Rafael Nadal and Marin Cilic withdraw from 2014 Paris Masters

Just days after world No1 Novak Djokovic announced his intention to take part in the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris-Bercy next week—despite the birth of his first child this week—the tournament has announced the withdrawal of two of the draw’s other Grand Slam champions, Rafael Nadal and Marin Cilic.

Both Nadal and Cilic have already qualified for the World Tour Finals and stand at No3 and No6 respectively in the Race. However, their participation at the season’s climax in London is now up in the air.

French Open champion Nadal has quoted “personal reasons’”for his decision, though he has been dealing with appendicitis since before the Shanghai Masters.

He told the media in Basel this week, where he is due to play his quarter-final match tonight, that he is now off the antibiotics that he has been taking to keep the illness at bay.

Nadal would not, however, commit to firm plans for the rest of the season, waiting instead to see how he felt after playing at the Swiss Indoors.

The US Open champion Cilic has injured his right arm, presumably during practice, since he is not playing this week.

Also out of Paris with a shoulder injury is No13 in the Race, Ernests Gulbis. The Latvian lost in his opening match in Basel this week to teenager Borna Coric.

Jerzy Janowicz and Vasek Pospisil will fill two of the vacated places.