Rafael Nadal not ready to play yet due to back issue, skips Dubai event | Tennis News – Times of India
Nadal struggled with the problem in the build-up to the year’s first Grand Slam and skipped Spain’s ATP Cup ties but still managed to reach the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park without dropping a set before losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The 34-year-old 20-times Grand Slam champion has not played since that defeat and was awarded a wild card to compete at the March 14-20 tournament in Dubai.
“I would like to thank the @DDFTennis for the wild card invitation sent to me,” Nadal said on Twitter.
“We seriously thought about coming to play, but I don’t think I am ready to play yet.”
I would like to thank the @DDFTennis for the wild card invitation sent to me. We seriously thought about coming to… https://t.co/QArcOK53IR
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) 1615447051000
Nadal is still entered at the Miami Open, an ATP 1000 event to be held from March 24-April 4.