His 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 defeat to Belgium’s David Goffin in the first match of three at the O2 Arena, left the Spaniard to confirm after that he will be taking no further part in the tournament with matches to come against Dominic Thiem and Gregor Dimitrov.
“I am off and the season is finished. I am really not ready to play,” said the French Open champion. “Its about the pain and I cannot hold with enough power to keep player.”
Doubts had arose about whether he would participate in the capital after pulling out of his quarter-final match in Bercy at the 1000 Masters event in Paris a fortnight ago. It is the 6th time in 13 years Nadal has withdrawn from this competition.
At that event, it was confirmed he would finish no.1 for the 2017 and go into 2018 as the man to beat, after Roger Federer decided not to take part in Paris after his ATP win in his homeland in Basel.
Picking up the trophy in London for becoming end of season no.1 on Sunday was fully justified for Nadal who won 67 times with just 10 loses, won 6 titles and took the French Open and US Open home, as well as becoming runner-up in the epic Australian Open final with Federer.
Taking his place in London is fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta who got to the semi-finals of the US Open this season.
