World star Rafael Nadal missed the Australian Open because of a torn muscle fiber. And he also has to cancel the Masters in Indian Wells.
Rafael Nadal has to postpone his comeback further – the Spaniard “sadly” withdrew from the Masters in Indian Wells. The evening before his planned first appearance at the prestigious tournament in California, the 37-year-old canceled his participation. Nadal said he was not yet ready for the stress.
“I am very sad that I cannot take part in this great tournament,” Nadal said in a statement: “I have worked hard but do not see myself able to play at the highest level in such an important event.”
Haas: “One of the absolute fan favorites”
Tournament director Tommy Haas was disappointed by Nadal’s withdrawal. “We wish him a speedy recovery and hope that he can get back into action soon,” said the former world number two Haas: “He is one of the absolute fan favorites here and we hope to see him again in Indian Wells in the future. ” A hope that can hardly relate to a performance as an active athlete.
Nadal played an exhibition match in Las Vegas against Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday, which he narrowly lost. The Spaniard was out for almost all of 2023 due to a hip injury. After his comeback in January 2024, he had to miss the Australian Open due to a torn muscle fiber.
The “clay court king”, Nadal’s nickname, had announced that 2024 would be his last on the tennis tour. In his long career, Nadal won a whopping 22 Grand Slam titles, his first at the French Open in Paris in 2005. Only Novak Djokovic is more successful than Nadal with 24 titles.