After Rafael Nadal had sustained a tear in his hip muscle in January at the Brisbane International, he’s been on a comeback rollercoaster. It wasn’t enough time to recuperate and he was forced to withdraw from the first Slam of the year, the Australian Open.
The Spaniard had won his first Melbourne title in 2009 against Roger Federer and then in 2022 defeating Daniil Medvedev. Nadal certainly hasn’t the same physical stamina as he had a few years ago. As he withdrew from the Australian Open he’s said that “…my goal is to be at my best level in three months…” Rafa had strived to accomplish the goal of being totally recuperated but was having chronic hip issues as well as abdominal problems sustained from pulling muscles at Wimbledon in 2022.
It was further along in the tour that he knew playing the ‘Sunshine Double’ was more of a dream than a reality and he had to withdraw from Indian Wells and the Miami Open. Nadal has three Indian Wells titles: 2007, 2009 and 2013.
He struggled to bring the fourth one to his trophy room in 2022 but was defeated in the Championship round by Taylor Fritz. “Everyone knows how much I love this place…I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready…” But this didn’t turn out successful for the Spaniard who…
