“I am not yet ready to compete on the highest level…I am not yet in conditions to play with maximum guarantees…and I continue my process of recovery and preparation,” the multi-titled icon Rafael Nadal had said to many branches of the media.
The Spaniard had to withdraw from the prominent Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters due to injury of the muscle in his left leg. Nadal has made his name as being ‘The King of Clay’ and performance to the max in Barcelona having acquired 12 title and Monte Carlo with 7 career crowns.
But taking the chance was too much for the Spaniard to bear. “I am still not ready to compete without the risk of getting injured,” he had emphasized. More withdrawals have plagued the Monte-Carlo tournament. Carlos Alcaraz as well as Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Alcaraz has an arthritic condition in his left hand and muscular spinal discomfort he has told the ATP tour media. Felix has a knee injury. The withdrawal has also hit the returning Gael Monfils who is recovering from a wrist injury he had gotten while playing the Miami Open.
But Nadal, the iconic ATP mega player is feeling the brunt of not being able to play. He realizes the tennis community’s desire to see him play but he knows not to risk playing and getting re-injured. While Monte-Carlo is shelved for Nadal there is still great hope for the ‘Clay King’ to be more prepared to play Barcelona.
The Spaniard is taking it slow and steady despite his ranking which has now plummeted outside of the top 10. This hasn’t happened since 2005. Nadal has said to Tennishead media “…I don’t know when I’ll play again…If I knew…I would say so, but I don’t know.” The tournament director of the Barcelona Open and former ATP player and good friend of Nadal’s David Ferrer, has said with great positivity “…he will surely be in Barcelona and will arrive well for the tour on the clay.
I have a lot of faith in him.” Rafael Nadal’s determination to return on the competitve court is strong as ever but depending on his body’s recuperation from injury, it can be anybody’s guess when or where the iconic ‘King of Clay’ will appear to play a successful tournament and feel free of pain again.
