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By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, September 19, 2018

 
Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal won't be defending his Beijing title next month as a recurring right knee injury has knocked him out of the upcoming Asian swing.

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Rafael Nadal's Asian swing is over before it began.

The world No. 1 has withdrawn from upcoming tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai to continue recovery from the right knee injury that forced him to retire from the US Open semifinals against Juan Martin del Potro.

More: Nadal Names Best Body Part

"I had to retire from the semifinals of the US Open and this past Monday I was with doctors in Barcelona to review the situation with my knee," Nadal said on Twitter. "While my knee problems are nothing new, I have decided together with my medical and technical team not to participate in the Asian tour to recover the knee the way we have always done.

"I'm sorry I can't be with all the fans in China who are so many and with the organizers of the Beijing and Shanghai tournaments that have always had all the attentions with me and my team."

The 32-year-old Spaniard's hold on the top spot is in jeopardy. Nadal, who has 8,760 ranking points, will lose 1,100 points by missing Asia. 

Second-ranked Roger Federer has 6,900 points and is defending 1,000 for his 2017 Shanghai title. 

US Open champion Novak Djokovic is ranked third with 6,445 points in prime position to make a run at the year-end world No. 1 spot. Djokovic, who was sidelined with an elbow injury during the last four months of 2017, is not defending any points the rest of the year.

Nadal contested the Beijing final in two of his last three appearances.

A year ago, Nadal posted a 9-1 record on the Asian swing, dismissing Nick Kyrgios to win Beijing before bowing to Roger Federer in the Shanghai final.

The Spanish left-hander defeated six Top 25-ranked players during the 2017 Asian swing. 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Unfortunately, Rafa will not be able to play in Asia. You have always shown us an amazing capacity to overcome adversity. We are sure that you will come back stronger!! 💪🏼😘 . 🗯 @rafaelnadal: “Hola a todos, como sabéis tuve que retirarme del partido de semifinales en el US Open y este pasado lunes estuve en Barcelona mirando con los médicos la situación de mi rodilla. Si bien las molestias en mi rodilla no son nada nuevo, hemos decidido junto con mi equipo médico y técnico la no participación en la gira asiática para recuperar la rodilla de la manera que siempre hemos hecho. Lamento no poder estar con todos los fans en China que son tantos y con los organizadores de los torneos de Beijing y Shanghai que siempre han tenido todas las atenciones conmigo y mi equipo.🗯

A post shared by Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (@rafanadalacademy) on



The China Open begins on October 1st in Beijing followed by the Rolex Shanghai Masters on October 7th.

A grimacing and gimpy Nadal saw his US Open reign come to an end earlier this month.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion retired with a right knee issue with del Potro holding a 7-6 (3), 6-2 lead in the US Open semifinal.

"I waited as much as I can," said Nadal, who twice took medical time-outs to have his right knee taped. "You could imagine very difficult for me to say good-bye before the match finish. But at some point you have to take a decision.

"It was so difficult for me to keep playing at the same time that way, having too much pain. That was not a tennis match at the end, no? It was just one player playing, the other one staying on the other side of the court. I hate to retired, but stay one more set out there playing like this will be too much for me."


 

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