Rafael Nadal injury: Spaniard provides update after Madrid Open withdrawal

Rafael Nadal has been eliminated from the Madrid Open after withdrawing with an ongoing hip injury.

The ongoing problem with his psoas continues to hamper the Spaniard’s preparation for the French Open.

And Nadal will not attend the prestigious ATP clay-court event next week as he cites the need to change the course of treatment.

“The injury hasn’t healed yet and I can’t do the necessary work to compete,” said Nadal, without giving a timetable for a return to the pitch.

“I’ve been training but a few days ago we decided to change course a bit, do a different treatment and see if things improve to be ready for what’s next.”

Nadal now faces a race against time to regain fitness and defend his French Open title, which begins on May 28.

Nadal has won five of the last six French Open titles and boasts one of the sport’s most impressive records with 112 wins and just three losses from a total of 115 games in 18 years.

Nadal’s last loss on clay came last May in Rome to Denis Shapovalov, who improved his record on the surface to 9-3 in 2022 with a 7-0 run in Paris.

If Novak Djokovic did not play at Roland Garros, he would have the advantage of ending his career with the most men’s Grand Slam titles, with both men currently having 22 points each.