Rafael Nadal comeback delayed as Spaniard pulls out of Qatar Open with statement

Rafael Nadal will not be making his return to the court at the Qatar Open.

Rafael Nadal has announced that he will not be making his highly-anticipated return to the court at this month’s Qatar Open. The Spaniard was initially set to play in Doha, which would have marked his first tournament appearance since January when he withdrew from the Brisbane International with a small muscle tear.

Nadal was listed to participate in the men’s singles event at the Qatar Open, scheduled to start next week. But he recently announced on X, formerly Twitter, that he is unable to compete due to his current physical condition. Nadal expressed his strong desire to participate in Doha, highlighting the team’s support and the incredible fan base in Qatar that has consistently shown great support towards him.

I regret to inform you that I am currently unable to participate in the competition in Doha, which I was really looking forward to, as I had previously achieved an unforgettable victory there in 2014. Instead, my focus will be on continuing to train and prepare for the exhibition in Las Vegas and the highly anticipated Indian Wells tournament.

Nadal suggested he would not participate in the Qatar Open before officially announcing his absence.

The 37-year-old disclosed that he has been feeling uneasy during his recovery from injury.

According to Relevo, Nadal said: “I’ve had some discomfort these last few weeks and I’m a little pushed to my limit. At this point, every issue, every injury, is a setback not only in the tennis and in the physical, but also in the mental. I would love to be in Doha, but Doha is very soon after the injury. I see the Doha decision more at the last minute.”

Nadal was absent for most of the previous year due to a chronic hip injury but eventually came back to compete at the Brisbane International in January. However, his comeback was short-lived as Nadal experienced a small tear in his thigh during the concluding set of his quarter-final loss to Jordan Thompson.

After withdrawing from the Australian Open, he has not competed in any matches. However, he aims to recover in time for the Indian Wells tournament next month.

Nadal’s main goal is to regain full fitness before the clay-court season begins. This is crucial as it may be his last opportunity to participate in the French Open later this year.