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Rafael Nadal is out of the Madrid Open after withdrawing due to an ongoing hip injury.
The ongoing problem with his psoas continues to hamper the Spaniard’s preparation for the French Open.
And Nadal will sit out next week’s prestigious ATP clay-court event, citing the need to change the course of treatment.
“The injury hasn’t healed yet and I can’t do the work necessary to compete,” Nadal said, without giving a timetable for returning to court.
“I was training but now a few days ago we decided to change course a bit, do a different treatment and see if things improve to be ready for what’s coming.”
Nadal now faces a race against time to regain fitness and defend his French Open title, which begins on May 28.
Nadal has won five of the last six French Open titles and boasts one of the most formidable records in the sport with 112 wins and just three losses in 115 total matches over 18 years.
Nadal’s last loss on clay came in Rome last May against Denis Shapovalov, raising his record on the surface in 2022 to 9-3, with a 7-0 run in Paris.
Not playing at Roland Garros would give Novak Djokovic the edge in the race to end their careers with the most men’s Grand Slam titles, with both men currently tied at 22 apiece.
