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INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) – Rafael Nadal has retired from the semifinals of BNP Paribas Open due to a knee injury.
Nadal had to face his longtime rival, Roger Federer, later on Saturday.
The Spaniard's right knee exploded in the second set of his 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) victory over Karen Khachanov in the quarter-final on Friday. He twice called a coach, who taped just below Nadal's knee.
A dark Nadal announced his withdrawal a few hours before his departure for the Indian Wells Tennis Garden Court.
He also stated that he would no longer play until the clay court event of the Monte-Carlo Masters in mid-April.
That would have been the 39th career encounter between Nadal and Federer, who qualifies for the Sunday final in pursuit of a sixth record title at Indian Wells.
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