After a blister flares up, Dominic Thiem withdraws from Paris Masters

World No. 3 Dominic Thiem has pulled out of next week's Rolex Paris Masters following his quarterfinal exit in Vienna.

The 27-year-old Austrian seemed to be troubled by his feet, and called the trainer during his 7-6(5), 6-2 defeat to Andrey Rublev on Friday. The defending champion and home favorite was playing his first event since Roland Garros.

"I've had problems with a blister since the first round," he told Austrian press. "I always have problems, especially indoors. I felt it very strongly when I was playing and it got worse and worse with every slide, every rally."

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Thiem added that he has played with the injury before, including during his title run in Vienna the year before, and tapes his feet three times to avoid problems. He later tweeted Saturday, "As many of you already have seen, unfortunately, I had to withdraw from the Paris Bercy Masters this year, due to an injury on my right foot. My team and I decided that it is best to rest this week to be fully recovered for the ATP Nitto Finals."

Along with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who will not defend his title at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris, Thiem's next tournament will be the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.

Despite a 6-2, 6-1 quarterfinal defeat to Lorenzo Sonego, Djokovic considered his week in Vienna a success after all but wrapping up the year-end No. 1 ranking. The Serbian will finish in the top spot unless Rafael Nadal wins the final three events on the calendar in Paris, Sofia—where the Spaniard would require a wild card—and London.

"I came here with the intention to try to earn more points and secure the No. 1," Djokovic said. "I have done that. I have done what I needed to do and why I came here. I am completely fine, and looking forward to the next chapter."

Grigor Dimitrov also withdrew from Paris, citing a foot injury.