Written By Rafa Nadal, the 20-time Grand Slam champion and reigning French Open champion, has withdrawn from the upcoming Madrid Open due to a lingering hip injury. Nadal, who was set to play in his home country, announced the news via social media on Thursday.
The Madrid Open, which is one of the biggest clay court tournaments in the lead-up to the French Open, begins on May 2nd. Nadal has won the tournament five times in the past and was considered a strong contender to win again this year. However, his withdrawal is not entirely surprising given his recent struggles with the hip injury.
Nadal has been dealing with the injury since at least the Australian Open earlier this year, where he was forced to retire from his quarterfinal match against Stefanos Tsitsipas due to the pain. He then withdrew from the Miami Open in March and the Monte-Carlo Masters in April, citing the same injury.
In a statement on social media, Nadal said that he had been working hard to get ready for the Madrid Open, but that the injury had not yet fully healed. He expressed his disappointment at not being able to play in front of his home fans, but emphasized that he needed to prioritize his health.
“I’m sorry to announce that I won’t be able to play at the Madrid Open this year,” Nadal said. “I was really looking forward to coming back home and playing in front of my fans, but unfortunately my hip is still bothering me and I need to take some time off to recover fully.”
Nadal’s withdrawal is a blow for both the tournament and his fans, who were hoping to see him continue his impressive form on clay. The 34-year-old Spaniard has been dominant on the surface throughout his career, winning 13 French Open titles and 60 clay court titles in total.
However, the decision to withdraw is likely a wise one for Nadal in the long term. He has always been careful about managing his injuries and has been known to take extended breaks from the tour to allow his body to recover. With the French Open just a few weeks away, it makes sense for him to prioritize his health and focus on being fully fit for the tournament.
Nadal’s withdrawal also creates an opportunity for other players in the draw. The Madrid Open features many of the world’s top players, including Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Dominic Thiem, and the absence of Nadal makes the tournament more open and unpredictable.
It remains to be seen how long Nadal will be sidelined with the injury, but his fans will undoubtedly be hoping to see him back on the court soon. The French Open begins on May 30th, and Nadal will be hoping to defend his title and win a record-extending 14th title at Roland Garros.
