“Not ready to play at the highest level.” Nadal withdrew from the Masters in Indian Wells

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal announced that he will not be able to compete at the Masters tournament in Indian Wells.

The 37-year-old Spaniard withdrew from the competition on the eve of the first round match.

“It is with great sadness that I have to give up this amazing tournament.

Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love playing here in Indian Wells. This is also one of the reasons why I came to the USA very early to train and prepare. I’ve worked and trained hard and you all know I passed the test this weekend, but I’m not ready to play at the highest level at such an important event.

This is not an easy decision, it is really difficult, but I cannot lie to myself and lie to thousands of fans. “I will miss you all and I am sure that the tournament will be a great success,” Nadal wrote on the social network.

Nadal is a 22-time Grand Slam singles champion. The Spaniard missed almost the entire 2023 season due to several injuries, and this season he played only in Brisbane, where he again suffered an injury that forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open.

The Masters Series tournament in Indian Wells runs from March 6 to 17.