Rafael Nadal announced on Wednesday that he is out of Indian Wells. The former world number 1 returned to the court last week in a festive game with Carlos Alcaraz, showing himself recovered from hip surgery.
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The 37-year-old Spaniard, however, highlighted that he is not yet in physical condition to compete in the Masters 100 in the Californian desert.
Nadal would play this Thursday against Canadian Milos Raonic, number 224 in the ATP rankings.
“It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this incredible tournament in Indian Wells. Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love playing here. This is also one of the reasons why I arrived in the desert very early to practice and try to get prepared”, said Nadal, on his social networks.
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“I’ve been working hard and training, and you know I auditioned this weekend. But I’m not prepared to play at the highest level in such an important event. It’s not an easy decision, but I can’t lie to myself, not even for thousands of fans. I will miss you and I’m sure the tournament will be a great success”, added the tennis player.
Before last Sunday’s festive game, Nadal had already been left out of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year.
As a result, the former world number 1 holds 22 Grand Slam titles, two less than the record holder, Serbian Nova Djokovic. At Roland Garros, however, Rafael Nadal is the biggest champion, with 14 cups.
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