Rafael Nadal says 'not ready to play at the highest level'

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

ANKARA (AA) – Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal deemed himself "not ready to play at the highest level" after announcing his withdrawal from Indian Wells on Thursday.

"It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament. Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here at Indian Wells," wrote Nadal on his official Instagram account. "That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready. I have been working hard and practicing and you all know I took a test this weekend but I don’t find myself ready to play at the highest level at such an important event."

"It is not an easy decision, it’s a tough one as a matter of fact but I can’t lie to myself and lie to the thousands of fans. I will miss you all and I am sure the tournament will be a great success," the Spaniard added.

Nadal, who secured 22 Grand Slam titles in men's singles, also withdrew from the 2024 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, for a minor muscle injury in January.

The 37-year-old had suffered from a serious hip injury that resulted in an 11-month absence from the game in 2023.