Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime to miss Monte Carlo Masters
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(From left) Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime have pulled out of next week’s Monte-Carlo Masters.
PHOTOS: AFP, REUTERS
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BERLIN – Rafael Nadal will miss next week’s Monte Carlo Masters having failed to recover in time from an injury that has sidelined him for months, he said on Tuesday, shortly before top-10 players Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime also pulled out of the tournament.
Nadal was forced to skip the Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells in March as well as the Miami Open
“Unfortunately, I am still not ready to compete and will miss one of those special tournaments I always love to play,” the 22-time Grand Slam champion, who turns 37 in June, said in a statement.
“Monte Carlo is and has been a key event in my career but, unfortunately, I will have to miss it again since I am still not ready to compete without the risk of getting injured. I will continue the process of getting ready to come back.”
His absence from competitions means that Nadal dropped to 14th in the rankings, ending his record 912-week stay inside the top 10.
The Spaniard, who has won Monte Carlo 11 times in his career, still hopes to be fit for the French Open in May, a clay-court tournament he has dominated for years, having won there 14 times.
World No. 2 Alcaraz, who had an injury-plagued start to the season, was last in action at last week’s Miami Open, where the 19-year-old was beaten in the semi-finals by Italian Jannik Sinner.
“After two months of competing, I am happy to be back home but sad that I finished my semi-final match in Miami with discomfort,” the US Open champion said in a post on social media.
“After visiting my doctor today... and being evaluated, I won’t be able to go to Monte Carlo to start the clay-court tour.
“I have post-traumatic arthritis in my left hand and muscle discomfort in my spine that needs rest to cope with all that is to come.”
Canadian world No. 7 Auger-Aliassime said he has been struggling with a left knee issue.
“(I) decided it was the smartest decision to take some time off, so I’m able to fully heal and recover before my next tournament at the Madrid Open,” Auger-Aliassime wrote on Instagram.
Meanwhile, on the women’s tour, Garbine Muguruza is taking an extended break from tennis which will see her miss the clay and grass season this year.
The Spaniard, who won the French Open in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017, has played only four matches in 2023 without a win.
The 29-year-old’s last match was in February at the Lyon Open, where she lost to Czech teenager Linda Noskova in the first round. REUTERS
