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Rafael Nadal Puts Return On Ice, Admits "Not Ready To Compete"

Rafael Nadal on Wednesday was forced to shelve his plans to return to action at next week's Qatar Open, admitting he is "not ready to compete". The 37-year-old missed most of last year with a hip injury sustained at the Australian Open before making his comeback at last month's Brisbane International. However, a small muscle tear then forced the 37-year-old to pull out of this season's first Grand Slam in Melbourne. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner now hopes to return to the tour at the Indian Wells Masters in California from March 6-17.

Iga Swiatek Eases Into Qatar Open Last Eight As Naomi Osaka Gets Walkover

World number one Iga Swiatek reached the Qatar Open quarter-finals for a third successive year on Wednesday as fellow four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka also made the last eight without hitting a ball. Swiatek, the two-time defending champion at the Gulf event, defeated 14th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1, 6-4. The Russian battled bravely, saving four match points in the 10th game of the second set before Swiatek came through. The 22-year-old Pole will face another two-time Doha champion, Victoria Azarenka, in Thursday's quarter-finals. Former world number one Azarenka beat eighth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-3 for her third win over the Latvian this year.

Australian Open Champion Jannik Sinner Breezes Through In Rotterdam

Newly-crowned Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner eased into the second round of the Rotterdam Open on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Italian beat Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-3 and has now won his past 11 matches. Sinner will face two-time champion Gael Monfils in the next round after the Frenchman beat Denis Shapovalov in straight sets, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5). "I've been working a lot in Monaco but I wanted to come here and feel the court. I'm happy to get my first win here over a really great player," Sinner said.