Three-time champion Rafael Nadal withdrew from the 2024 Paribas Open, saying he isn’t absolutely able to compete on the highest stage. The ATP 1000 Masters occasion’s important draw began on Thursday on the Indian Wells Tennis Backyard. The previous No. 1 has been on web site within the California desert and skilled Tuesday night. However he is not going to take the court docket towards former World No. 3 Milos Raonic and will probably be changed by fortunate loser Sumit Nagal of India, who succumbed to South Korea’s Seong-chan Hong in a hard-fought encounter in the course of the closing qualifying spherical.
“It’s with nice unhappiness that I’ve to withdraw from this wonderful event. Everybody is aware of how a lot I like this place and the way a lot I like to play right here at Indian Wells. That’s additionally one of many the explanation why I got here very early to the desert to follow and attempt to prepare.
I’ve been working laborious and practising and also you all know I took a check this weekend however I don’t discover myself able to play on the highest stage at such an essential occasion.
It’s not a straightforward determination, it’s a tricky one as a matter of truth however I can’t mislead myself and mislead the… pic.twitter.com/JslDFANMW8
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) March 7, 2024
“I’ve been working laborious and practising and also you all know I took a check this weekend however I don’t discover myself able to play on the highest stage at such an essential occasion. It’s not a straightforward determination, it’s a tricky one as a matter of truth however I can’t mislead myself and mislead the 1000’s of followers. I’ll miss you all and I’m certain the event will probably be an incredible success,’ Nadal mentioned in an announcement.
The 37-year-old, who has reached the ultimate in 2022 throughout his final go to to the Indian Wells Tennis Backyard, would have been making simply his second look of the yr, following a quarter-final run to the ATP 250 in Brisbane within the first week of the season.
After an 11-month hiatus because of a hip flexor damage, the 37-year-old Spaniard made his comeback to the tour in early January, gained two matches at Brisbane, then suffered a micro tear to a muscle close to his left hip throughout a quarterfinal loss to Jordan Thompson in his final contested ATP match.
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