Nadal pulls out of ATP Tour Finals to have surgeryOctober 25, 2014 - 11:04 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Andy Murray’s chances of qualifying for next month’s ATP Tour Finals received a significant boost on Friday, Oct 24 night when Rafael Nadal pulled out of the season-ending tournament, the Guardian reports. The British No1 had earlier strengthened his cause by beating Kevin Anderson to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Valencia Open. Nadal announced he was to undergo appendix surgery on Nov 3, six days before the start of the tournament in London for which eight players qualify. The Spaniard’s withdrawal has in effect promoted Murray to the No7 spot in that race. “It’s the day to say goodbye for the season,” Nadal said after suffering a shock 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) defeat by the 17-year-old Croatian Borna Coric in the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors in Basel. “I’m not going to play Paris and London. I am not competitive enough to do that.” Nadal has struggled with appendicitis this month and had earlier announced he would not be playing at the Paris Masters. Before undergoing surgery, Nadal will receive treatment for a back issue that has bothered him since the Australian Open in January, when he was severely compromised in his final defeat by Stan Wawrinka. “I need to work on my back a lot,” said Nadal. “Since Australia I’m not 100% recovered. That needs time and a period of five weeks to work hard again. I need to try to fix all the things that bother me. I’m going to work for one month in December and I will be back at the start of 2015.” Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |