Rafa Nadal pulls out of Indian Wells Open
Madrid, Mar 7 (EFE).- Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Indian Wells Open. The first round of the Masters 1000 tournament was held on Wednesday.
“I have been working hard and practicing (…) but I don’t find myself ready to play at the highest level at such an important event,” Nadal said in a statement on X on Thursday. “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,” he added. Nadal had raised fans’ hopes with an appearance in an exhibition match against young Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas at the weekend.
But the Masters 1000 tournament – one of the most high-profile, non-Grand Slam events – has proven a step too far for the 37-year-old veteran, who has struggled with injuries in recent years. Nadal is one of the greatest tennis players in history, having won 22 Grand Slam titles, behind only Novak Djokovic’s 24. EFE spo-ks
