22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal on Thursday confirmed he would be skipping Qatar Open, an ATP 250 tournament scheduled to get underway on February 19 in Doha. Nadal’s decision to delay his competitive return comes even as he gives himself more time after suffering a torn muscle at Brisbane International in January.
Rafael Nadal might have missed the Australian Open, but the Spaniard has set his sights on the Paris Olympics and the French Open, stressing that he is picking and choosing tournaments to head into the two major tournaments of the year in good health.
Nadal confirmed that he is hoping to make his competitive return in an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in March. The Spaniard also said he intends to play Indian Wells, the prestigious Masters 1000 tournament in California next month.
Nadal took to social media to inform fans of his decision to skip Qatar Open, which he won in 2014 which was also the last time he played in the tournament in Doha.
“I will focus on keep working to be ready for the exhibition in Las Vegas and the amazing Indian Wells tournament,” Nadal said in his post.
Nadal said he is not planning too far ahead after stressing last year that he may not play professional tennis beyond the 2024 season. The clay-court tournaments in Paris — the Roland Garros and the Olympics – seem to be high on his priority list.
“(Roland Garros) will be one of my goals. I’d like to play at the Olympics as well. It’s not something I can confirm right now, but I hope I will… I think I will,” Nadal said.
WHY IS NADAL NOT PLAYING OFTEN?
Nadal faced a challenging year in 2023 due to persistent injury woes. The year was marked by a significant hip injury that Nadal sustained during the second round of the Australian Open, which ultimately led to an early end to his season. This injury was a severe blow to Nadal, who has a storied history of comebacks from various injuries throughout his illustrious career.
The severity of the hip injury was such that it necessitated surgical intervention. Nadal underwent arthroscopic surgery to treat his psoas muscle, and his recovery timeline was estimated at five months. This period of convalescence meant that Nadal had to withdraw from several key tournaments, including the 2023 French Open—a tournament where he has historically dominated with a record 14 titles. His absence from the clay courts of Roland Garros was deeply felt by fans and the tennis community alike.
As 2024 dawned, there was a glimmer of hope for Nadal’s return to the sport he so passionately loves. He made a comeback at the Brisbane International, signaling a return to competitive tennis after a long hiatus. However, this comeback was short-lived. During his quarterfinal match against Jordan Thompson, Nadal experienced discomfort in his surgically repaired hip, requiring a medical timeout. Despite initial hopes that it was a muscular issue rather than a tendon problem, further scans in Melbourne revealed a small muscle tear.
This discovery forced Nadal to withdraw from the Australian Open just one tournament into his 2024 comeback. He took to social media to announce his withdrawal and his decision to fly back to Spain for treatment.
