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Rafael Nadal Pulls Out of Another Tournament as His Injuries Continue: ‘My Body Simply Won’t Allow Me’
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has only played in three matches this year after being sidelined for all of 2023
Rafael Nadal has suffered another setback in his comeback.
On Thursday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion — who has previously said 2024 would be his final year on the tour — shared the news on X that he has withdrawn from the upcoming Monte Carlo Masters tournament.
“Hi all, these are very difficult moments for me, sporting wise,” Nadal, who turns 38 in June, wrote. “Unfortunately I have to tell you that I am not going to be playing in Monte Carlo. My body simply won’t allow me.”
He continued, “And even if I am working hard & making the maximum effort every day with all the will to play and compete again at tournaments that have been very important for me, the truth is that I can’t play today. You have no idea how hard this is for me to not be able to play these events.”
The former world No. 1 was sidelined for all of 2023 and has played in only three matches this year since surgery on his hip last June.
Last month, the husband and father of one reflected on hanging up his own racket, while speaking about the impact Roger Federer’s 2022 retirement had on him.
“I got emotional because an important part of my professional life left,” the tennis great said at a press conference for The Netflix Slam in Las Vegas. “At the end of the day with Roger, we shared our most important moments in our tennis careers probably playing against each other.”
Nadal also said that his own retirement decision might not be too far away.
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“What put me in a position to be close to retirement is my body more than anything else because in my mind is healthy in terms of passion for what I'm doing,” he said.
On Thursday, just six weeks before the French Open, Nadal shared optimism at the prospect of returning to Roland Garros, if not for one last time.
“The only thing I can do is to accept the situation and try to look at the immediate future keeping the excitement and will to play in order to give me a chance for things to get better,” the 14-time French Open champ said. “Thanks again to all, as always, for all the support and best wishes.”
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