By Erwin Quiñonez
A few hours before the start of the Masters 1,000 in Indian Wells, the Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal announced that he will not participate in the tournament because the last injury he suffered a few months ago has not allowed him to reach the level he wanted to compete with. the other rivals.
“It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this fantastic tournament. “Everyone knows how much I like this place and how much I like to compete here in Indian Wells,” the Spaniard told the tournament organizers.
“I have been working hard and training and everyone knows that I have had a test this weekend, but I am not ready to play at the highest level in such an important event,” Nadal continued.
“It is not an easy decision. It’s very harsh indeed, but I can’t lie to myself and lie to thousands of fans. I will miss them and I am sure that this tournament will be a great success,” he stated.
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. pic.twitter.com/gmvs5kfGO2— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) March 7, 2024
Everything seemed to indicate that Nadal would return to the courts of the tournament held in California after two years of absence and that this would be a perfect opportunity to see the possible last confrontation against Djokovic since they had been located on the same side of the draw, however Spaniard has had to put aside his desire to compete.
The feelings about the health of the 37-year-old tennis player had been positive after he played a friendly match on Sunday against his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, current number 2 in the world, but a few days later the man from Manacor let it be known that his physique was not It’s one hundred percent.
Rafa Nadal was scheduled to make his debut in the first round against the Canadian Milos Raonic, this because, after a year of absence, he had dropped to 626th place in the ATP ranking, although this decision will leave him without the possibility of choosing to win a tournament. which he has won three times, the last in 2013.
Now, his place in the main draw of Indian Wells will be taken by Sumit Nagal, from India.
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