On the eve of his first-round match at Indian Wells, 22-times Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal announced his withdrawal, expressing that he is not “ready to play at the highest level.” The 37-year-old Spaniard, who recently returned to competition in Brisbane after nearly a year sidelined with a hip flexor injury, had to skip the Australian Open due to another muscle tear.
Despite a recent exhibition match in Las Vegas against Carlos Alcaraz, where he displayed readiness for competitive play, Nadal opted to withdraw from Indian Wells. In a statement, the tennis icon said, “It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament. Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here at Indian Wells.”
Nadal had arrived early in the desert to prepare for the event, but he acknowledged that, despite his efforts and preparation, he doesn’t feel prepared to compete at the highest level in such a crucial tournament. He emphasized the difficulty of the decision and expressed his regret to the fans, adding, “I can’t lie to myself and lie to the thousands of fans. I will miss you all, and I am sure the tournament will be a great success.”
Tournament director Tommy Haas expressed disappointment at losing Nadal, describing him as one of the all-time fan favorites at Indian Wells. Lucky loser Sumit Nagal will replace Nadal in the tournament.
Nadal’s representative, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, clarified that there is no fresh injury and that the Miami Open was never on Nadal’s schedule. Nadal now shifts his focus to his preferred clay surface, eyeing a record-extending 15th French Open title and a potential second Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games, where tennis will be contested at Roland Garros.
