Rafael Nadal’s return to motion delayed additional, withdraws from Indian Wells resulting from harm

3-time champion Rafael Nadal, who was the runner-up at Indian Wells final yr, has withdrawn from the Masters 1000 event as a result of hip harm he picked up throughout his second-round defeat at Australian Open.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 28, 2023 23:23 IST

Rafael Nadal withdrew from Indian Wells Masters (Reuters Photo)

By India Today Sports Desk: Legendary Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from Indian Wells Masters as a result of harm he picked up on the Australian Open in January, event organisers confirmed on Tuesday. Nadal will miss the Masters 1000 event, which was scheduled to be held frorm March 8 to 19.

Rafael Nadal has not competed on the tour since selecting up a hip harm throughout his second-round defeat on the Australian Open in January. Nadal misplaced to World No. 65 Mckenzie McDonald in straight units as his title defence got here to a disappointing finish.

“Three-time BNP Paribas Open Champion Rafa Nadal has withdrawn from the 2023 tournament due to injury,” Indian Wells organisers mentioned in a press release on Tuesday.

“We want Rafa continued therapeutic, and hope to see him again on the BNP Paribas Open subsequent yr,” Tournament Director Tommy Haas mentioned.

Nadal performed the Indian Wells in 2022 after profitable the Australian Open crown. The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who received Indian Wells in 2007, 2009, and 2013, misplaced to Taylor Fritz within the remaining final yr.

Three-time BNP Paribas Open Champion Rafa Nadal has withdrawn from the 2023 event resulting from harm.

“We wish Rafa continued healing, and hope to see him back at the BNP Paribas Open next year,” mentioned Tournament Director Tommy Haas. pic.twitter.com/6TdzOT6qY9
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) February 28, 2023

Nadal, who received as many as two Grand Slam crowns in 2022, is prone to miss the Miami Open Masters 1000 event in March as effectively. Notably, Nadal has not performed the Miami Open, one of many two Sunshine tournaments, since 2017.

Nadal could solely return to aggressive motion when the clay-court swing of the season begins in April. Nadal shall be eager on being absolutely match for his French Open title defence. The Spaniard shall be focusing on the three Masters 1000 tournaments in Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid earlier than the French Open, which is scheduled to get underway on May 28.

While Novak Djokovic, who received the Australian Open crown in January broke Steffi Graf’s file for many weeks spent as No. 1, Nadal dropped two spots to No. 8 within the newest ATP singles rankings, up to date on Monday. Nadal is hazard of going out of prime 10 by the point he returns to motion.

Published On:

Feb 28, 2023