Rafael Nadal officially ends his 2016 season due to injury

The Spaniard announced that he was closing off his season with a message to fans on his Facebook page in which he revealed the pain which he has been forced to play with this year.

Currently ranked at number six in the world, Nadal will now miss the World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London as he recovers from his persistent wrist problem.

"It is no secret that I arrived to the Olympic Games short of preparation and not fully recovered, but the goal was to compete and win a medal for Spain," Nadal wrote on Facebook.

"I am very saddened for not being able to play next week in Basel since I have a great memory of the tournament and the final played against Roger Federer last year.

"I won’t be able to compete either in Paris-Bercy, where the crowds and the FFT staff have always treated me so well. Now it is time to rest and start preparing intensively the 2017 season."

While injuries held Nadal back all year, he did manage to record a 28th Masters title in Monte Carlo and his 17th ATP 500 crown in Barcelona, taking the trophy for the ninth time in his career.

Nadal also claimed his second Olympic gold medal for Spain with victory in the men's doubles alongside Marc Lopez.

It's a sad way for Nadal to have to prematurely end his season, coming as it does so abruptly prior to the end-of-season showdown in London, but it is clear that it is the right decision.

It has been an ultimately disappointing and frustrating campaign for the Spaniard, who has seen his world ranking drop to number six, but his second Olympic title will certainly have represented something to cherish.

Tennis fans will be desperate to see a resurgence from both Nadal and Federer in 2017, despite the injury problems the legendary pair have been forced to contend with.

With both Federer and Nadal out of the world's top four for the first time since 2003, tennis needs two of its iconic stars to find form and fitness next season.