Former world no. 1 tennis star Rafael Nadal has postponed his return to the court, announcing his withdrawal from the upcoming Qatar Open.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner had initially planned to participate in the Doha event starting on February 19. However, the 37-year-old has decided to skip the Qatar Open, aiming to make a comeback in an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas in March, followed by participation in Indian Wells later in the month.
Expressing his disappointment, Nadal mentioned, “I would have loved to play in Doha, where the tournament team, as well as the amazing Qatar fans, have always supported me greatly. Unfortunately, I am not ready to compete, and I won’t be able to come to Doha where I wanted to be and play again after that unforgettable win in 2014.”
He added, “I will focus on keep working to be ready for the exhibition in Las Vegas and the amazing Indian Wells tournament.”
Nadal made a much-anticipated return in January at the Brisbane International after almost a year out with injury. Although he reached the quarterfinals, a muscle tear near his hip during a match against Jordan Thompson forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open a week before the Grand Slam began.
-IANS
