Rafael Nadal has been selective for years when preparing the annual calendar. Over the years and after a complicated year 2021 due to injuries, the Balearic tennis player adjusts his selection more and more to the point of giving up even the Masters 1000 tournaments, as will happen this year in Miami.
And the tournament organization published, this Saturday, the list of participating tennis players, and it included, like Novak Djokovic, Nadal’s name crossed out. He hasn’t explained the reasons for his decision yet, but everything seems to indicate that he’d prefer a dose of himself so as not to interfere with the two North American championships being held back-to-back during March. Nadal competes in Indian Wells.
Nadal is considering the clay court season
The European claycourt season is approaching, and Nadal doesn’t want any setbacks on his favorite surface. He must take care of his left foot responsible for spending more than four months off the track.
When asked when his Achilles heel will recover 100% before making his first match against Sebastian Korda, Nadal said “never”. “It’s an injury that doesn’t heal. It’s the truth. Some days it’s okay, some days it’s not. You have to manage it as best you can and find a way to play as much as you can without limits.”
Nadal training in Indian Wells
“Saying that my feet are no longer a concern for me would not be true. I worry about my feet every day. We will see how they develop. Be more careful, maybe stop for a while and find the right balance between playing and rest. Plan the tournament well and stick to it,” he told the media in Sahara. California “This is my goal.”
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Nadal was not back in Miami last year, one of only two of the Masters 1000 tournaments he has never won in his career despite playing five finals. He made a stunning start to the year with titles in Melbourne, the Australian Open – where he became the tennis player with the most Grand Slam titles – and first in Acapulco. 15 wins and no losses in 2022 before landing in the US.
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