Nadal withdraws from two Masters 1000

The withdrawal notice was made by Nadal on February 28. "I haven't communicated with you for a long time," Nadal said on Twitter. "I'm resting, rehab, gym and physical therapy. I'll be ready to come back when I'm at my best. It's a pity that I won't be able to compete at Indian Wells and Miami. I miss the American spectators and hope to see them at the summer hard courts."

Nadal has been out of action since being eliminated in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open, due to an injury in the match against Mackenzie McDonald. Nadal's scan results in Melbourne on January 19 showed that he had a second degree hip muscle tear. Nadal's decline in fitness began at Wimbledon last year, when he withdrew in the semifinals due to an abdominal injury. Since then, Nadal has won only two of his nine matches, picking up various injuries.

"We hope Nadal recovers well," said BNP Paribas Open CEO at Indian Wells, Tommy Haas. "Hope to see him at next year's tournament." Haas, the former number two player in the world, previously expressed regret that Novak Djokovic was likely not to be able to attend the tournament because he did not have a vaccine passport.

Last year, Nadal reached the final at Indian Wells, then withdrew from the Miami Masters to prepare for the clay season. Nadal has won three times at Indian Wells in 2009, 2013, and 2016. In Miami, the Spaniard has never won, despite reaching the final five times. Since losing to Roger Federer in the final in 2017, Nadal has not returned to Miami to play.

Nadal is ranked eighth in the world - his lowest position in the past six years. He will be deducted 500 points for not being able to go to Acapulco this week to defend his title, then another 600 points earned from Indian Wells last year.

Nadal hasn't been pushed out of the world top 10 since 2005. In 2020, he broke Jimmy Connors' record of 789 consecutive weeks in the ATP top 10. With the withdrawal of two Masters 1000 tournaments, it is difficult for Nadal to catch up with the record of 1000 consecutive weeks in the top 10 of former female tennis player Martina Navratilova. Currently, Nadal has 910 consecutive weeks in the world top 10.