Renowned Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the upcoming Monte Carlo Masters due to health concerns, putting a cloud over his aspirations for a triumphant return to Roland Garros later in May for what could be his 15th French Open title, according to reports from Xinhua.
Expressing his disappointment on social media, Nadal conveyed, "These are challenging times for me. Unfortunately, I must announce that I won't be participating in Monte Carlo. My body isn't cooperating as I hoped. Despite my relentless efforts and determination to compete again in tournaments that hold significant meaning for me, the reality is that I'm unable to compete at this time."
Having undergone hip surgery last summer, the 22-time Grand Slam champion has seen limited action, having played just three matches, all in Brisbane, since his comeback earlier this year. Despite victories over Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler, Nadal's journey came to an abrupt halt in the quarterfinals against Jordan Thompson, when a hip injury resurfaced, leading to his withdrawal from the Australian Open.
"The frustration of missing out on these events is immeasurable for me. All I can do is accept the circumstances and focus on the immediate future, maintaining my enthusiasm and desire to compete, in the hopes of a positive turnaround," wrote the Spanish tennis maestro.
Nadal, widely regarded as the greatest clay-court player of all time, has a stellar record in Monte Carlo, boasting a record 11 titles, with his most recent triumph in 2018. However, his recent outings have been marred by setbacks, with exits in the semifinals in 2019, quarterfinals in 2021, and absences in 2020, 2022, and 2023 editions.
Having triumphed in Monte Carlo on nine of the eleven occasions, Nadal has often translated his success on the clay courts of Monte Carlo into victories at Roland Garros as well.
