MONTE CARLO: Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the ATP Barcelona tournament, further denting his preparation for the upcoming French Open.
The 36-year-old cited an ongoing hip flexor injury, which he sustained during the Australian Open in January and caused him to miss this week’s Monte Carlo Open.
Nadal, who has won a record-extending 14 French Open titles, expressed his disappointment in missing the Barcelona tournament, saying it was a special event for him as it was his “club by adoption.”
In a tweet announcing his withdrawal, Nadal stated that he was still not fully fit and would continue his preparation process for a return to competition. The Barcelona tournament starts on Saturday, while the French Open commences on May 28.
Nadal’s fitness problems have been an increasing issue since he won his 14th French Open title last year. He withdrew from hard-court tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami with the aim of returning at the start of the clay court season.
Injury causes Rafael Nadal to miss multiple tournaments
However, his ongoing hip flexor injury has caused him to miss multiple tournaments, including this week’s Monte Carlo Open and now the Barcelona tournament.
The 22-time Grand Slam singles champion, who shares the record with Novak Djokovic, initially believed he would be out of action for up to two months.
He was diagnosed with Müller-Weiss syndrome when he was 18 and had to have his left foot anaesthetized during his victory against Casper Ruud in the 2020 French Open to counter the pain.
Nadal’s long absence from the circuit this time around has seen him drop out of the top 10 in the ATP rankings for the first time since April 2005. He is presently ranked 15th.
Nadal’s withdrawal from the Barcelona tournament casts doubts on his preparations for the French Open, a tournament he has dominated for over a decade. With only over a month until the start of the tournament, Nadal’s fitness remains a concern.
However, the Spanish champion is known for his fighting spirit, and his fans will be hoping that he can overcome his injury troubles and add another French Open title to his illustrious career.
