Rafael Nadal has to miss out again. The former tennis world number one will also be missing in Monte Carlo. His body sends the Spaniard a stop sign
Former world number one Rafael Nadal has once again canceled his participation in a tennis tournament due to physical problems, fueling speculation that his career will soon come to an end. The 37-year-old Spaniard officially announced his withdrawal from the Masters in Monte Carlo.
“Unfortunately, I have to announce that I won’t be playing in Monte Carlo. My body simply won’t allow it,” wrote the 22-time Grand Slam winner on X, the former Twitter.
Nadal had canceled all tournament appearances after the Australian Open in January 2023 due to a long-term hip injury. This year, the Spaniard made his comeback ahead of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year in Brisbane, but was injured again there and has not played a match since. “Even though I’m working hard every day and making maximum progress with all my will to play and compete again in tournaments that are important to me, the truth is that I can’t play today,” Nadal wrote.
The Spaniard wanted to start the clay court season at the Masters in Monte Carlo, which begins on Saturday, with a run-up to the French Open, which he has won 14 times and where he missed last year for the first time since 2005. He said he had to accept the situation and try to look to the immediate future “without losing the excitement and the will to play, to give myself a chance to get better.”
