Rafael Nadal finds out when he might be able to make a return to action
Rafael Nadal walked away from the Indian Wells tournament without hitting a ball and fearing his body may stop him from realising his ambition of playing out a final year on the ATP Tour, but the initial signs suggest his time away from the court may be brief.
The 22-time Grand Slam singles winner has been off the tour since suffering a muscle injury in Brisbane in January and he was set to mark his return with a first-round match at the BNP Paribas Open against Canada’s Milos Raonic on Friday.
However, in a post on social media, the 37-year-old Spaniard said he is not yet ready to compete.
“It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells,” he said.
“Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here. That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready.
“I have been working hard and practicing and you all know I took a test this weekend but I don’t find myself ready to play at the highest level at such an important event.
“It is not an easy decision, it’s a tough one as a matter of fact but I can’t lie to myself and lie to the thousands of fans.”
With Nadal’s injury problems becoming an increasingly worrying sideshow to his ambitions to play at the highest level once again, the Spaniard returned to his homeland for medical tests on the back problem that forced him out of Indian Wells.
He was clearly hampered in his service motion as he played an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas on March 3 and after further practice sessions at Indian Wells he had to pull out of the tournament.
READ MORE: Top coach argues why Rafael Nadal’s forehand is the best in history over Roger Federer
Now reports in Spain suggest Nadal has received good news from medical test, with no serious damage detected in his back.
That has inspired hope that the Spaniard will be able to play at the Monte Carlo Masters next month, where he is an 11-time champion.
Nadal’s comeback year – which may also be his last on the ATP Tour – is focused on his efforts to be fit for the European clay court season, where he will feel he has his best chance to end his tennis story on a high.
His last Grand Slam win came at the 2022 French Open, where he claimed a remarkable 14th title at Roland Garros.
And he has suggested a final push for one more title in Paris as the priority for 2024.
“My priority goal, which is what I said from the beginning, is to get to the clay season as healthy as possible,” he said last month.
“I want to try to give myself the option to enjoy the clay season.”
The Monte Carlo Masters get underway on April 7, with Nadal also having the option to play in his homeland at the Barcelona tournament a week later.
He will then have the option to play at the ATP 1000 events in Madrid and Rome before the French Open, but it is highly unlikely that he will play in all of those tournaments given his fragile fitness issues.
The positive news is that Nadal appears to be ready to resume practising once again, so fears that we may have seen the end of his career in recent days can be dispelled for now.
