Rafael Nadal fans have been struck with sad news once again. The Spaniard withdrew from the season after an injury in the Brisbane International and waited till the Indian Wells Masters to return to the sport. However, his return has been delayed once again as the King of Clay has pulled out from the first tournament in the Sunshine Doubles.

His return had the tennis world waiting eagerly, but speculation about an injury had started building up once again after his clash with Carlos Alcaraz in the Netflix Slam. Now, the rumors have been confirmed.

The Spanish Bull and his fans seem to be on the receiving end of a constant barrage of bad news. Rafa’s exit from the Indian Wells Masters comes as a shock, as much hype was built around his comeback. However, some may have expected him to withdraw from the championship as his shape after the Netflix Slam did not look great.

Former Spanish player David Ferrer had shared speculations during his commentary of the Netflix Slam. “David Ferrer, during the match between Nadal and Alcaraz, commented on air that Rafa had suffered a “small contracture” in his back before arriving at Indian Wells. From the videos training there these days, it doesn’t seem like it’s anything serious.”

The Spaniard also shared a comment of his withdrawal on his official social media pages.

Hopes desolate as Rafael Nadal leaves yet another tournament 

His return will unfortunately not take place, which means the injury is serious. The Spanish Bull also shared an announcement of his withdrawal from the championship.

“It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells. Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here. That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready.”

The Spaniard did not begin the year in great fashion. After winning two matches, he lost his clash and then had to go on a hiatus to recover from injury. It seems as though the King of Clay cannot manage to catch a break. His participation in the Miami Open is not confirmed either. Nadal will likely aim to play in the Clay court swing in Monte-Carlo, Madrid and Rome and follow them up with the French Open.

Since they are his favorite championships, the Spanish Bull is likely waiting to recover to win these tournaments once again. But uncertainty is at an all-time high as he withdraws from another ATP 1000 tournament.

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