Within hours of his debut at the
Indian Wells Masters 1000,
scheduled for Thursday no earlier than 9 p.m. in Argentina against the Canadian
Milos Raonic
, the Spanish
Rafael Nadal dropped out of the tournament that he won three times
(2007, 2009 and 2013). ) considering that he is not in
optimal physical condition
to return to competition.
He will be replaced by Indian
Sumit Nagal
, who enters as a
lucky loser.
"It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this incredible tournament in Indian Wells. Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love playing here.
That is also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to prepare
", began the Spaniard, who had just played an exhibition against
Carlos Alcaraz
on Sunday in Las Vegas, in a post on his social networks.
It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells.
Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here.
That's also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready.
pic.twitter.com/gmvs5kfGO2
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) March 7, 2024
"I've been working hard and practicing and you all know I tried out this weekend but I'm not ready to play at the highest level in such an important event. It
's not an easy decision, it's difficult in fact, but I can't lie to myself." myself and lie to the thousands of fans. I will miss them all and I am sure the tournament will be a great success," he added.
Nadal, 37, played just four matches in all of 2023 and began this season in Australia with the intention of playing the first Grand Slam in Australia, but in his third match of the ATP 250 in Brisbane against the local Jordan Thompson suffered an injury muscle that altered his plans.
“During my last game in Brisbane I had a small problem with a muscle that, as you know, had me worried.
Once I arrived in Melbourne I had the opportunity to have an MRI and I have a micro tear in a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury and that is good news,” he commented at the time.
Then he added: “Right now I am not prepared to compete at the highest level of demand in 5-set matches.
"I return to Spain to see my doctor, receive treatment and rest."
The weeks go by and the Spaniard, who suffered a lot with his physique throughout his career,
is still unable to recover and the hope of tennis lovers to see him compete in 2025 is fading.
"For me it is important to face 2024 with guarantees for what I sense will be my last year," he said in the middle of last year in a press conference he called after confirming his withdrawal from Roland Garros.
At the moment there are no guarantees and the end seems closer and closer.