Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from Indian Wells, just a day before his scheduled first-round match against Milos Raonic on Friday.
The 37-year-old, who marked his comeback at January’s Brisbane International following nearly a year-long hiatus due to injury, encountered a setback with a hip injury during the tournament, leading to his absence from the Australian Open.
Despite playing an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz last Sunday, Nadal expressed that he is not yet prepared “to play at the highest level.”
The Spaniard’s return has faced challenges since May, when he had to skip the French Open for the first time in 19 years.
In a previous statement, Nadal hinted that 2024 might be the concluding year of his illustrious career.
Uncertain about the number of tournaments he can partake in before retiring, the former world number one acknowledged it would not be many.
Looking ahead, Nadal’s anticipated return to competitive tennis is expected at the Monte Carlo Masters next month, a tournament where he boasts an impressive 11-time championship record on his favored clay surface.