Rafael Nadal’s comeback delayed, withdraws from Monte Carlo Masters

Rafael Nadal’s return to competitive tennis was further delayed as the Spaniard withdrew from the Monte Carlo Masters, the tournament where he was expected to make a comeback to the ATP Tour after recovering from a hip injury.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner made the announcement of his withdrawal on social media.

“Unfortunately, I have to tell you that I am not going to be playing in Monte Carlo. My body simply won’t allow me,” he wrote.

He added that while he was making maximum effort to get back to playing competitive tennis, his body isn’t ready for the grind. “Even if I am working hard and making the maximum effort every day with all the will to play and compete again at tournaments that have been very important for me, the truth is that I can’t play today. You have no idea how hard this is for me to not be able to play these events,” he added.

The 37-year-old hoped that he can keep up the excitement and the will to play in future tournaments. “The only thing I can do is to accept the situation and try to look at the immediate future keeping the excitement and will to play in order to give me a chance for things to get better,” he concluded his social media post.

Nadal has been out of action since last year when he was troubled by a hip injury. He played the Brisbane International and an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas but sat out of all major tournaments. He was supposed to make a comeback at the Indian Wells Masters but pulled out of it as he had not recovered in time.

Nadal had won the Monte Carlo Masters 11 times and will now look at competing in his pet event - the French Open, which he has won a record 14 times.