Rafael Nadal pulls out of Mexican Open with same injury that saw him retire in Australian Open quarter-final

Top seed Rafael Nadal has pulled out of this week's Mexican Open in Acapulco after aggravating the leg injury that forced him out of the Australian Open last month.

The world No 2, who was due to face fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez on Wednesday, said he felt a sharp pain during his final training session on Tuesday and decided not to compete on the advice of his medical team.

'Doctors have told me that it is impossible to play, regardless of whether it hurts,' said Nadal. 'There is a significant risk of increasing the injury and I have no choice.