Rafael Nadal is a significant doubt for the French Open after admitting remedy at the hip harm he suffered in January has no longer labored.
The 22-time grand slam champion had was hoping the problem, which came about all over his second-round defeat by way of Mackenzie McDonald on the Australian Open, would best take six to 8 weeks to heal.
Three months later his coaching time table is at a halt and, having already ignored the primary two clay-court occasions in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, has now pulled out of subsequent week’s Madrid Open.
In a put up on Instagram, Nadal mentioned: “It has been a difficult few weeks and months.
“As you know, I suffered a major injury in Australia, in the psoas (muscle). Initially, it had to be a six to eight week recovery period and we are now on 14. The reality is that the situation is not what we would have expected.
“All medical indications have been followed but somehow the evolution has not been what they initially told us and we find ourselves in a difficult situation.
“The weeks are passing and I had the illusion of being able to play in tournaments that are the most important in my career such as Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros, and for the moment I have missed Monte Carlo and Barcelona . I will not be able to be in Madrid, unfortunately.
“The injury still hasn’t healed and I can’t work out what I need to do to compete. I was training but now a few days ago we decided to change course a bit, do another treatment and see if things improve to try to get to what comes next.”
Nadal won his 14th title at Roland Garros last summer but has struggled since, pulling out of Wimbledon ahead of the semi-finals after suffering an abdominal tear and winning only five matches following his return in August until now.
The 36-year-old admits he doesn’t know when he will be able to return to the match court, saying: “I can’t give deadlines because if I knew I would tell you but I don’t know. This is how things are now.
“I have no choice but to try to have the right attitude throughout this time, try to give myself the opportunity to compete in one of the tournaments that remains of the clay season and I have no choice but to work and be with the right mindset .”