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Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal has announced a setback in his return to competitive tennis, withdrawing from the Qatar Open and delaying his comeback after sustaining a hip injury.
Nadal, 37, recently made a highly anticipated return to the court at January’s Brisbane International following nearly a year-long absence due to injury. However, his comeback was marred by a hip injury that forced him to miss the Australian Open.
Expressing his disappointment, Nadal stated, “I would have loved to play in Doha,” highlighting his eagerness to resume competition. However, he conceded that he is not yet fully prepared to compete at the ATP 250 tournament scheduled to commence on 19 February.
Taking to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the 22-time Grand Slam champion revealed, “Unfortunately I am not ready to compete.” He outlined his plan to focus on continued preparation for an upcoming exhibition match in Las Vegas and the prestigious Indian Wells tournament.
Nadal is slated to participate in an exhibition match against fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas on 3 March, preceding his return to ATP action at Indian Wells shortly afterward.
The withdrawal from the Qatar Open marks another setback for Nadal, who has faced challenges in maintaining his fitness and form amidst recurring injuries. Notably, the tennis legend missed the French Open in May for the first time in 19 years due to injury concerns.
In an earlier statement in May, Nadal hinted that the 2024 season might be his final year in professional tennis, reflecting on the toll injuries have taken on his illustrious career.
