Rafael Nadal has decided not to participate in Monte-Carlo and gives up the first clay court tournament of the season. His package comes as Roland Garros approaches.
In a succinct tweet, Rafael Nadal publicly announced his withdrawal from the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (April 8-16, 2023). The Spaniard felt “not yet ready” to evolve at the highest level. The native of Mallorca delays his return to competition with the prospect of “his” Grand Slam, Roland Garros. His participation in Paris in 2023 is not yet compromised. On the contrary, he is determined to return to the field in form. He was recently spotted on the courts at his academy. In short videos, he is seen hitting the ball on clay.
His absence from Monte Carlo is the third of his career. The first time that the Bull of Manacor gave up on the Rock was in 2004. The second was in 2022. It has therefore been two consecutive years since the ogre of ocher has not participated in the first Masters 1000 of the year on clay. Is it worrying? Slightly, the Majorcan is heading towards his 37th birthday, which he will be on June 3. Its physical impact is clearly no longer the same. Same for his ultra-domination which no longer exists on clay today. Since 2005, Nadal has won a minimum of 2 or more clay-court titles per season with the exception of 2020 due to Covid-19 and 2022 when he won Roland Garros.
But the image of an injured Nadal has become strangely ordinary. Since 2004, there have been 26 Grand Slam tournaments in which the Spaniard has been hampered by injury. All areas of his body were affected: elbow, knee, foot, abs, back, wrist, ribs, hip and legs in January 2023. After his elimination against Mackenzie McDonald at the Open from Australia 2023, he explained that he suffered “a second degree lesion of the iliopsoas muscle of the left leg”. Last year he suffered at Roland Garros from Muller-Weiss syndrome in his left foot and abs at Wimbledon.
Short biography of Rafael Nadal. Rafael Nadal was born on June 3, 1986 in Manacor, a town on the island of Majorca in Spain. Attracted very early by sport, in particular football and basketball, he discovered tennis and held a racket from the age of four where he benefited from the skills of his uncle Toni Nadal to teach him the discipline. Very quickly, Toni Nadal will transform his nephew into a real “monster of tennis”, capable of winning the biggest trophies. He won his first competition at eight years old in the Balearic Islands.
When he was 14, the Spanish tennis federation asked him to leave his hometown of Manacor to join Barcelona to continue his progress with the aim of becoming a professional. But the Nadal family refuses to see little Rafael join Catalonia and the federation reduces the amount of its aid, which will be compensated by Rafael’s father to meet the needs of his son. A true hope of Spanish tennis, the native of Manacor won the “Petits As” tournament in Tarbes in 2000, the unofficial World Championship for 13-14 year olds where he notably beat the Frenchman Richard Gasquet. He turned professional in 2001 after replacing Boris Becker in an exhibition in Mallorca against Pat Cash where ‘Rafa’ won against the then 36-year-old American.
After being a Wimbledon semi-finalist for the Juniors in 2002, nothing can stop Rafael Nadal, who immediately imposed himself on the ATP world circuit. Winner of his first Grand Slam tournament at the age of 19, Rafael Nadal enjoys an extraordinary track record. The Mallorcan has won 21 Grand Slam tournaments, including thirteen on the clay courts of Roland-Garros, a record. Olympic medalist in 2008, quadruple winner of the Davis Cup with Spain, Rafael Nadal has won everything during his career. Considered the best clay court player in the history of tennis, “Rafa” managed to dethrone Roger Federer from his world number one spot on August 18, 2008. A place he then held for 46 consecutive weeks.
Born right-handed, Rafael Nadal plays tennis with his left hand, his uncle having chosen to develop this aspect of his game to obtain a more powerful two-handed backhand. Known for his fair play and sportsmanship, Rafael Nadal is also renowned for being one of the most combative players on the circuit and an excellent defender who is difficult to overwhelm. His many routines during a match (meticulously placing his water bottles, touching his nose and then his hair at each point, etc.) are another characteristic of the character.
Since the start of his professional career in 2001, Rafael Nadal has won 92 titles, including 22 Grand Slams (2 Australian Open, 14 Roland-Garros, 2 Wimbledon and 4 US Open). Out of 1270 professional matches played, the Majorcan won 1058.
Since his time on the professional circuit in 2001, Rafael Nadal has won over $130 million in prize money ($130,681,472m). His personal fortune is estimated at just over 200 million dollars, the Majorcan has invested his money in real estate markets or in his foundation to help underprivileged or disabled children by using sport as a means of integration.
The most successful player in the history of Roland-Garros, Rafael Nadal has a special relationship with the Parisian Grand Slam, which he has won fourteen times, including four times without losing a set (2008, 2010, 2017 and 2020). This tournament is special for the Mallorcan, so much so that he has his statue near the Porte d’Auteuil.
Sincerely moved, “Rafa” said: “It’s something special and important for me. It’s the most important tournament of my career. When I come here, I feel like home.”
In the top 10 since 2005, Rafael Nadal became on March 3 the only player in history with 6,000 consecutive days spent in the top 10 places in the ATP rankings. A unique performance for the one who managed to dethrone Roger Federer to the rank of world No. 1, a place last occupied by the Spaniard on January 20, 2020.
