The Spanish icon’s bombshell decision came four days after
the 37-year-old lost a Las Vegas exhibition to compatriot and world number two
Carlos Alcaraz.
Nadal missed almost all of the 2023 season with abdominal
and other injuries and has played only the Brisbane International this season,
where he suffered a flare-up of a hip injury.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion had been due to open at
Indian Wells on Thursday against Canada’s former Wimbledon finalist Milos
Raonic.
“It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this
amazing tournament at Indian Wells,” Nadal said in a statement.
“I have been working hard … 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.
“I will miss you all and I am sure the tournament will be a
great success.”
Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas expressed
disappointment at Nadal’s withdrawal.
“We wish him continued healing and hope he can be back in
action again soon,” Haas said. “He is one of the all-time fan favorites here,
and we hope to see him back in Indian Wells again in the future.”
On Sunday, Nadal had given an encouraging performance in his
Las Vegas clash with Alcaraz.
After suffering a muscle tear in Brisbane in January, Nadal
withdrew from the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season.
Dogged by injuries
He then scrapped plans to return to action at the Qatar Open
in February, saying he was “not ready to compete.”
Injuries have been a recurring theme of Nadal’s
record-breaking career, a by-product of his all-action, brutal-hitting style
that has led to serious knee, wrist and foot problems.
During his career, Nadal dominated the French Open, where he
won 14 of his majors, his first arriving just days after his 19th birthday in
2005, his last in 2022 making him the event’s oldest champion.
He is a four-time champion at the US Open, won Wimbledon in
2008 and 2010, and is a two-time winner at the Australian Open — with 13 years
spanning his first triumph at Melbourne Park in 2009 and his second in 2022.
Wednesday’s withdrawal at Indian Wells will stoke inevitable
speculation about the Spaniard’s retirement date.
In January however Nadal declined to confirm that 2024 will
be his last season, backing away from earlier hints he may quit the sport this
year.
“The problem about saying that’s going to be my last season
is I can’t predict what’s going on 100 percent in the future,” he said in
Brisbane in January.
“You never know what’s going on, you know? I can’t predict
how I’m going to be in the next six months. I can’t predict if my body will
allow me to enjoy tennis as much as I enjoyed the past 20 years.”
He admitted though that he had contemplated retirement
during his lengthy injury absence from the sport last year.
“Of course I was asking myself that (about retirement), but
at some point I decided to keep going. I had the determination to keep going,”
Nadal said.