ATP Finals: Nadal ends season after defeat by Goffin

World number one, Rafael Nadal, pulled out of the ATP Finals and brought an end to his season after defeat by David Goffin in his opening round-robin match.

Nadal said before the tournament his knee was “not perfect” but fought hard before losing 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 to the Belgian seventh seed.

The 31-year-old Spaniard, who has withdrawn from the season-ending tournament six times in 13years, described it as a “miracle” that he took Goffin to three sets over two-and-a-half hours.

“I am off and the season is finished. I am really not ready to play,” said Nadal.

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“I really fought a lot during the match knowing probably it was a big chance [that it would be] the last match of the season. It’s about the pain and I cannot hold with enough power to keep playing.”

Meanwhile, in the opening round-robin match of the Pete Sampras Group, Grigor Dimitrov did beat Dominic Thiem 6-3 5-7 7-5.

In the Boris Becker Group, Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev won respectively, and both will face each other Tuesday.

Nadal will nonetheless end the year as World number one, and will now concentrate on recuperation ahead of next season.

 

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