Rafael Nadal will not play in Bercy

In twenty-four hours, the tournament of Bercy and its director, Guy Forget, went from the euphoria of the confirmation of the presence of Roger Federer to the disappointment of serial abandonment. After that of the Canadian Milos Raonic, official Wednesday, October 31 in the early afternoon, it was the turn of world number one, Rafael Nadal, to withdraw, a few moments later.

The Spaniard, who was to enter the tournament against his compatriot Fernando Verdasco, held a press conference a few minutes before: "In recent days, I felt a little pain in the abdominals, especially when I was serving. The tournament doctor advised me not to play because it could have worsened and led to injury and that's obviously what I want to avoid. "

"I have to think long-term"

"Of course, that does not make me happy, but I have to accept it and stay positive," continued the Majorcan, who has not appeared in competition since his retirement from the US Open semifinals in early September because of a right knee injury.

He did not say whether he would be back in time to hope to compete in the London Masters (11-18 November), the tournament's top tournament of the year with the eight best of the season.

"I would love to be, but the thing that matters to me the most is to be in good health and to have the chance to compete for several weeks in a row. But it's a goal that I could not reach this year, I only played nine tournaments and I had to withdraw in two. I have to think long term. I still want to play tennis a few years. "

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Bercy, this Paris that resists Rafael Nadal

Victorious eleven times at Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal has never done better in Paris-Bercy finalist in only six participations. This defeat against the Argentine David Nalbandian goes back to 2007. Since then, Nadal had missed five times (on injuries) the appointment with the Masters 1000 of Paris.

As a result of the spoils of the Spaniard: Serbian Novak Djokovic is badured of recovering next Monday the place of world number one, a rank he had not occupied since 2016.

Deferred entry for Federer

"We are a little sad because of this package, we know it is shot and we are as much as it is," reacted Guy Forget, the director of the tournament, who had already had to cash the premature disappearance of the Spaniard in the tournament in 2017, injured before the quarter-finals.

Thoughts on people who had tickets to see Nadal and Federer play tonight. You have the match of Gille … https://t.co/C6tW3dwObj

– FFLose (@ Fede ?? of the Lose)

The day was decidedly nightmarish for the organizers and spectators, who were looking forward to Roger Federer's return to Bercy, scheduled for early evening. Las, it was not counting on the package of his opponent, the Canadian Milos Raonic, because of a right elbow injury.

We will have to wait a little longer to watch Switzerland play in Paris, which it has not done in three years. Federer will start the tournament on Thursday in 8^e final against Italy's Fabio Fognini, who benefited from the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics' package, the third of the day.

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Why Djokovic is becoming an even better Novak

As for the French, the hecatomb continued on Wednesday with the successive defeats of Adrian Mannarino (beaten by the Japanese Kei Nishikori 7-5, 6-4) and Richard Gasquet (defeated by the defending champion Jack Sock 6 -3, 6-3). The latter, number one tricolor, hinted that he felt fatigue and pain in the thigh and had not given everything in sight of the final of the Davis Cup scheduled in a month.

"I felt little things, nothing serious, but I did not force more than that. There is a final behind, although I do not know yet if I am selected, but I am motivated for the future. I'm sure I'll be 1000% ready, " rebadured the Biterrois, in a momentum of optimism rather rare on his part.

"It's a bad season for a lot of players, there's not a Frenchman in the top 20 [du clbadement ATP], It's not a fabulous season, but what I'm sure of is that we are able to beat Croatia, even with two big players in front. With the experience and the experience we have, we have everything to win this final. "

Last French survivor of the tournament, Gilles Simon faces Austria's Dominic Thiem, 6^e in the early evening (7:30 pm)