Rafael Nadal unsurprisingly withdrew from the Nitto ATP Finals on Monday, citing various injuries. The Spaniard has not played since retiring from his U.S. Open semifinal against Juan Martin Del Potro with a knee problem. He was briefly in last week’s Paris Masters draw before pulling out due to an abdominal issue.
Nadal also announced that he is undergoing a minor ankle procedure, although he noted that it would not have prevented him from playing in London and is doing it now only because he has time off as a result of the other injuries.
The world No. 2’s absence means John Isner will make his debut at the O2 Arena. Isner finished the regular season as the second alternate; first alternate Kei Nishikori snagged his spot when Del Potro withdrew last week due to knee problems of his own.
With Nadal’s withdrawal, Novak Djokovic has clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking.
The finalized London field includes Djokovic, Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev, Kevin Anderson, Marin Cilic, Dominic Thiem, Nishikori, and Isner. Djokovic and Federer are now guaranteed to be in opposite round-robin groups thanks to Nadal’s exit.
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