Injured Rafael Nadal will skip the year-end Masters Cup starting in a week in Shanghai if playing there will hamper his chance to face off in the Davis Cup final with Argentina, dpa reported.
Nadal's uncle and coach Toni Nadal told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa on Sunday that the hard choice would be made if the knee injury which the number one suffered on Friday at the Paris Masters does not heal in time for a flight to China this week.
"The ideal is to be well to play the Davis Cup," said Toni Nadal, whose nephew had to quit a Paris quarter-final with tendinitis in his right knee.
Team Nadal is due to fly to Shanghai for the year-end event among the world top eight on Tuesday, but that date is now flexible - or optional.
"If he is not absolutely fit, we will not go," said Toni. "To play just "rather well' does not interest us. You can't win those matches at half-strength.
"Certainly if he does not play Shanghai, he will arrive more rested, physically and mentally, for the Davis Cup final (against Argentina November 21-23 in Mar del Plata).
"If Shanghai were the last match of the season we would go, clearly, but to go to Shanghai and to be unfit for the Davis Cup final does not make sense."