Nadal pulls out of ATP Finals after Goffin defeat

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the 2017 ATP Finals after suffering a surprise defeat to seventh seed David Goffin of Belgium in his first group match at the O2 Arena in London on Monday.

The 16-time Grand Slam winner, who has secured the top place in the year-ending ATP Rankings, was apparently struggling but showed inspiring fighting spirit, saving four match points in the second set before losing

7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-4.

Goffin, playing the ATP Finals for the second time, took command in the third set, serving for the match with a 14th ace of the match.

Nadal, who pulled out of the Paris Masters at the quarterfinals ten days ago, had admitted before the match that his knee was "not perfect." His countryman Pablo Carreno Busta will take his place in the Group Pete Sampras.

“I know all the things that happened in the past when I had this thing. I know the treatment that I have to do. I know the periods of time that I need to work," Nadal said after the match.

Nadal has won 75 tour-level titles, including 30 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crowns, but he has never won the ATP Finals. He qualified for the event 13 times but competed only in eight editions.

"The good thing is nothing new that everybody on my team has the right experience with this things. We hope to manage it well to have the right rest, the right work. I hope to be ready for the beginning of the next season," he said.

(CGTN)