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‘My sadness at withdrawing from Swiss Indoors event’

Paris : Rafael Nadal says he was sad to miss last week’s Swiss Indoors event but believes his body needed the rest.

Nadal pulled out of the event citing a knee injury after a busy schedule of matches over the autumn.

In his absence, Roger Federer swept to victory at his hometown tournament, beating Juan Martin del Porto in three sets in the final.

But the situation has been flipped at this week’s Paris Masters with Federer withdrawing from the tournament.

While Nadal will make his return to the ATP tour this week knowing that he needs just one win to seal the year-end number one position.

But speaking ahead of his match with South Korea’s Hyeon Chung, Nadal expressed his disappointment at having to miss Basel.

He said: “I was sad not to play in Basel. It’s always been a tournament that always supported me.

“Very tough decision but at the same time it was a mandatory decision for me. No chance to keep playing. Too many matches. 

“[My] body always needs some rest at this part of the season and that’s the decision I took. That’s all.

“I arrived Friday [in Paris]. I think I’m practising well. I hope to be ready for the action.”