Rafael Nadal withdraws from Barcelona Open, will return ‘hopefully, soon’

Rafael Nadal, who is recovering from a rib injury, has withdrawn from the Barcelona Open, his team told Reuters on Tuesday. The clay tournement will kick off on April 18 and the final is scheduled to be held on April 24. 

Nadal’s return is still uncertain, his team informed weeks ahead of the French Open, which will take place from May 22 to June 5. The 21-time Grand Slam champion sustained the rib injury in the semifinals at Indian Wells against Carlos Alcaraz. He then lost in the final to Taylor Fritz in two sets. 

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The 35-year-old underwent exams after arriving in Spain and results showed he has a stress fracture on one of his left ribs. Doctors said that he will be out for up to six weeks. 

“This is not good news and I didn’t expect it. I’m devastated and sad because it comes after a great start to the season,” Nadal wrote on Twitter. 

The Barcelona Open could have been a warm-up for Nadal, who plans to win his 22nd Grand Slam title in Paris – a clay tournement. The Spaniard has won 13 French Open titles which is a record for any player, male or female, in any major tournament.

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“Rafa has just been withdrawn from the entry list in Barcelona. We don’t know yet when he will be at his first tournament on clay this year. Hopefully, soon,” the team said in a statement sent to Reuters.

“I was getting to a very important part of the season feeling well and with good results. But well, I’ve always had this fighting spirit and what I’ll do is be patient and work hard after recovering,” Nadal had said last month. 

He started 2022 with a win at the Australian Open in January.