Thursday 20 September 2018 15:29, UK
Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the upcoming tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai due to a knee injury.
The world No 1 was forced to retire during his US Open semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro last month due to a problem with his knee, after losing the opening two sets 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
The Spaniard has suffered with tendinitis in his knee during his career and his medical team have decided he needs more time to recover before returning to competitive action.
Nadal announced the news on Twitter, saying: "Hello everyone, as you know I had to retire from the semi-final match at the US Open and this past Monday I was in Barcelona looking with the doctors the situation of my knee.
"While the discomfort in my knee is nothing new, we have decided together with my medical and technical team not to participate in the Asian tour to recover the knee the way we have always done.
"I'm sorry I can't be with all the fans in China and with the organisers of the Beijing and Shanghai tournaments, who have always looked after me and my team."
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