Nadal Injured Himself During Netflix Slam Against Alcaraz
Rafael Nadal’s unexpected withdrawal from this year’s Indian Wells tournament sparked speculation, but a close source to the Spaniard has disclosed the underlying reason. Despite the surprise of Nadal’s last-minute pullout, former World No. 1 Andy Roddick had foreseen it. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, had committed to competing in California and had even…
Rafael Nadal’s unexpected withdrawal from this year’s Indian Wells tournament sparked speculation, but a close source to the Spaniard has disclosed the underlying reason.
Despite the surprise of Nadal’s last-minute pullout, former World No. 1 Andy Roddick had foreseen it. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, had committed to competing in California and had even arrived in the United States earlier for much-needed practice. However, he confessed to not having played a competitive set, let alone a match, since Brisbane.
Nadal’s troubles began in Queensland, Australia, where his promising comeback soured. He squandered match points in a quarterfinal loss to Jordan Thompson and sustained a second hip injury, unrelated to his previous one a year prior.
This setback forced him to miss the Australian Open, causing disappointment among fans who had anticipated his participation. Many speculate it might have been his final appearance at the tournament.
Moreover, Nadal skipped the Qatar Open in February, originally slated as his return event, to focus on preparing his body for the Netflix Slam exhibition and Indian Wells, which were scheduled closely together.
Following his participation in the Netflix Slam, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal withdrew from the BNP Paribas Open, citing his lack of readiness to compete at the highest level. It has since been revealed that the 37-year-old experienced discomfort in his back during the match’s closing stages.
Monte Carlo tournament director David Massey, who met Nadal in California, shared insights into the situation. Massey observed Nadal practicing on clay at Larry Ellison’s residence, indicating the Spaniard’s dedication despite his setbacks.
Nadal himself downplayed concerns of a potential injury, emphasizing that his withdrawal was precautionary. With an eye on prolonging his career, he listened to his body, mindful of his limited time left in the professional circuit, with aspirations to compete in the clay season once more.
