Last Update: March 01, 2023, 00:23 IST
Rafael Nadal withdraws from ATP Indian Wells Masters (AP)
Hip flexor injury at Australian Open will rule Rafael Nadal out of ATP 1000 in Indian Wells
Three-time event winner and 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the ATP 1000 in Indian Wells due to injury, tournament officials said Tuesday.
The Spaniard said in late January he was expected to miss six to eight weeks with a hip flexor injury sustained at the Australian Open.
“We wish Rafa good health and look forward to seeing him back at the BNP Paribas Open next year,” tournament director Tommy Haas said in a statement.
Nadal said on 26 January that tests had confirmed a moderate muscle tear in his left hip that did not require surgery.
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It is unclear whether Nadal will be ready to return for the ATP 1000 in Miami, the second leg of the “Sunshine Double” that follows on the heels of Indian Wells, starting March 8 in the California desert east of Los Angeles. Will happen.
Nadal is more likely to prepare for the clay-court season in mid-April, leading into Roland Garros in May where he will chase a 15th French Open title.
Nadal, who created history at the 2022 Australian Open by becoming the first man to win 21 Grand Slam singles titles, bowed out of this year’s edition in January after just two matches.
He said in Melbourne that he had had the problem for “a few days” but had not received a diagnosis at the time.
Nadal, whose stellar career has been marked by injuries, was adamant that he would continue playing.
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“From here I think the right decisions will be made as things move forward because I want to continue playing tennis,” he said.
Last year Nadal was undefeated at Indian Wells, winning an Australian Open tune-up in Melbourne before coming from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final.
He won the ATP tournament in Acapulco and reached the final in Indian Wells, where he lost in the final to American Taylor Fritz as he sustained a rib injury.
He returned at Roland Garros to win his 22nd Grand Slam title, a record matched by Novak Djokovic.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)