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 | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |