Former world number one, Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal announced on his social media that he will not be participating in the Masters series tournament in Indian Wells, USA.
It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament. Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here at Indian Wells. That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready.
Rafael Nadal
The 37-year-old tennis player mentioned that he trained hard and passed a medical test at the weekends, but he does not feel ready to compete in such a major tournament. Nadal noted that the decision was not easy for him, but he cannot lie to himself and millions of fans. The athlete expressed confidence that the tournament will be successful.
The tournament in Indian Wells started on March 6 and will last for ten days. Milos Raonic of Canada (world number 309) was supposed to be Nadal's first opponent.