Rafael Nadal delays clay-court return, withdraws from Monte Carlo Masters 2023 to give more time for recovery

22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from Monte Carlo Masters, a tournament that he has won 11 times in the past.

The Spaniard has delayed his return to the clay-court season to give himself more time to recover from a hip injury that has sidelined him for more than 2 months.

Rafael Nadal will miss the Monte Carlo Masters, one of the three major tournaments in the lead-up to the French Open, starting May 28. The Monte Carlo Masters will get underway from April 8 and some of the biggest names, including Novak Djokovic are set to be in action.

Nadal, who is eyeing a record-extending 15th French Open title, said he is still not fully prepared to play at the highest level. The Spaniard was seen practicing on clay-courts at his hometown in the lead-up to Monte Carlo, stoking excitement around his return to action.

“Hello everyone, I am still not prepared to compete at the highest level so I will not be able to play in one of the most important tournaments of my career, Monte Carlo. Unfortunately, I am not yet able to play with maximum guarantees and I continue my process of recovery and preparation, hoping to return to competition soon,” Nadal said in a statement on Instagram.

Nadal missed the Masters 1000 tournaments in Miami and Indian Wells due to an injury concern. He suffered a shock exit from the Australian Open, losing in the second round of his failed title defense to USA’s Makenzie McDonald. Nadal’s hip issue flared up during his second-round match but he decided to complete it rather than retire midway.

Nadal also featured in the United Cup in January but was not able to win a single match as he was carrying an injury concern. The Spaniard has a 1-3 record in the season.

Notably, Nadal slipped out of the top 10 in ATP men’s singles rankings for the first time since 2005. He is ranked 14th at the moment on the ATP charts.