Rafael Nadal: Retirement creeps ever closer after latest injury withdrawal

Spanish great was forced to pull out of Indian Wells, raising further questions about whether this will be his final season

Rafael Nadal of Spain after winning his match against Jason Kubler of Australia 6-1, 6-2 at the Brisbane International on Thursday, January 4, 2024. AP

Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts during his men's singles match against Jason Kubler of Australia. AFP

Spain's Rafael Nadal hits a return. AFP

Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Jason Kubler of Australia. EPA

Jason Kubler of Australia plays a forehand against Rafael Nadal of Spain. Getty Images

Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Jason Kubler. EPA

Rafael Nadal plays a forehand against Jason Kubler. Getty Images

Rafael Nadal of Spain after his win against Jason Kubler of Australia. EPA

Rafael Nadal serves against Jason Kubler. AFP

Rafael Nadal announced on Wednesday night that he has been forced to withdraw from the Indian Wells Masters having not sufficiently recovered from his latest injury setback.

After playing in the 2023 Australian Open, Nadal missed the rest of last season with a hip flexor injury. He made his return at January's Brisbane International but sustained a muscle tear, which has since kept him sidelined.

The Spaniard, 37, played an exhibition against compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas on Sunday and had been scheduled to make his return at Indian Wells, but he has now confirmed that he is not yet "ready to play at the highest level".

"It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament," the 22-time Grand Slam champion said in a statement. "Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here at Indian Wells.

"That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready. I have been working hard and practicing and you all know I took a test this weekend but I don’t find myself ready to play at the highest level at such an important event.

"It is not an easy decision, it’s a tough one as a matter of fact but I can’t lie to myself and lie to the thousands of fans. I will miss you all and I am sure the tournament will be a great success."

Nadal's withdrawal marks the latest in a well-documented, two-decade-long battle against injuries that have threatened several times to end his career prematurely.

Yet, while the former world No 1 has fought back with a warrior-like spirit each previous time to reclaim his place at the top of the game, often breaking his own pain barrier in the pursuit of major titles, this time it's different. Nadal has admitted as much himself.

The Spaniard has refused to definitively state that 2024 will be his final season, but he has alluded to it often enough during the first few weeks of the year.

"For me, the priority is to try to get out of Indian Wells unscathed," Nadal said when he still planned to play. "Whatever is left, leave it in the clay season, which may or may not be the last, I have not decided 100 per cent. At the moment things are going that way."

Whether Nadal continues beyond the European claycourt swing will likely depend on his health and how he fares at the French Open.

There is a fairytale scenario in which he lifts La Coupe des Mousquetaires (The Musketeers' Cup) for a record-extending 15th time, dragging his creaking body over the line for one final triumph. What better place from which to glide off into the sunset than at Roland Garros, where Nadal has long cemented his status as the greatest player the tournament and venue has ever seen?

Alternatively, Nadal's physical limitations could see him fall short of that fitting farewell, and aware that he no longer has the capacity to compete for Grand Slam trophies, opts to walk away from the sport anyway.

Only Nadal will know the right time to call it a day but it would seem unlikely that he would be willing to put his body through the rigours of another hardcourt swing in the autumn if he is unable to find a competitive level during his favoured clay season in the spring and early summer.

Nadal's 22 Grand Slam titles – in pictures

RAFAEL NADAL'S 21 GRAND SLAM TITLES: 1) Rafael Nadal wins his first Grand Slam at the 2005 French Open. Getty Images

2) Rafael Nadal wins the 2006 French Open. Getty Images

3) Rafael Nadal makes it three in a row at the 2007 French Open. Getty Images

4) Rafael Nadal secures a fourth straight Roland Garros title at the 2008 French Open. Getty Images

5) Rafael Nadal win his first major away from the French Open at the 2008 Wimbledon Championships. Getty Images

6) Rafael Nadal won major title No 6 at the 2009 Australian Open, his first Grand Slam on hard courts. Getty Images

7) Rafael Nadal wins his fifth Roland Garros title at the 2010 French Open. Getty Images

8) Rafael Nadal becomes a two-time Wimbledon champion at the 2010 Championships. AFP

9) Rafael Nadal completes the career Grand Slam by winning the 2010 US Open. AFP

10) Rafael Nadal reaches 10 Grand Slam titles with his sixth Roland Garros triumph at the 2011 French Open. AFP

11) Rafael Nadal wins the 2012 French Open, his seventh title in Paris. Getty Images

12) Rafael Nadal wins a fourth straight Roland Garros for the second time in his career at the 2013 French Open. AFP

13) Rafael Nadal wins his second US Open title at the 2013 tournament. Getty Images

14) Rafael Nadal wins a fifth successive Roland Garros title at the 2014 French Open. AFP

15) Rafael Nadal brings up his French Open La Decima at the 2017 tournament in Paris. AP Photo

16) Rafael Nadal wins the 2017 US Open for his 16th Grand Slam title. Reuters

17) Rafael Nadal wins his 11th Roland Garros title at the 2018 French Open. AFP

18) Rafael Nadal wins his 12th Roland Garros title at the 2019 French Open. AFP

19) Rafael Nadal claims his fourth US Open title at the 2019 tournament. Reuters

20) Rafael Nadal pulls level with Roger Federer on a record 20 major titles with his 13th trophy in Paris after winning the 2020 French Open. AFP

21) Rafael Nadal becomes the most successful male player in history with his 21st major title, won at the 2022 Australian Open. AAP

22) Nadal makes it a record-extending 22 majors with victory in the 2022 French Open. EPA

There will be plenty of time in the future to pay tribute to Nadal's astounding career and the transcendent impact he has made on tennis. But for now and in light of his latest setback, it's worth highlighting just how much injuries have disrupted his legendary career; in total, Nadal has missed 14 Grand Slam tournaments due to injury. Compare that to his great rivals Roger Federer, who missed none for the first 16 years of his career, and Novak Djokovic – absent for just one (the other two were due to Covid-19 entry restrictions).

Knee injuries eventually took their toll on Federer, which denied him the chance to leave on his own terms. The Swiss legend had planned for a final swansong at Wimbledon in 2022 but a failure to sufficiently recover from multiple knee surgeries meant retirement was forced upon him.

If anyone deserves the opportunity to control when he decides to hang up his racquet, after all his body has endured over the past 20 years and after everything he has contributed to his sport, it's Nadal.