Rafael Nadal will not be coming to this year's Miami Open, electing to skip the tournament, which is slightly surprising.
Considering that he signed up to play in Indian Wells, having recovered from the recent hip injury he sustained at last month's Brisbane Internationa, it would appear he needed to play additional tournaments in March to regain some match sharpness on the court.
But that was not the case when the entry list for this year's Miami Open was released to the public a few weeks ago. While Nadal has not revealed the exact reason for his confirmed absence in Florida, here are three reasons that have likely forced him to make that decision.
3. Low Chance Of Success
Even at 37 and with a surgically repaired hip, Nadal has made it clear he doesn't want to make up the numbers in the ATP draws. He still believes he can compete for trophies; otherwise, his comeback would have made no sense whatsoever.
With that said, the Miami Open is one of three Masters tournaments he has not won in his career. And that includes his peak years, finishing runner-up on five occasions - possibly the greatest finalist not to win this tournament. He reckons his chances of ending that hoodoo are very low.
2. Preserve His Body
Nadal cannot risk suffering wear and tear at this stage of the season, especially since there is a strong chance he may not play beyond 2024. So, the sensible decision is to keep his body under constant surveillance. That is why he is picking and choosing the events he will play this year to avoid the risk of hurting himself.
1. Enjoy Clay Swing One More Time
By his own admission, Nadal has stated he wants to give himself the best possible chance to enjoy the clay court swing one more time. A healthy Nadal on clay would sweep multiple titles without a doubt and would be the instant Roland Garros favorite.
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