Rafael Nadal pulled out of the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday, saying he is not yet able to compete at the highest level.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been sidelined with a
left hip flexor injury since the Australian Open. The Monte Carlo Masters
begins on April 8.
“I will not be able to play in one of the most important
tournaments of my career, Monte Carlo,” Nadal wrote on Twitter. “I am not yet
in conditions to play with the maximum guarantees and I continue my preparation
process, hoping to be back soon.”
Second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz also withdrew from the event
because of “physical discomfort” after his semifinal loss in Florida last week.
Alcaraz had been so dominant recently, he hadn’t lost a set since February
before that defeat.
“I have post-traumatic arthritis in my left hand and
muscular discomfort in the spine that needs rest to prepare for everything that
is to come,” the 19-year-old from Spain said.
Nadal has won the tournament a record 11 times, including an
Open Era record streak of eight consecutive titles from 2005-12. The
36-year-old Spaniard generally uses the event as a key part of his preparations
for the French Open, which takes place May 28-June 11.
Nadal has won 14 of his major titles on clay at Roland
Garros, including last year while dealing with chronic pain in his left foot.
In January, Nadal hurt his hip flexor during a second-round
loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open. -AP
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