Rafael Nadal deserted his deliberate ATP Tour comeback on the Indian Wells Masters on Wednesday, saying he was not prepared for the calls for of event tennis on the eve of his opening match in California.
The Spanish icon’s bombshell determination got here 4 days after the 37-year-old misplaced a Las Vegas exhibition to compatriot and world quantity two Carlos Alcaraz.
Nadal missed nearly the entire 2023 season with stomach and different accidents and has performed solely the Brisbane Worldwide this season, the place he suffered a flare-up of a hip harm.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion had been attributable to open at Indian Wells on Thursday towards Canada‘s former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic.
“It’s with nice unhappiness that I’ve to withdraw from this superb event at Indian Wells,” Nadal stated in an announcement.
“I’ve been working laborious … however I do not discover myself able to play on the highest stage at such an necessary occasion.
“It isn’t a simple determination, it is a robust one as a matter of reality however I can not mislead myself and mislead the 1000’s of followers.
“I’ll miss you all and I’m positive the event will likely be an amazing success.”
Indian Wells event director Tommy Haas expressed disappointment at Nadal’s withdrawal.
“We want him continued therapeutic and hope he may be again in motion once more quickly,” Haas stated. “He is likely one of the all-time fan favorites right here, and we hope to see him again in Indian Wells once more sooner or later.”
On Sunday, Nadal had given an encouraging efficiency in his Las Vegas conflict with Alcaraz.
After struggling a muscle tear in Brisbane in January, Nadal withdrew from the Australian Open, the primary Grand Slam of the season.
He then scrapped plans to return to motion on the Qatar Open in February, saying he was “not able to compete.”
str/rcw/sev
![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://onlysportsgames.com/sad-nadal-abandons-latest-comeback-with-indian-wells-withdrawal/&media=https://onlysportsgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sad-Nadal-abandons-latest-comeback-with-Indian-Wells-withdrawal.jpeg&description=Rafael Nadal abandoned his planned ATP Tour comeback at the Indian Wells Masters on Wednesday, saying he was not ready for the demands of tournament tennis on the eve of his opening match in California."It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells," Nadal said in a statement.){kind=link}