NEW DELHI, 27 December 2005 — World No. 2 Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from next week’s $400,000 ATP Madras Open due to his slow recovery from a foot injury, organizers said yesterday.
The 19-year-old Spaniard, who damaged his left foot during the Madrid Masters final in October, had also missed the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai in November.
Nadal was expected to recover in time for the Jan. 2-8 event in the southern Indian city but was advised by doctors to allow more time for the injury to heal.
It was not immediately clear if Nadal will be fit for the year’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, in Melbourne from Jan. 15-29.
Nadal said he has donated $25,000 toward a relief fund in Madras for victims of the tsunami tragedy a year ago. Nadal had a phenomenal 2005 during which he won 10 titles, including the French Open, to hold the No. 2 ranking behind Roger Federer.
World No. 9 Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia will replace Nadal in the 32-man draw at Madras, organizers said.
