In the end, even the world’s most indestructible tennis player proved mortal in the face of an unbending, unending calendar.
Worn down from his most successful season ever, Rafael Nadal withdrew on Monday from the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai. There had been immediate speculation that Nadal would skip Shanghai to prepare himself for the Davis Cup final that has Spain visiting Argentina the week of Nov. 17.
“Even though I have yet not done any [medical] test, I can say I take the right decision,” Nadal wrote in a statement on his Web site. “I want to recover and be ready for the important Davis Cup final with my country that will be played in Mar del Plata, Argentina.” Nadal, 22, has been one of tennis’ iron men, but in winning eight tournaments, including two Grand Slams (Roland Garros and Wimbledon) and an Olympic gold medal in singles, he wound up playing 93 singles matches. That was a career high and leads all ATP players this year. Factoring in his 18 doubles matches, the total is a daunting 111. “I don’t know if this has been a mistake or not,” he added, “but the fact is that with the goal achieved I also have to take one of the most difficult and painful decisions.”
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