On Tuesday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal announced on social media that he would not be competing in the ATP 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.
Nadal tweeted, "I am disappointed I won't be able to take part in Miami or Indian Wells," after tournament management at Indian Wells confirmed he had pulled out of the California desert tournament that begins next week.
Extremely regretful not being there. I shall miss all of my US supporters, but hopefully, I'll run into them again this year on the summer swing.
The news comes after the Spaniard predicted in late January that his hip flexor injury, which he suffered at the Australian Open, would keep him out for six to eight weeks.
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Tommy Haas, the director of the Indian Wells tournament, issued a statement in which he expressed his hope to see Rafa return to the BNP Paribas Open the next year as he continues to recover.
Nadal shared a video on Twitter of himself working out in the gym after revealing on January 26 that testing had shown a minor muscle rupture in his left hip.
As advised by the doctors, he "took my time off, started rehab, gym, and physiotherapy." "Being ready to return the best circumstances."
That most likely refers to the clay-court season, which begins mid-April and culminates at Roland Garros in May, where he will be vying for his 15th French Open victory.
Nadal, who at the 2022 Australian Open became the first person to win 21 Grand Slam singles titles, was forced to withdraw from this year's competition in January after just two sets due to injury.
He claimed that he had the issue in Melbourne for "a few days," but no diagnosis occurred.
Nadal insisted he would play, although injuries have marred his illustrious career.
Last year, Nadal entered Indian Wells unbeaten after winning a practice match for the Australian Open in Melbourne and returning to defeat Daniil Medvedev after falling behind in sets two and three.
He won the ATP event in Acapulco and advanced to the championship match at Indian Wells before losing to American Taylor Fritz in the game due to a rib injury.
At Roland Garros, he came back to win his 22nd Grand Slam championship, tying Novak Djokovic's previous record.
