Rafael Nadal’s plans for a comeback have hit a snag. The 22-time Grand Slam champions have pulled out of the Qatar Open 2024, a week before the start of the event. The Spaniard had announced that he’d make his return to the tennis court in Doha last month.
However, Nadal has now announced that he’ll skip the tournament in the Middle East due to some discomfort. Instead of February, the 14-time Grand Slam champion will not target the Indian Wells Masters. The ATP 1000 event will be held in early March, with the event’s qualifying starting on March 3.
“I have had some discomfort in recent weeks and I am a little bit on the limit. At this point every blow I take, every injury, is a setback not only in tennis and physically, but also mentally. I trust 100% to be in Indian Wells, it is a very special tournament for me. I don’t know if it will be the last time I am going to play it, so I would like to be in Indian Wells, for sure,” Rafael Nadal said to THE OBJECTIVE.
Rafael Nadal also made it clear that his goal is to be fit for the clay season. The Spaniard plans to play in the Madrid and Rome Masters, his favorite event, the French Open 2024, and then the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“My priority goal, which is what I said from the beginning, is to get to the clay season as healthy as possible. I want to try to give myself the option to enjoy the clay season.”