Just three days following participating in an exhibition in Las Vegas, once morest the young Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal announced that he will not participate in the Indian Wells Masters 1000, in which he was going to debut the next morning once morest the Canadian Milos Raonic. The Spanish tennis player, who will turn 38 on June 3, confirmed his withdrawal in the run-up to the Californian tournament, considering that he is not in optimal conditions to compete “at the highest level.” Therefore, he will not be in the Coachella Valley either, one of his favorite settings and where he was crowned three times (2007, 2009 and 2013). This is the third appointment that the Mallorcan has given up this season, in which he previously ruled out playing in Doha, just two weeks ago, and before that in the first major of the course, the Australian Open. In this way, he has only been able to play the Brisbane tournament – ​​three games at the beginning of January – but there he suffered a setback in his return to the courts when he suffered a micro muscle tear.

“It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this incredible tournament in Indian Wells. Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love playing here. That is also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to train and try to prepare myself,” the Spaniard explained in a statement transmitted through his social networks. “I’ve been working hard and training, and you all know I took a test this weekend [el domingo], but I am not ready to play at the highest level in such an important event. It is not an easy decision, in fact it is difficult, but I cannot lie to myself or lie to the thousands of fans. I will miss you all and I am sure that the tournament will be a great success,” continued Nadal, who is currently ranked 652nd on the world list, so he must resort to invitations or the ranking protected to be able to participate in tournaments.

After almost a year without competing and following having undergone surgery in June – to repair his psoas and hip – Nadal is unable to take flight. He cannot have the regularity that he desires and instead accumulates disappointments. He also did not enjoy much last Sunday, when he found himself in Alcaraz in the show from Las Vegas. For the Murcian it was a mere exhibition; For him, a full-fledged test. He lost 3-6, 6-4 and 14-12, but that was the least of it. It was tested, and the diagnosis was not entirely positive. There he was seen with a very serious face and following issuing a revealing message the day before the match — “the goal is to leave Indian Wells unscathed” —, on the court he did not convey the best of feelings. Contained in the blows and maneuvers, he seemed more concerned regarding not suffering another physical mishap than regarding increasing the level to continue regaining form. Even so, he went to Indian Wells, where he had landed almost two weeks before to get ready, with the aim of being present at the first Masters 1000 of the season. It won’t be like that. Today, prudence rules. Taking care of his physique prevails so as not to jeopardize the clay court tour that begins in April, in Monte Carlo.

“I don’t know how I am,” he told a small group of Spanish journalists in Las Vegas on Saturday. “I’m from Brisbane [donde cedió en la tercera ronda, ante Jordan Thompson] without playing a set. I have had better and worse moments. But for me the most important thing is not how I am, but where I am, and I am here. That is already good news,” he noted. “I will try to do my best.” [contra Alcaraz], knowing that the preparation has been bad. For me the priority is to play Indian Wells and try to get out of there unscathed; From there, whatever has to be left, leave everything on the dirt tour. It may or may not be the last, I don’t know; I have not decided one hundred percent, but at the moment things are going that way,” he continued; “The reality is what it is, and it says that the last two years I have been able to play very little. Life is showing you the path. Everyone would like to say goodbye well, playing, being competitive and enjoying themselves on the court. Whether it can be or not? Time will tell. The months and weeks show me a path that is being complicated. It is an acceptance process that is not easy to handle, and I try to accept it.”

Increased risk of injury

Nadal deals with an adverse reality that collides with his desire to be able to say goodbye competing. Since he announced in May of last year that 2024 will probably be the epilogue of her career, although without closing the door on a continuity that increasingly seems more distant, the tennis player has been facing another chain of difficulties. In the preseason he already went through very complicated moments — “it has been a tortuous path, with many curves,” described his coach, Carlos Moyà, in an interview with the ATP — and then, as soon as he reappeared, his body imposed an unpleasant brake in Brisbane, following falling to the 43rd in the world. She had to be absent from the first major and later he was unable to parade in Doha, and despite passing through Las Vegas, caution forced him to also rule out Indian Wells. Consequently, another resignation. Nadal did not offer the protocol press conference and less than 24 hours before his debut once morest Raonic, another veteran on the verge of retirement, confirmed his withdrawal.

Although his initial desire was to say goodbye to some emblematic venues that have left their mark on his memory, the one from Manacor continues to cross out appointments from the calendar and will now fight to arrive at the clay station on time. Today, a complete mystery. Nothing is guaranteed. Succeeding once more at Roland Garros does not even cross his mind. He simply lives from day to day, pending what each hit of the ball and each movement he makes in rehearsals may bring him. He struggles with paradox: he needs rhythm, but acting multiplies the danger. “Now there are more risks of injury because the body is not making the proper adaptation, and that is the most screwed up thing,” he admits. His presence at the Godó is confirmed in his roadmap (from April 15 to 21) and before that he would like to compete in Monte Carlo (from the 7th to the 14th), but he will decide as he goes, depending on what he is transmitting to him at all times. the physical; He does not look beyond the most immediate present, the now. He will concentrate all his efforts on reaching Paris (from May 26 to June 9), but the stretch, so long and so short, depending on how you look at it, aims to continue offering more curves for the champion. The facts rule and clarify: five games played in a year and two months.