Rafa Nadal ‘sad’ after worrying late withdrawal from Indian Wells stuns tennis fans

The tennis world has once again been left reeling after Rafa Nadal delayed his return having withdrawn from Indian Wells at the last moment. Nadal hasn’t played competitive tennis since injuring his troublesome hip ahead of the Australian Open this year, which saw him withdraw a week out from the tournament.

Before his two games in January this year, Nadal hadn’t played since the Australian Open in 2023 after injuring his hip in the second round. The 37-year-old was expected to take part in the Qatar Open in February, but his withdrawal left fans confused.

And in the biggest blow yet, Nadal has announced he isn’t ready to take part in the ‘fifth major’ with his preparation not ideal in the build-up to his match against Milos Raonic in the first round. “It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells. Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here. That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready,” he wrote.

“I have been working hard and practicing and you all know I took a test this weekend 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.”