Rafael Nadal: the Spanish player announced that he will not play in Indian Wells or Miami due to a knee injury.

Rafael Nadal will not compete in the Indian Wells and Miami Masters 1000 due to an injury in his right leg, which has been bothering him since the Australian Open and forced him to withdraw from the Acapulco ATP. He announced this on his social media.

"Unfortunately, my worst fears have been confirmed, as the injury I suffered in Acapulco turned out to be in the same area as in Australia. That's why I won't be able to play in Indian Wells or Miami, and the goal is to recover for the clay court season," said Nadal through his Facebook account.

As you may recall, an injury to the iliopsoas (upper thigh and hip area) forced Nadal to withdraw from the Australian Open quarterfinals against Marin Cilic. Just hours before his debut in Mexico, he felt the same pain again, which prevented him from facing Feliciano Lopez in his debut at the Acapulco ATP.

"If it was painful to withdraw in Acapulco, where I have so much support from the fans, it is also painful not to be with my followers in the United States on this March American tour, which has always been important," added Rafael Nadal.

Thus, Rafael Nadal will have to wait until next year to return to the Indian Wells and Miami Masters, tournaments that will take place from March 5 to 18 and from March 20 to April 2, respectively.

SOURCE (AFP)