Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz both pull out of Monte Carlo Masters within minutes of each other
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ByEurosport
Updated 04/04/2023 at 10:19 GMT
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz have withdrawn from the Monte Carlo Masters with neither able to be at their top level. The 22-time Grand Slam singles champion Nadal will look to return later this month so he can prepare for the French Open in his bid to win a 23rd major title. Nadal and Novak Djokovic are tied on 22 majors going into Roland-Garros, which will be live on Eurosport and discovery+.
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Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz have both withdrawn from the Monte Carlo Masters with the Spanish duo announcing the news within minutes of each other.
It had been hoped that Nadal could make his return at the opening clay-court Masters tournament on April 10, having not played since the Australian Open due to a muscular injury in his left leg.
But the 36-year-old, who has fallen out of the top 10 in the ATP rankings for the first time since 2005 due to not competing for over two months, has conceded that he is not able to make it back quite so quickly.
"Hi everyone, unfortunately, I am still not ready to compete and will miss one of those special tournaments I always love to play," Nadal 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."
Moments later, Alcaraz followed his compatriot by also announcing that he would not be able to play in Monte Carlo due to "soreness" following the 'sunshine swing' of Indian Wells and the Miami Open.
After two months of competing, I'm happy to be back home but sad that I finished my semi-final match in Miami with soreness," he confirmed on social media.
"After visiting my doctor in Murcia today and being evaluated, I will not be able to go to Monte Carlo to start the tour on the ground."
Nadal withdrew from Indian Wells and the Miami Open as he focused on returning to full fitness, but hopes of an imminent comeback were briefly raised after the Monte Carlo Masters tweeted that the Spaniard was "definitely able to win his 12th trophy in Monte Carlo despite his last injury".
However, the 36-year-old was quick to rubbish that suggestion and even released a statement to make it abundantly clear that he was not rushing back.
“I don't know who gets this information,” he said, as reported by Marca.
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“Obviously, if it were true, I would confirm it, but unfortunately, I can't. I'm following my course and I don't know when I'll play again, that's the truth.
“I'm in a phase of increasing work. If I knew when I was going to return, I would say so, but I don't know. I can't confirm that I will play in Monte Carlo, things are seen day by day. I prefer to say things when I really know them.”
The Monte Carlo Masters runs from 8-16 April, kicking off the clay-court season during which Nadal has enjoyed so much success in his career.
The Spaniard will be hoping to be ready for Roland-Garros at the end of May, the next Grand Slam event of the year, where he has won a record 14 titles.
Before then, there are also ATP Masters 1000 clay-court events on the calendar in Madrid and Rome.
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