World No.1 Nadal determined to have Final say
RAFAEL NADAL insists he’ll be ready to go for his first ATP Finals glory in London on Monday.
The world No.1 was forced to pull out of the Paris Masters last week with a right knee injury.
But Nadal is determined to face David Goffin at the O2 Arena in the last of the first round of matches next week as he bids to win the year-ending tournament for the first time.
He said: “If I didn’t believe I could be ready for Monday I wouldn’t be here.
“I don’t have to make a decision. I’m going to play. That’s my feeling today. I had problems in Paris a week ago. I go day by day.
“I can’t predict what will happen but my feeling is I’ll play and try my best.”
Two groups of four players play in a roundrobin format before the semi-finals and a final.
With last year’s winner Andy Murray and runnerup Novak Djokovic injured, there will be a new finals champ for the first time since 2011 when Roger Federer won a sixth title.
The No.2 seed hopes the format which sees each group play on a day on, day off schedule aids Nadal’s recovery so he can end the season against his old rival. The Swiss legend, who faces Jack Sock on Sunday, said: “The rest day is big for him to let the knee heal a bit. We hope he plays.”
Third seed Alexander Zverev plays Marin Cilic tomorrow while Dominic Thiem faces Grigor Dimitrov on Monday.