The 22-time champion of the Grand Slam has been training at his Academy base in Spain and the initial indications were positive as he aimed to swiftly return to the court after pulling out of last month’s Australian Open due to a minor injury.
The Spanish player admitted that he had been experiencing some discomfort in recent days, which led to speculation that he might skip the tournament in Doha, a rumor that has now been confirmed.
“I would have liked to participate in Doha, where the tournament team and the incredible fans from Qatar have always provided me with great support,” said Nadal in a post on social media.
“Unfortunately, I am not prepared to compete and I will not be able to go to Doha, where I really wanted to be and play again after that unforgettable victory in 2014.
“I will focus on continuing to work in order to be ready for the exhibition in Las Vegas and the remarkable Indian Wells tournament.”
Previously, Nadal expressed his desire to play at Indian Wells, as he wants to make what he believes might be his final appearance at the ATP 1000 event in California.
In an interview with LaSexta, Nadal stated that he was uncertain if he would be ready to compete in Qatar, but he was hopeful that he would participate in Indian Wells next month.
“I have experienced some discomfort in recent weeks and I am somewhat on the edge. At this point, every blow I receive, every injury, is not only a setback in terms of tennis and physically, but also mentally,” said Nadal.
“I have complete confidence that I will be in Indian Wells; it is a very special tournament for me. I don’t know if it will be the last time I play it, so I definitely want to be in Indian Wells.
“My main objective, as I have stated from the beginning, is to arrive at the clay season in the best possible health. I want to give myself the opportunity to enjoy the clay season.”
Nadal mentioned an exhibition event as he announced his withdrawal from the Doha tournament, which will be a lucrative match against compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas on March 3.
Netflix will broadcast the event, which has been a highly sought-after ticket in Las Vegas, as Nadal clearly wants to ensure that he does not have to withdraw from an event that has the potential to reach a massive global audience through the streaming service.
This will be a rare venture into live sports for Netflix, with ticket prices for the event causing some surprise.
Courtside tickets are available for a staggering $3,000, with the majority of them already sold out, and tickets in the lower tier of the stands are on sale for $500, with many already sold out.
Although this is a tennis match between two Spaniards in the Las Vegas desert, it has proven to be a huge success with fans, and Nadal will be eager to ensure that he is fit enough to participate.
While his withdrawal from the Qatar Open is unfortunate news for the tournament, which had been relying on Nadal as their star attraction in the lead-up, it appears that fans of the tennis legend will not have to wait long to see their hero back on the court.
Although his focus for the season may be on the clay court season and his attempt to win an incredible 15th French Open title, he will be in California at the beginning of March for what could be a final appearance in the desert.
According to the Source tennis365.com