22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal is set to face Milos Raonic in a highly anticipated first round match at the BNP Paribas Open.
Date: March 7, 2024
Match time: Not before 6 PM local time / 9 PM EST – New York, Montreal / 2 AM GMT – United Kingdom / 3 AM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 4 AM SAST – South Africa / 7:30 AM IST – New Delhi, 1 PM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
The head-to-head series stands at 8-2 in Rafa’s favor, although Milos won their only previous showdown at this tournament via a 4-6, 7-6(10), 7-5 decision in the 2015 quarterfinals.
Rafa, who is a three-time champion at Indian Wells will be playing his first competitive tournament since sustaining an injury at the Brisbane International earlier this year. He recently played an exhibition match against world number 2 Carlos Alcaraz.
Milos said he hasn’t even seen Rafa in five years:
“It’s just exciting, more so because I haven’t given much thought to draws since I’ve been coming back. I’ m not seeded so you know that it’s kind of a coin toss. It’s not like I have a lot of matches to watch of his to see what he’s really been doing. But if he’s here, he’s going to be playing well. I think he expects a high minimum standard from himself, so it’ll be a tough match. Got to do my things as always.”
Milos is back at Indian Wells for the first time since 2019, when he lost in the semifinals to Dominic Thiem. He made the final in 2016, and the semifinals on two other occasions.
Rafa, who was granted entry into the Indian Wells tournament on a protected ranking, is unseeded at the event. He missed last year due to injury, so this is a return for him, too.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Go Rafa, so happy to see your back, can’t wait to watch you play!!!!❤️❤️❤️
So sad to hear Rafa pulled out of the tournament.
But champ must do what’s best for his body. Our gratification can wait:)
This is awful. I think he’s just desperate to play again, but it’s not happening, and keeping pulling out of tournaments at the last minute can’t be doing him any good mentally.
It’s 7am here in the UK, and the first thing I did after getting up was to check the order of play, and now this 🙁 .
Any news why Rafa won‘t play?
The Netflix match did him in. Just one exhibition match costs him. Every microorganism wants to survive. Injuries wants to survive inside a body too, especially a healthy body like Nadal.
Yeah I just read that he has withdrawn from Indian Wells. I’m alittle concerned as while I appreciate that he feels that he is not ready, playing some competitive matches seems like a logical step, even if he doesn’t progress very far in the tournament. Makes me wonder if there are other lingering injuries he is dealing with. I also hope he is able to retire on his own terms and go out playing well in a few of his favourite tournaments!
So disappointed have tickets for his first match…I was so excited😥 honestly I feel like he should’ve at least tried! wouldn’t matter if he lost to Milos It would’ve just been so special to see Rafa back on the court.
Same with me. I’ve never seen him play and was so excited to finally be able to. Would stink to watch him lose, but still would’ve been amazing to actually see him play.
Sadly, Rafa had to withdraw. I cannot say I am very surprised. I watched some of his practice today and his back was stiff. I really hope that Rafa can end his career as he wants, but his body has other plans.
He withdrew..
Enjoy, Rafa. All the best👏👍💪🤛🎾🍀❤️
Hoping for a good match between Rafa and Milos. Good luck to Rafa!🍀🫶
Get well soon Rafa ❤️