Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Thursday March 7, 2024 at 8:12 a.m.
Rafael Nadal has announced his withdrawal from the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells because he does not feel sufficiently fit. The mystery persists as to the continuation he will give to his season, particularly on clay.
Rafael Nadal should have taken part in his sixteenth and probably last Masters 1000 at Indian Wells this week. But the Spaniard will not set foot on the Californian courts. This Wednesday, when the draw had reserved a first round for him against Milos Raonic, the 37-year-old announced his withdrawal via social networks. “It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this extraordinary tournament in Indian Wells. Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I enjoy playing there. It is also one of the reasons why I came to the desert very early to train and try to prepare myself. I’ve worked hard, I’ve been training and you all know I took a test this weekend, but I don’t feel ready to play at the highest level in such an important event. It’s not an easy decision, it’s even a difficult decision, but I can’t lie to myself and lie to the thousands of fans. I will miss you all, but I am sure the tournament will be a great success.”
Nadal returning to Monte-Carlo in a month?
Returning in January after almost a year of absence due to a hip injury, Rafael Nadal ultimately only played three matches in Brisbane, before injuring his leg again. Packaged for the Dubai tournament where he was to make his return to competition, the Mallorcan was present last Sunday in Las Vegas for an exhibition broadcast live on Netflix against Carlos Alcaraz. He lost this match in the super tie-break, and visibly felt physical discomfort, which prevented him from appearing at Indian Wells. Rafael Nadal had not planned to play the Masters 1000 in Miami in two weeks, so we should see him compete again during the clay court tournaments, that of Monte Carlo, where he reigned supreme for more than a year. decade, starting in a month. But it has now been fourteen months since the man with 22 Grand Slam titles last completed a tournament without being injured. Uncertainty therefore remains about it, especially since clay is the surface that wears out organisms the most. Rafael Nadal had announced that 2024 would probably be his last season, unless his body finally gave up. This is definitely not the case. In the meantime, it is his almost namesake, the Indian Sumit Nagal, who replaces him in the Indian Wells table.
2024-03-07 07:12:00
#Indian #Wells #Nadal #withdraws
