Nadal 'Still Not Ready' For Barcelona Open

Rafael Nadal will not be participating at the Barcelona Open having withdrawn from the tournament.

The Spaniard says he is "still not ready" to return to the men's ATP tour due to his hip injury which also kept him out of this week's Monte Carlo Masters.

Nadal has not played since he was defeated by American Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January and remains a doubt for the French Open in May.

Writing on Twitter, the 22-time Grand Slam winner said: "Barcelona is a special tournament for me, because it is my adopted club and because playing at home is always a unique feeling.

"I am still not ready and, therefore, I continue my preparation process for the return to competition."

Barcelona es un torneo especial para mi, porque es mi club de adopción y porque jugar en casa es siempre una sensación única.

Aún no me encuentro preparado y sigo, por tanto, mi proceso de preparación para la vuelta a la competición. pic.twitter.com/ZbgTv20Fo3

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) April 14, 2023

The Barcelona Open which is a big clay-court event that Nadal has won 12 times starts on Monday.

He will not be back in action, at the earliest, until the Madrid Open, which starts on 25 April.