Unprepared Rafa Nadal pulls out of Indian Wells
RAFAEL Nadal dropped a bomb by withdrawing from Indian Wells on Wednesday, just before his first-round match, citing that he is not yet “prepared to compete at the highest level.”
The 37-year-old Spanish tennis star, who has hinted at retirement after the 2024 season, returned to the court in Brisbane in January after a nearly yearlong hiatus due to a hip flexor injury. Unfortunately, he was forced to skip the Australian Open due to another muscle tear.
Despite losing the Netflix Slam exhibition event in Las Vegas to Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal was optimistic about his chances at Indian Wells before withdrawing due to not feeling ready.
In a statement, the 22-time Grand Slam champion expressed great sadness at missing the tournament, highlighting his love for the event and the preparation he had put in.
Nadal mentioned arriving early to the desert to practice and prepare, but ultimately decided he was not at the level required for such an important event.
He acknowledged the difficulty of his decision but emphasized the importance of being honest with himself and his fans.
Tournament director Tommy Haas expressed disappointment at losing Nadal, noting his status as an all-time fan favorite, and expressed hope for his return in the future.
Nadal’s withdrawal opened the door for lucky loser Sumit Nagal to enter the tournament.
Nadal’s representative, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, said there was no fresh injury and that the Miami Open, another hardcourt event that follows Indian Wells, was never on his schedule.
Nadal will now turn his attention to his favorite surface clay with an eye toward a record-extending 15th French Open title and a second Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games, where tennis will be contested at Roland Garros.