SHANGHAI, China -- Rafael Nadal lost to Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 7-6 (6) in his opening round match at the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Wednesday. Nadal was diagnosed with appendicitis on Sunday and opted to undergo an aggressive treatment of antibiotics to control the inflammation in hopes of being able to play. He wasn't at his best against Lopez, but he was pleased to just get through the match. Afterwards Nadal said as of now, he plans to play out the rest of the season and have the surgery after the ATP World Tour finals in November.

Rafael Nadal has appendicitis, will try to play Shanghai Masters

​​"Yes, I need to do the surgery," Nadal said. "I talked with the doctor in Spain. Is a lot of risk when [the inflammation] happens one time. Even if now is under control, is obvious going to come back. I don't want it to come back, to have the same thing when I am in Australia, when I am in Indian Wells or Miami or when I am in Roland Garros. So I going to do it before the end of the year."

Nadal left open the possibility that he could change his mind and have the surgery sooner. "My feeling today, and my answer today honestly is I going to do it after the World Tour Finals," he said. "You never know. Depends how the things improve. I want to do it at the end of the year, not now."

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