22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal has withdrawn his name from the pre-Indian Wells clash at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, owing to his pertaining injury. Nadal was on the entry list for Indian Wells and was supposed to recover from an injury that he sustained at the Australian Open.
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Nadal was supposed to lock horns against Carlos Alcaraz on March 5 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The duo scripted history, last year, as Alcaraz became the youngest player to become the number 1 player while the oldest ever Nadal secured the second position. Alcaraz and Nadal were the first year-end top-2 players from the same country since Pete Sampras and Michael Chang in 1996.
Reportedly, Nadal still not training and waiting for updates about his hip injury. Nadal injured his left leg in the closing stages of the second set against Mackenzie McDonald in a 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 loss. After the initial checks in Melbourne, Rafael underwent more medical procedures in Barcelona and confirmed the results. The Spaniard awaits the second round of results, hence isn't training on the court.
A 22-time Major champion has played only 13 matches after the last year’s Wimbledon, scoring five wins and eight defeats. Nadal is most likely to drop out from the top 10 for the first time since April 2005, defending 1100 points in Acapulco and Indian Wells in the upcoming month.
Meanwhile, second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, who reached the semi-finals last year, is set to return to Indian Wells after missing the Australian Open because of an injury. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev, and American Taylor Fritz will be seen in action.
On the women’s side, top-ranked Iga Swiatek will be back to defend her title from last year, while second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur, Jessica Pegula, Caroline Garcia and Coco Gauff are also among the participants.
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