Rafael Nadal continues to focus on health and preparation for the French Open, bowing out of the ATP 500 in Barcelona.
Fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, however, will be there after multiple injuries took him out of the ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo.
A hip injury is holding Nadal back, and he’s attempting to avoid setbacks before the French Open begins in May. The 36-year-old initially suffered the injury in the Australian Open in January, contributing to a second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald.
“Barcelona is a special tournament for me, because it’s my adopted club and playing at home is always a unique sensation,” Nadal said on social media, translated from Spanish. “I’m 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
Alcaraz, who turns 20 in May, has an 18-2 match record this season and is the defending champion in Barcelona. He slipped to No. 2 in the world following the Miami Open in March, after which he said he was experiencing problems with his left hand and back.
But on Twitter on Friday, both Alcaraz and the tournament announced his return.
Bienvenido, Carlitos ????@carlosalcaraz | @ATPTour_ES |#BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/YXqZfWcDp3
— Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell (@bcnopenbs) April 14, 2023
Nadal had won 11 titles on the clay courts of Monte Carlo, a tune-up event for the French Open, including eight straight from 2005-12, and owns a record 12 singles titles in Barcelona.
He has been victorious a record 14 times at Roland Garros in Paris.
–Field Level Media
