World number one and NITTO World Tour Finals second favourite Rafa Nadal had to withdraw from the event yesterday after the pain in his troublesome knee became too much to bare after he pushed himself to the limit again losing his opening match against Goffin 7-6 6-7 6-4. Reserve Carreno-Busta replaces Nadal and he will face fourth seed Thiem today and the Austrian should see of the young Spaniard without too much trouble as he already leads the head-to-head 5-1.

As predicted eighth seed Jack Sock defeated fifth seed Cilic yesterday, which means Cilic chances of qualifying from Group A are almost over. Second seed and tournament favourite Roger Federer proved too strong for third seed Alexander Zverev last night and after two very tight sets the Swiss ace ran away with the decider 6-1. The match of the day could be the other group B match between sixth seed Dimitrov and seventh seed Goffin and if the match goes the way of previous encounters Dimitrov should prevail as he leads the head-to-head 6-1.