Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Indian Wells Open. The news came just hours before his scheduled first-round match, marking a sudden halt to what was much anticipated as his comeback.
Nadal, who has had a remarkable career and is known for his resilience and fighting spirit, stated that he was not “ready to play at the highest level”. This statement came as a shock to many, as the 37-year-old Spaniard was expected to retire after the 2024 season.
The former No. 1 player in the ATP Rankings had been on site in the California desert and had even trained Tuesday evening in front of his adoring fans. However, he decided not to take the court against his scheduled opponent.
Nadal expressed his sadness over the decision, stating, “It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells. Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here. That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready”.
He further added, “I have been working hard and practising 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. 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”.
Nadal’s withdrawal from the tournament led to a lucky loser (Sumit Nagal) replacing him in the main draw. This marks the first time an Indian has been in the main draw of an ATP Masters 1000 event since 2019.
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Rafael Nadal in 2024
Now the world no.652, the Spaniard played his last match on the 5th of January when he lost to world no.33 Jordan Thompson 5-7 7-6(6) 6-3 in the quarter in Brisbane (draw).
During this season Rafael has achieved an overall 2-1 win-loss record.
Nadal will play next in Barcelona (Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 15th of April.
