Rafael Nadal withdraws from Rome Masters due to hip injury: 'I will not be able to be in Rome'

05.05.2023 - 22:03 foxnews.com

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. A lingering hip injury has forced Rafael Nadal to pull out of next week's Rome Masters tennis tournament.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner originally suffered the grade 2 injury to his left hip flexor in January during the Australian Open.

He ultimately lost in the second round of the tournament, marking his earliest Grand Slam exit since 2016. Nadal, who is a 10-time Rome Masters champion, revealed Friday that his hip has taken longer than expected to fully heal. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand against Jack Draper of Great Britain during day one of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan.

16, 2023. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) "I'm very sorry to announce that I will not be able to be in Rome," the 36-year-old said in a statement on social media. "You all know how much it hurts to miss another one of the tournaments that have marked my professional and personal career for all the love and support of the Italian tifosi." NOVAK DJOKOVIC ALLOWED TO COMPETE IN US OPEN AS UNITED STATES SET TO CHANGE COVID-19 TRAVEL POLICY He added that the slow recovery has prevented him from training at a high level. "Despite having noticed an improvement in recent days, there have been many months without having been able to train at a high level and the readaptation process has its times and I have no choice but to accept them and continue working," said Nadal.

tennis Sporting Rafael Nadal Britain Spain Italy Usa Australia Rome county Park

The French Open could bring about some big changes in the world rankings. The second Grand Slam of the season starts on May 28, as Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic bid to win in the absence of the injured Rafael Nadal, and Iga Swiatek aims to defend her women’s title. Ad The four Grand Slams provide the most ranking points for players throughout the season, which means if a player performs well at one then they can expect a significant boost up the standings.

What happened the last time Rafael Nadal missed the French Open at Roland-Garros? And what can we learn from it?

Rarely has a player missing a Grand Slam felt like it will leave such a hole in the tournament as it will when Rafael Nadal is absent from the upcoming French Open. Nadal first played the French Open in 2005, winning on his debut as a 19-year-old. He has played the tournament every year since, winning every time except three.

Rafael Nadal and the seven wonders of Grand Slam finals

Rafael Nadal on Thursday withdrew from the French Open and announced that 2024 will likely be his last season in tennis after a career which has brought him 22 Grand Slam titles.

Rafael Nadal withdrawal from French Open 2023 has 'massive impact' for Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz - Alex Corretja

Rafael Nadal will not be able to compete at the 2023 French Open as his injury struggles continue, and Alex Corretja has given his reaction to Eurosport with a view to how it will affect leading contenders such as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. Nadal, who had been hoping to clinch a record-extending 15th crown at Roland-Garros and pull away from his great rival Djokovic with a 23rd Grand Slam singles title in the process, will now be confined to watching the event on TV. Ad Instead, it will be Djokovic aiming for that number of majors in the ongoing GOAT tally as the Serb targets a hat-trick of titles in Paris.

Rafael Nadal out of French Open due to injury and expects 2024 to be last of tennis career

Rafael Nadal has announced that he is missing this year's French Open due to a hip injury and will not be defending a crown he has won a record 14 times.