Rafael Nadal withdraws from Indian Wells, further delays return from injury

22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has further delayed his return to competitive tennis by pulling out of the Indian Wells tournament.

Nadal was set to make his comeback in the Indian Wells after a premature end to his comeback in Brisbane Internationals. However, on Thursday, 7 March, Nadal took to social media to state that he was not ready for the highest level just yet. Nadal’s withdrawal comes just a day ahead his much-anticipated match against Milos Raonic.

“It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament.
Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here at Indian Wells. That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready. I have been working hard and practicing and you all know I took a test this weekend but I don’t find myself ready to play at the highest level at such an important event,” Nadal said on Instagram.

“It is not an easy decision, it’s a tough one as a matter of fact but I can’t lie to myself and lie to the thousands of fans. I will miss you all and I am sure the tournament will be a great success,” he further added.

India’s Sumit Nagal is set to replace Rafael Nadal in the encounter.

Rafael Nadal’s Injury in 2023
Nadal has had a challenging 2023, struggling with a serious hip injury. Nadal’s injury woes began at the Australian Open in January, where he sustained a hip muscle injury during his second-round defeat against Mackenzie McDonald.

It was later revealed that Nadal suffered a micro tear on his surgically repaired hip, an ailment that forced him to withdraw from the tournament and subsequently skip other competitions, including a tournament in Doha, Qatar.

Nadal was forced to go under the knife in Barcelona, which meant that he was not able to return to tennis for the majority of 2023. He expressed hope to return by the end of the 2023 season and compete in the Davis Cup, as well as his intention to participate in the 2024 tour, which he has hinted could be his final year as a professional player.

Nadal returned in the Brisbane Open in December 2023 but his outing was cut short in the quarter-final of the tournament. The Spaniard, who was playing his first competitive tournament after a nearly year-long absence from the sport, lost to Jordan Thompson of Australia in a three-setter that lasted 3 hours and 26 minutes in Brisbane.

What was more concerning was Rafael Nadal taking an off-field medical timeout midway through the third set after the energy-sapping show in the first two. It appeared that Nadal was having issues with his hip as he received treatment off the field before he returned to action.

Nadal was assessed by the trainer on the courtside for what looked like a problem with his upper leg before he went off the court.

Indian Wells would have been Nadal’s first competitive tennis match since January, but that has now been delayed further.