Rafael Nadal has pulled out of next week’s ATP Tour Finals in London due to injury, so Novak Djokovic will end the year as World No. 1 having returned to the top of the rankings on Monday.
French Open champion Nadal announced that an abdominal muscle problem, which prevented him from playing in the Paris Masters last week, and ankle surgery had forced him to pull out of the season-ending event.
“Unfortunately I had the abdominal problem in Paris last week and I also have an issue in the ankle joint that has to be removed in the operating room today,” the 17-times Grand Slam winner wrote on Twitter. “This way I hope to be in full condition for next season.”
American John Isner will take the 32-year-old’s place when the Finals get under way on Sunday. Kei Nishikiori has already been drafted in to replace Juan Martin del Potro who pulled out due to a knee injury.
