cup final with my country," said Nadal.

"That is also another reason for not coming to Shanghai. I know that many people were speculating with this news and even though I have yet not done any test, I can say I take the right decision."

And today, Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, the Spanish tennis federation (RFET) doctor, as well as Rafa’s doctor has released a statement in which he revealed the state of Rafa’s right knee injury after some tests done early in the morning in Barcelona.

“After the necessary medical procedures and tests were carried out this morning. I can confirm that Rafa is suffering from tendonitis in his right knee”.

“As a result of this injury it is necessary that Rafa rests and undergoes more treatment involving anti-inflammatories, physiotherapy and ice packs until next Saturday”.

"Once this period of rest is over, and depending on the development of the pain, Rafa will gradually begin training on the court again," adding that further tests were planned for Monday.


(source Reuters, Rafael Nadal website, photo/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal pulls out of Masters Cup, doubtful for Davis Cup