World N0. 3 Rafael Nadal has ruled himself out of the Miami Open on Tuesday because of an ongoing back issue. The hard-court tournament begins next Tuesday.
Our champ posted on Twitter:
The 20-time Grand Slam champion earlier withdrew from this month’s tournament at Rotterdam, Netherlands.
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A tweet just posted by Luigi Gatto:
Luigi Gatto
@gigicat7_
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14m
Marion Bartoli on Federer potentially losing his Grand Slam titles record: “He already got beaten in the No. 1 weeks by Djokovic and I don’t think he wants to lose all his records. But I don’t think he wants to put his body on the line just for one record.” Source: Tennis Majors
One record he won’t break is Rafa’s 13 at Roland Garros, the record for most wins in a single‘s Slam.
“TOKYO — Japan officially launched the Olympic torch relay on Thursday, four months before the Tokyo Summer Games are due to begin, in a ceremony at which spectators were banned and participants distanced from one another.“
[Source: The Washington Post]
Hoping Rafa will be at the Olympics and even win a medal or two.
Andy Murray has joined the ever growing list of withdrawals from Miami, as he’s unable to play due to a “freak” groin injury. Like Roger, maybe he should just rest now and focus on the grass.
But unlike the list of Miami withdrawals, Andy’s withdrawal is based on injury, not logistics. As a layman, I think he’s pushing it. He believes he will be able to compete in the Masters and Slams but it’s not looking good. In his search for consistency, I hope he doesn’t undo the work that hip resurfacing surgery accomplished.
Juan Martin del Potro had his fourth kneecap surgery yesterday. I hope he doesn’t go for a fifth and wishing him a good recovery.
Excited to see Roger’s documentary about his foundation’s exhibition match in which Rafa Played a role.
Roger Federer
@rogerfederer
One year ago, I had one of the greatest highlights of my career by playing the Match in Africa 6 in Cape Town. With the help of some special friends, we broke a world record! Stay tuned for the full length doc.
@rogerfedererfdn
@RafaelNadal
@BillGates
@Trevornoah
#MatchinAfrica
Michal Samulski
@MichalSamulski
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Mar 19
ATP1000 Miami Open withdrawals. So far…
Djokovic
Nadal
Thiem
Federer
Monfils
Carreno Busta
Wawrinka
Coric
Krajinovic
Pella
Gasquet
Kyrgios
Davidovich Fokina
Andujar
Edmund
Tsonga
Simon
Cuevas
Moutet
Also Berrettini, Ruud, Millman, Ramos Vinolas, Pouille, Cecchinato, Londero, Carballes, Seppi, Gombos, Munar, Novak and Balasz for 32 of the top 100.
Wonder if the uninformed fans who bought tickets a few weeks ago based on the entry list are peeved now.
WOW. Thanks for the update.
I just finished reading an article about the do nothing governor Ron DeSantis and the growing numbers of COVID infections. So happy Rafa won’t be there.
Michal Samulski
@MichalSamulski
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Mar 18
Draw ceremony of Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters will be held on Friday 9th April at 6:30 pm (local time) in the presence of Fabio Fognini, 2019 champion.
I am surprised that Serena will not play Miami, her home town Masters event. She is recuperating after oral surgery. No details were given.
Congratulations to Aslan Karatsev winning his maiden 🏆 in Dubai!👏
I am hoping he’s too tired for clay season. Seems like Monte Carlo will be a rumble among the top players. I do wonder if 2021 will be the year qualifiers step up.
🤔🤔 let’s see……
I wonder if Dominic and Rafa have had a chance to talk foot pain. As I said earlier, I thought Dominic’s blister problem was a one-time occurrence when he withdrew from the 2020 Paris Masters. Recently the same problem flared up during the Vienna Open.
I was surprised to find the following detailed statement, made by his physio in 2020.
“[Dominic Thiem] did not suffer from a typical blister [but] rather a tissue contusion on the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe,” Stober said. “I’m sure that he can prepare for London in the next four or five days.” [Source: Sportskeeda]
Rafa, his team and doctor found a solution to alleviate his foot pain so I’m hoping the same for Dominic.
Rafa is on the list of players for Monte Carlo, along with Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev. Roger Federer is as yet unconfirmed.
It’s a very strong field and I’m keen to see Rafa bounce back on the clay.
It’s important to remember that an entry list is not a player list as currently illustrated by the Miami Open whose draw has been decimated. We won’t know until closer to the tournament who will actually show up but no doubt most of the Europeans will be there.
Mark, of course, what you say is true and the list isn’t written in stone. 80% of the top 50 players are from Europe, so we should expect a strong showing from them, fitness permitting. Those from North America and Australia have never relished the long travel to Europe to play on clay, so we’ll see what unfolds, all things considered.
FYI Fed has put out that he will not be playing any of the clay tournaments iincluding the French Open. Always possible that he could change his mind I suppose.
