Rafael Nadal not fit to continue

Nadal made his comeback last month at the Brisbane International tournament after being sidelined for nearly a year due to a serious tear in his psoas muscle. He reached the quarter-finals but had to withdraw from the Australian Open after sustaining a ‘micro tear’ in a muscle.

Although he was slated to return in Doha last week, he opted out, citing that he wasn’t fully prepared. Currently, Nadal is training in Indian Wells, where he has clinched the title three times. Before his official return to ATP action next week, he will participate in a Netflix exhibition match with Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday.

Discussing Nadal’s potential continuation into 2025, his former coach Ferrer expressed confidence that Nadal could remain competitive if he remains injury-free. Nadal has expressed his desire to peak for the clay court season, where he has enjoyed significant success over the years.

Regarding his chances at Roland Garros, Ferrer refrained from declaring Nadal as the favorite, emphasizing the need to observe his performance over the coming weeks to gauge his readiness and form.

Nadal’s next match against Alcaraz in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 3rd, will precede his return to the ATP circuit at Indian Wells. Given his formidable reputation and familiarity with hard courts, even as an unseeded player, Nadal poses a significant threat to any opponent in the initial rounds.