For more than a year, the Spaniard’s career has been marked by injuries, since this year he only managed to complete four matches (three in singles and one in doubles) before suffering again physically during the Brisbane tournament in Australia.
The debut of Rafael Nadal (652nd ATP) in the first round of Indian Wells (considered by many to be the fifth Grand Slam) was scheduled for this Thursday against Canadian Milos Raonic (224th ATP). However, Just a few hours after landing on North American soil, the 22-time Grand Slam winner, through a statement on his social networks, announced the decision to withdraw from the tournament because, in his own words, he is not not yet in the best physical position. terms.
“It is with great sadness that I must withdraw from this incredible tournament in Indian Wells” , started writing. He later added that he was one of the first tennis players to arrive at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California with the clear intention of being more than prepared for the competition. “Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love playing here. This is also one of the reasons why I came to the desert very early to train and try to prepare.
The man from Manaco revealed that his feelings after the exhibition match he played against his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz (2nd ATP) in Las Vegas were decisive, a match in which he was beaten by partials of 6 -3, 4-6 and 12-14. in the Super Tie-Break. “I’ve been working hard and training, and you all know I took a test this weekend, but “I am not ready to play at the highest level in such an important event.”
The left-hander closed the text by assuring that it was one of the most difficult decisions he has made in recent times. “It’s not an easy decision, it’s difficult actually, but I can’t lie to myself and to the thousands of fans. “I will miss them all and I am sure the tournament will be a great success.”
Retirement closer than ever
After being out of competition for almost a year after being injured in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open and deciding to undergo surgery to treat psoas and hip injuries, the manacorí is returned to the courts at the ATP 250 in Brisbane earlier this year. year. And he did it by leaving good sensations during his first matches, beating Dominic Thiem (91st ATP) initially in sets of 7-5 and 6-1. In the second round he notably supplanted the local Jason Kubler (192nd ATP) 6-1 and 6-2.
But the problems arose in the quarter-finals. At this stage, he was beaten 7-5, 6-7(6), 3-6 by Australian Jordan Thompson. After the meeting he left with obvious signs of pain which sparked some fear among fans due to the amount of time Nadal spent off the court. As the days passed, it was confirmed that he was suffering from a micro-tear in a muscle, although fortunately it was not in the same area that had kept him from playing for almost ‘a year. This, yes, This meant missing participation in the first Grand Slam of the season.
Considering all of the above, It seems that the Olympic champion’s physique is reaching its limits since he only managed to play four matches (three in singles and one in doubles) before getting injured again in Australia.
With this on the table, everything indicates that his retirement from tennis is closer than ever. However, after his exhibition against Alcaraz, the Spaniard revealed that he intends to participate in the clay court tour. “I would love to be in Monte Carlo, although I will have to analyze how I am doing at all times. I will do my best to have options, I want to do things that truly make me happy. I’m not saying goodbye, I’d like to do it by being competitive and having fun on the field. “, he said.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
