Rafael Nadal, a tennis player who has won 22 Major championships, is included in the Indian Wells entry list and is planning to participate in the first Masters 1000 event of the season in March. Having been victorious three times in the desert, he will attempt to challenge top-ranked opponents, potentially facing off against Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, or Jannik Sinner as early as the second round.
Currently positioned outside of the top-600 rankings, Rafa competed in only three matches last year. He missed the majority of the 2023 season due to a hip injury and made his return to the court at the start of the current season in Brisbane.
In his first appearance in 349 days, Rafa defeated Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler on his way to the quarter-finals, aiming to secure the title in his comeback tournament. However, the Spaniard encountered another setback against Jordan Thompson, wasting three match points in the second set and ultimately losing 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 after an intense three and a half hours.
Nadal once again felt discomfort in his troublesome hip, revealing a minor tear in his muscle and subsequently withdrawing from the Australian Open. He is expected to make his comeback in Doha in a couple of weeks before heading to the United States. This will mark Nadal’s return to Indian Wells after two decades, having reached the third round in 2004 at the age of 17.
In 2007, Rafa claimed his first Indian Wells title by defeating Novak Djokovic, and two years later, he secured another victory against Andy Murray. After a few successful runs, he triumphed once again in 2013, earning his third and most recent Indian Wells crown. In 2016 and 2017, Nadal suffered defeats at the hands of Novak and Roger, respectively, and in 2019, he withdrew from a match against Roger before it could take place.
Two years ago, Nadal fought for another Indian Wells title, overcoming challenging opponents and advancing to the final. However, he struggled with a pectoral muscle injury and difficulty breathing due to a broken rib, resulting in a 6-3, 7-6 loss to Taylor Fritz. This marked his first defeat of the season. Despite also facing an ankle injury, Fritz decided to compete in front of his home fans and managed to save eight out of ten break points, particularly in the second set. He secured four breaks and claimed victory in straight sets, earning his first Masters 1000 trophy.
Due to a hip injury, Nadal did not participate in last year’s Indian Wells tournament. However, he will aim to make a triumphant return in a month’s time, eager to compete after enduring multiple injuries over the past few years.