Don’t you hate it when some know-it-all keeps coming up with the right predictions. I’ve written about Nadal’s problems for 4 months now, and the gut feeling I had that something was not right with him. Now unfortunately he has been forced to withdraw from the Paris event with a painful knee injury, and will undergo a series of tests to determine whether he should try to compete in the Shanghai Masters Cup next week. He lost the first set 6-1 to Davydenko, called for a trainer to massage his thigh but had to retire with what he described as a sharp acute pain in my knee. Just last week his coach and family mentor, known to the world as ‘Uncle Tony’, expressed his thoughts about the tough ATP schedule, the demands that are put on the number one player, and the stress of playing on hard surfaces. Just as I had been saying all along, Uncle Tony and I are on the same track, but neither of us will say ‘I told you so!”

For a player with so much natural talent, who has not won since winning the Gold medal back in the summer, it was obvious that something has been ailing him. I would not be a bit surprised if Rafael Nadal decides to take the advice of his Uncle and take a rest from hard court playing and come out firing on all cylinders when the clay court season begins. This would mean him missing out in Shanghai and in Australia.

At the tender age of 27, Roger Federer complained of a sore back problem, and he too retired from the Paris event. He was struggling against James Blake when he decided to be smart before aggravating the problem and retired. He said in a post game interview that the problem was not serious, and that he would be leaving on Monday for Shanghai. All of us back pain sufferers can commiserate with Roger, but don’t send him any favorite remedies or the phone number of the best chiropractor in the world.

David Nalbandian was certainly feeling no pain as he produced the best form he’s shown in a couple of years to halt Andy Murray’s win streak. Andy Murray who had won back to back Masters events and was hoping to go to Shanghai on an all time high, was handily beaten by Nalbandian. The Argentinian beat Murray in every aspect of the game, he served better, he came to net frequently where he won 80% of the points and his ground strokes had Murray scrambling from the opening service. With David playing so well coupled with the prospect of Nadal not being able to play in the Davis Cup final, it must place the home team of Argentine in the driver’s seat.

Jo Wilfried Tsonga kept his slim hope of making it to Shanghai with a win over Andy Roddick, and the only player of the three contending for the final two spots who has been mathematically eliminated is Giles Simon of France.