Rafael Nadal decided not to play in Indian Wells on Wednesday, just before his first-round match. He explained that he doesn’t feel prepared to compete at the top level.
The 37-year-old Nadal made a comeback in Brisbane in January after being out for nearly a year due to a hip flexor injury. Unfortunately, he had to skip the Australian Open because of another muscle tear.
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After losing to Carlos Alcaraz in a Las Vegas exhibition event on Sunday, he seemed ready to compete for a fourth title in the California desert.
22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal said,
“I am really sad to announce that I have to pull out of this wonderful tournament. Everyone is aware of my deep affection for this place and how much I enjoy playing here at Indian Wells”.
“That is one of the reasons why I arrived in the desert early—to practice and get myself ready for the tournament”.
“I have put in a lot of effort, practised extensively, and even took a test over the weekend. However, I don’t feel fully prepared to compete at the highest level for such a crucial event”.
“This decision hasn’t been easy, in fact it is quite tough. But I can’t deceive myself or the thousands of fans. I’ll miss you all, and I’m confident the tournament will be a great success”.
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Director Tommy Haas said,
“They were disappointed to lose Rafael Nadal, who will be replaced by lucky loser Sumit Nagal. He is always been a fan favourite here, and we hope to see him back in Indian Wells in the future”.
Nadal will shift his focus to his preferred clay surface, aiming for a record-extending 15th French Open title and a second Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games, where tennis will take place at Roland Garros.
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