Rafael Nadal Withdraws from Indian Wells as Daria Saville Falls in Marathon Match

Rafael Nadal has announced his withdrawal from the Indian Wells tournament shortly before his first-round match, citing his lack of readiness to compete at the elite level. The Spanish tennis icon, who recently made his comeback from a hip flexor injury sustained last year, faced a setback in an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas.

Nadal, a four-time Indian Wells champion, expressed his sorrow over pulling out of the tournament, emphasizing his love for the event and its significance in his tennis career. Despite extensive preparation in the California desert ahead of the competition, Nadal concluded that he was not prepared to deliver his best performance.

The tournament director, Tommy Haas, expressed disappointment at Nadal’s withdrawal, highlighting the Spaniard’s popularity among fans. Nadal was originally set to face Milos Raonic in a challenging first-round match, with Sumit Nagal taking Nadal’s place in the draw.

Nadal’s representative clarified that his decision was not influenced by a new injury and confirmed that the Miami Open was not on his immediate schedule. Nadal now looks ahead to the clay court season, targeting a record-extending 15th French Open title and a potential second Olympic gold medal in Paris.

Australian players, including Alex de Minaur and Jordan Thompson, are navigating their paths in the Indian Wells draw. De Minaur, seeded 10th, aims to capture the title last won by an Australian in 2003. Meanwhile, Thompson will face a tough opening match against a Chinese qualifier.

In the women’s singles draw, Daria Saville endured a grueling first-round encounter against Bernarda Para, ultimately falling short in a three-hour marathon match. With Saville’s exit, the Australian presence in the women’s competition at Indian Wells has come to an end.