Paris:
Rafael Nadal expects to resume training by the weekend in time to be ready for the year-end ATP finals after shoulder tendinitis forced the world number one to miss a start at this week's Paris Masters.
"I'm gonna be practising soon," said the Spaniard on Monday as he made an obligatory visit to the event from which he withdrew due to shoulder tendinitis. "I have to look how the tendinitis improves.
"But I have two weeks almost before London. I need practice before London a minimum of one week, so I am sure before next Sunday I'll be practising."
Nadal cannot be passed in the standings for year-end world number one status, despite Roger Federer making a mighty end-of-season run after winning his last two events in Stockholm and his home tournament in Basel.
The Swiss takes the top seeding at the Bercy arena ahead of Novak Djokovic, beaten finalist in Basel at the weekend.
Nadal has not played since mid-October when he lost a Shanghai third round to Jurgen Melzer.
The Spaniard said that he felt the problem only on Friday and had to make a hasty withdrawal just before the evening draw.
"The doctor said that if I play here it can be worse. We're at the end of the season, and I have a lot of matches on my shoulders.
"It's disappointing not to be here at the last Masters 1000 of the year. It was not an easy decision, because I've played all Masters this year, all grand slams.
"But I have to be careful, if I had an injury now can be difficult to play London and to play well in the beginning of the season next year."
Paris is the final event on the ATP regular season prior to the eight-man World Tour Finals starting November 21 in London. Three spots remain to be decided this week with Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, Valencia winner David Ferrer and American Andy Roddick the leading candidates.
Nadal said his focus is pointing directly at the year-end event, where he has never performed outstandingly.
"We'll see what happens. I"m focused on try to play well there. It is probably the more difficult surface against the most difficult opponents for me.
"It will probably be the most difficult tournament for me to win during the year."
In first round Paris play Monday, Finnish qualifier Jarkko Nieminen reached the second round over Belgian veteran Xavier Malisse 6-4, 6-3 while German Benjamin Becker beat Denis Istomin of 6-4, 6-4.
The 16 seeds all enjoy byes into the second round.
"I'm gonna be practising soon," said the Spaniard on Monday as he made an obligatory visit to the event from which he withdrew due to shoulder tendinitis. "I have to look how the tendinitis improves.
"But I have two weeks almost before London. I need practice before London a minimum of one week, so I am sure before next Sunday I'll be practising."
Nadal cannot be passed in the standings for year-end world number one status, despite Roger Federer making a mighty end-of-season run after winning his last two events in Stockholm and his home tournament in Basel.
The Swiss takes the top seeding at the Bercy arena ahead of Novak Djokovic, beaten finalist in Basel at the weekend.
Nadal has not played since mid-October when he lost a Shanghai third round to Jurgen Melzer.
The Spaniard said that he felt the problem only on Friday and had to make a hasty withdrawal just before the evening draw.
"The doctor said that if I play here it can be worse. We're at the end of the season, and I have a lot of matches on my shoulders.
"It's disappointing not to be here at the last Masters 1000 of the year. It was not an easy decision, because I've played all Masters this year, all grand slams.
"But I have to be careful, if I had an injury now can be difficult to play London and to play well in the beginning of the season next year."
Paris is the final event on the ATP regular season prior to the eight-man World Tour Finals starting November 21 in London. Three spots remain to be decided this week with Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, Valencia winner David Ferrer and American Andy Roddick the leading candidates.
Nadal said his focus is pointing directly at the year-end event, where he has never performed outstandingly.
"We'll see what happens. I"m focused on try to play well there. It is probably the more difficult surface against the most difficult opponents for me.
"It will probably be the most difficult tournament for me to win during the year."
In first round Paris play Monday, Finnish qualifier Jarkko Nieminen reached the second round over Belgian veteran Xavier Malisse 6-4, 6-3 while German Benjamin Becker beat Denis Istomin of 6-4, 6-4.
The 16 seeds all enjoy byes into the second round.
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