Nadal ruled out of Thailand Open

World number two Rafael Nadal has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming Thailand Open due to an ongoing abdominal injury.

Dr Angel Ruiz Cottoro, medical services chief for the Spanish Tennis Federation, revealed the world number two has suffered an acute rupture of his right abdominal muscle, which was confirmed by ultrasound, according to a statement on the tournament website.

The injury, initially sustained at the recent US Open where he lost to Juan Martin Del Potro in the last four, will sideline the Spaniard for two to three more weeks and is the same one that forced his withdrawal from Spain's Davis Cup semi-final victory over Israel at the weekend.

The 23-year-old also missed last year's Davis Cup final triumph against Argentina due to knee problems that have again hampered him this season, and expressed his disappointment at having to pull out of the Thailand Open, which runs from 26 September to 4 October.