TENNIS: World number one Rafael Nadal has followed Roger Federer in withdrawing from next week's Dubai Tennis Championships. The 22-year-old Spaniard suffered a knee injury in his defeat by Andy Murray in the final of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam last week.
Nadal, who has had trouble with his knees before and always wears strapping during matches, insists it is “nothing to be worried about”.
World number two Federer withdrew earlier this week in order to rest his back after being troubled by injury at the end of last season.
Nadal said: “I am very disappointed not to be able to compete in Dubai but the doctor has advised me to stay home and rest after the pain on my knee in Rotterdam last week.
“(It is) nothing to be worried about but it needs some rest. I ask my fans and the tournament organisers to understand and I am sorry for this. Dubai is one of my favourite tournaments and I have always played there.
“The field is always great and, more important, the crowds are always supportive. I expect to be back in competition the following week for the Davis Cup tie in Benidorm against Serbia and I will then be travelling to Indian Wells and Miami after.”
The withdrawal of the top two stars is a major blow for the tournament, which is one of the richest on the ATP Tour calendar with a prize fund of more than €1.5 million.
The event has also been shrouded in controversy after Israel’s Shahar Peer was denied a visa to compete in the women’s tournament this week, although her countryman Andy Ram has today been given a visa.
Colm McLoughlin, managing director of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free, added: “It is a great pity that Rafael Nadal will not be able to join us this year but we wish him well in his recovery and hope to welcome this great champion back next year.”
Andy Roddick is the defending champion after beating Feliciano Lopez in the final 12 months ago while world number three Novak Djokovic and number four Murray will now be favourites for the title.