22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal announced on Tuesday that he will miss the French Open warm-up match
Posted Date – Tue, 04/04/23 at 10:45pm
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New Delhi: 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal announced on Tuesday that he will miss the Monte Carlo Masters, a warm-up to the French Open, as he continues to treat a hip injury.
The Monte Carlo Masters, scheduled for April 8-16, will mark the start of the clay-court season in which the 14-time French Open champion has enjoyed great success in his career.
“I am not ready to compete at the highest level. I will not be able to play one of the most important races of my career, Monte Carlo,” the Spaniard tweeted on Tuesday.
He added: “I can’t play with maximum guarantees yet, I will continue my preparation process and hope to be back as soon as possible.”
Nadal has not played since a second-round loss to American Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open, where he aggravated a hip injury.
The Spaniard also withdrew from the Indian Wells Masters and Miami Open with a Grade 2 iliopsoas injury in his left leg.
At the draw ceremony for the Monte Carlo Masters last month, tournament director David Messi said the Spaniard had signed up for the tournament.
However, Nadal brushed off those claims, saying he could not specify a specific timetable for his return.
On the other hand, the world’s second-ranked men’s singles tennis player Carlos Alcaraz also withdrew from the French Open warm-up match due to muscle discomfort.
“After two months abroad, I am happy to be home but also sad because my last game in Miami ended with some discomfort. I saw my doctor today in Murcia and received a After the assessment, I will not be able to travel to Monte Carlo to start my clay-court tour,” the Spaniard tweeted.
“I have post-traumatic arthritis in my left hand, muscular discomfort in my spine and need to rest to be ready for what’s coming,” he said.
The 19-year-old became the youngest player to enter the tennis rankings last year and was ousted from the top spot by Serbian Novak Djokovic on Monday.
The 2022 US Open champion has a chance to reclaim the top spot in the French Open warm-up as Djokovic leads Alcaraz by just 380 points.