I think it was a huge mistake for Roger to say he would play clay as a means to play matches to be ready for Wimbledon and the Olympics, his top priorities for 2021. To get match practice he could play a low-tier tournament. He stated his shoulder muscles were pretty sore after playing two best-of-three matches at Doha.
As recently as March 11, according to Forbes, this was Roger’s thinking:
“What comes before the grass courts are the clay courts,” Federer said. “So from that standpoint, I have no choice but to play on clay if I want to play matches.
“It could be good for me, the clay. It could be bad for me, the clay. So I will only know in practice, but I don’t think it’s going to be bad, to be honest.”
I am not worried about Rafa because he has the best possible therapy for getting better. According to Eurosport he has disconnected and is enjoying nature the natural beauty of Mallorca. He and Maymo are mountain biking as part of his therapy to get back on court. Glad he is enjoying the fruits of his labor.
“Enjoying his time on the beautiful island of Mallorca ahead of more on-court duties, Nadal and his physiotherapist Rafa Maymo took out their mountain bikes and went from Porto Cristo to Cala Millor and appreciated the coastal landscape before returning home.“
Correction: nature and the natural beauty
👍😊 Can’t wait to see Rafa back in action……💪❤️
Thanks Margo🙏
Hiya Mimi,
I don’t like commercials or ads but a new promo by @Babalot on Twitter is all Rafa and I did enjoy it.
How are you doing? Hoping you’re not in Atlanta and all is ok.
Let me check it out.😉
I am fine, and thank you so much for asking, Margo🙏😘
So sad……
Get well soon. Vamos Rafa❤️
There are those who thought that Rafa was deliberately ducking the hard court tournaments after the AO, because he feared his opponents. Nonsense! His latest withdrawal from Miami comes as no surprise to me, because of his recurring back problem.
A lower back injury can’t be remedied overnight and complete back rest for a prolonged period is vital for the healing process and if Rafa is to have any chance of recovery in time for the clay season. I hope very much that our champ wins this race against time.
Now Theim is also skipping Miami in order to be ready for the clay season. Its hard for us fans to know what Rafa’s decision really means about his back but avoiding hard courts right now can’t hurt his chances.
David,
It appears that Thiem’s foot problem hasn’t gone away. I am surprised and sad for him because I thought it was a one-off occurrence. The following is from two days ago.
“The world number four revealed last week he was suffering from a long-standing foot problem, saying he ‘feels it every day.’
However, he has now added that he does not expect to see it worsen, and the softness of a clay surface usually helps him deal with it.
“Yeah, of course, I mean, on hardcourt, it’s a little bit worse, than on clay,” Dominic Thiem said.
“I can slide it out. It’s a way softer surface. But I mean, I’m, I have a little bit of pain there since many, many years, actually, since a very young age.
“That’s why it’s not bothering me too much. Sometimes it’s worse, sometimes it’s better.“
I thought it was a blister problem. This is awful.
I too think that Rafa has made a wise decision. It makes no sense for him to travel all the way to Miami to play a gruelling hard court tournament with an injured back (even if it is better than it was in Australia). The last thing he needs at this stage in his very long and illustrious career is a chronic back injury. Let’s hope that the extra time away from the Tour will enable him to recover fully. I hate to say it but Djokovic is now on top form again and will take some beating if/when Rafa has to play him. (Medvedev’s game style is not best suited to clay so I am hoping that Rafa can overtake him in the Rankings so that he does not have to play Djokovic before the Final of any of the upcoming tournaments on clay.) We know Rafa has and still can beat ‘all-comers’ on clay but he will need to be fully fit to do it.
I had always thought Rafa’s 2021 schedule was a bit aggressive. The truth is we will never truly know the severity of his back injury in Australia or even now. Hardcourt tournaments have presented its issues on Rafa’s body and I think it’s a smart move to pull out of Miami and not risk the rest of the year.
Hopefully he will be ready for the start of the clay court season which we know is very near and dear to him and to us as well!
Wishing Rafa strength and recovery…
VAMOS RAFA!!!!
I hope he will be back apon. The clay season starts in a few weeks!!!
Good decision, to be expected. The clay season and preparing in the best possible way is everything to Rafa right now. It should be. That’s called being smart.
In hindsight rafa made a mistake playing the australian open. He should have done the same as federer withdraw he has made the injury worse god knows when he will be back.
He again is putting everything on clay court season like he usely does. He has missed four tournaments in a row. I am now not very optimistic about this season. He has lost his nr 2 ranking. I dont know if medvedev is going to lose that nr 2 ranking to rafa.
I have a fear this season will be like 2015 where djokovic is going to win the biggest tournaments and nadal will only win maybe the french open and will lose against low players. I hope i am wrong.
Once again he made a mistake by playing the australian open he should have llisten to his body
Rafa stay safe and get well soon we miss you at the tennis court vamosssssss champ 🎾😘👍💪🇺🇸
All the best in your recovery and rehab. Stay strong and safe.💪👍🤛🍀🎾❤️
Rafa, stay safe and get well soon!❤️
RAFA CUIDATE Y RECUPERATE, SIEMPRE CONTIGO!!!