Rafael Nadal pulls out of Qatar Open, delays return due to muscle tear

Spain's 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Qatar Open on Wednesday, admitting that he is "not ready to compete," which further delayed his return to top-level tennis. 

Nadal, 37, withdrew from the Australian Open last month after he sustained an injury at the warm-up event leading up to the opening Grand Slam of the year, the Brisbane International, where he felt pain in his upper left thigh during a quarter-final loss to local Jordan Thompson.

"I would have loved to play in Doha, where the tournament team, as well as the amazing Qatar fans, have always supported me greatly," Nadal said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

"Unfortunately I am not ready to compete and I won't be able to come to Doha where I really wanted to be and play again.

"I will focus on keep working to be ready for the amazing Indian Wells tournament."

Meanwhile, he reaffirmed with Spanish media La Sexta that he will make an appearance in California later in March while being extra careful with his condition as his main goal is to prepare for the clay-court Grand Slam where he is hailed as a dominant force for the record 14 times he has won, stressing that the "main goal is to try to get to the clay season as healthy as possible, to at least give me the chance to enjoy this part of the season."

"At this point every blow I take, every injury, is a setback not only in tennis and physically, but also mentally," he said.

He added: "I am 100 percent confident of being in Indian Wells, it's a very special tournament for me. I don't know if it's going to be the last time I play in it, so I would like to be in Indian Wells, for sure," he added. 

(With input from AFP)