Paris (AFP)
Rafael Nadal has dropped out ahead of his scheduled semi-final against Canadian Denis Shapovalov (28th) at the Masters 1000 Paris-Bercy on Saturday, because of "abdominal muscle pain," he said.
"On the last serve of my warm-up this morning, I felt something in the abdominal muscles," he explained.
The final will therefore oppose the world No.1 Novak Djokovic to Shapovalov. Djokovic dismissed Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov (27) 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 earlier.
Before Bercy, we had not seen the Spaniard in official competition since his coronation at the US Open, his 19th Grand Slam, and he had experienced yet another alert left hand at the end of September at the Laver Cup.
Nadal continues his troubled history with the Paris tournament, he who often had to give up or withdraw from it in the process. It was the first time in six years that he had climbed into the last four.
Undisputed king of Roland-Garros, where he triumphed twelve times, the Majorcan has never imposed himself under the roof of Bercy.
This package also raises the suspense for the place of N.1 world end of the year, for which Djokovic and Nadal battle.
If "Rafa" is guaranteed to resettle on the throne of world tennis at the expense of "Djoko" Monday, his lead in the "Race", the ranking established over the calendar year, will melt in half, to just over 600 points, if the Serb takes the title Sunday.
Djokovic is the most decorated player in the Parisian hall, with four trophies in five finals played (2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015).
© 2019 AFP