Injured Federer withdraws from Paris

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS -- Top-ranked Rafael Nadal retired with a knee injury after losing the first set 6-1 against Nikolay Davydenko in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters on Friday, just hours after Roger Federer pulled out because of a sore back.

Nadal received massage treatment on his right thigh at 4-1 down and was unable to start the second set.

"When I push with the right leg all the time, the knee wasn't there," Nadal said. "I felt a sharp, acute pain."

The Spaniard felt nagging knee pains earlier this week, he said.

Second-ranked Federer pulled out shortly before his quarter-final against James Blake because of a stiff back, but said it wasn't serious.

"This is the first time ever I've pulled out during a tournament, so it feels bad," said Federer, who apologized to the crowd at the Bercy indoor arena said. "I don't like to do it.

"Usually the back is something that takes a few days and it's better again. I'm confident and I'm positive that hopefully it's going to get better in the next few days."

The 11th-seeded Blake will face either No. 7 Andy Roddick or No. 13 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who played later.

Defending champion David Nalbandian advanced to the semifinals by defeating fourth-seeded Andy Murray 7-6 (3), 6-3, and will next meet Davydenko, the 2006 champion.

"I played almost perfect," Nalbandian said. "I think I return really well and that's important in indoor (tennis)."

Murray's 14-match winning streak was snapped, and he failed in his bid to win a record third straight Masters title after victories at Madrid and Cincinnati.

"I'm obviously disappointed to lose, but I'm glad that I played against a guy as good as him," Murray said. "He probably returned better than me and created a few more chances."

Federer has still never reached the semifinals at the Paris Masters, losing in the 2002 and 2003 quarter-finals.

Federer said he first felt a surge of pain when serving during his second-round match against Robin Soderling on Wednesday. The pain subsided overnight but came back in the third round against Marin Cilic when he lunged to retrieve a shot.

"Usually overnight and maybe with painkillers you sort of get over it, but I just feel like I just can't play the way it is right now," Federer said. "I mean, you can hit balls but you can't play professional tennis against the best in the world."

Federer and Nadal said they hope to play in the season-ending Masters Cup that begins Nov. 9 in Shanghai.