In a surprising turn of events, Rafael Nadal has decided to withdraw from the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, expressing in a social media post his doubts about being fully prepared for such a significant event.
The announcement came on Wednesday night via Nadal’s official social media channels, where the 22-time Grand Slam winner shared his heartfelt sentiments. “Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here,” Nadal expressed. “That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready.”
Nadal, who has only participated in 12 official matches since the 2022 US Open, recently faced a setback in an exhibition match against compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in The Netflix Slam. This setback follows a challenging period of recovery from a hip injury that sidelined him for most of the previous season, followed by a muscle tear near the hip earlier this year, forcing him to skip the Australian Open and remain off the tour since then.
“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 elaborated in his social media post. “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.”
The news has left fans disappointed, particularly those who were eagerly anticipating Nadal’s return to the court. Tournament director Tommy Haas expressed his regret at Nadal’s absence, stating, “We are disappointed that Rafa is unable to play in the BNP Paribas Open, but we wish him continued healing and hope he can be back in action again soon.”
Despite Nadal’s withdrawal, the show must go on, with lucky loser Sumit Nagal stepping into the draw to face off against 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic on Thursday night. As the tennis world processes this unexpected development, speculation arises about when Nadal will make his return to competitive play and what the future holds for the legendary athlete.
