Rafael Nadal ruled out of World Tour Finals

Rafael Nadal (GETTY IMAGES)

Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Paris Masters and the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London because of his left knee problem.

The world No 4 has not played since his shock second-round defeat by Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June. Nadal missed the Olympics and the US Open after revealing he had a partial tear in his patella tendon, and it was always unlikely he would return during the indoor hard-court season, his least favourite surface.

The 26-year-old said: "It's disappointing for me to miss the last two tournaments of the season in Paris and London, but it doesn't come as a surprise. I will hopefully resume my tennis practice soon since I am making good progress with my recovery from injury."