Rafael Nadal is trying not to let a little bout with appendicitis spoil his chance to play in tennis' season-ending tournament.
Contradicting an earlier report from a Spanish broadcast station, SkySports.com reported that the current No. 3 player in the world has not yet ruled out playing in the ATP World Tour Finals in London, beginning Nov. 9.
Nadal told Sky Sports News HQ that he has been suffering with appendicitis before his first-round exit at the hands of Feliciano Lopez at the Shanghai Masters last week. The Spaniard is trying to manage the appendicitis with antibiotics, rather than election for surgery.
That would require a recovery period of about four weeks.
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"I am sad because I didn't have the chance to compete," Nadal said. "I was in a big process of antibiotics for a week-and-a-half and the body goes down; you need time to recover to get your top physical performance.
"I have had weeks of injury so it was not an easy season for me at the end. I have to do the surgery but I have to find the right moment. I need to see how things go and how my body accepts the antibiotics, so after all the things that have happened over the last few weeks - let's see. I will try to do my best (to be in London) but I cannot say. I do not know a hundred percent."
Nadal has nothing to gain by playing in London, but his competitive spirit again is show why he became a 14-time Grand Slam champion.
His stubbornness also could explain his comments about the idea of retirement while talking during a video chat of him playing poker for his Nov. 6 matchup against soccer star Ronaldo.
Nadal was asked about the possibility of retirement because of his myriad injures.
"It is still some years away," he told tennisworldusa.com.
Do you think Rafael Nada should try to play the ATP World Tennis Finals with appendicitis? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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