Rafael Nadal skips Rome Masters: 'It hurts'

• Tennis News
• Rafael Nadal

Despite intense practice sessions at home in Mallorca for the last couple of days, Rafael Nadal is not ready to return to competition in Rome. Nadal will skip the Rome Masters for the first time since 2004, missing his eighth tournament in a row since February and extending his break from tennis.

Rafa experienced a left hip injury at the Australian Open in January, skipping all the action and failing to recover for his beloved clay swing. After withdrawing from Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid, Rafa must do the same with Rome, needing more time to get back at his best and hoping to play at Roland Garros in four weeks.

Nadal is 69-8 in Rome, winning the title on his debut in 2005 and lifting ten trophies, the last one in 2021 over Novak Djokovic. Rafa lost to Denis Shapovalov in Rome a year ago before winning his 14th Roland Garros crown despite the pain in his foot.

The Spaniard experienced a couple of setbacks after his 22nd Major crown, failing to play injury-free and dropping out from the top-10.

Rafael Nadal will skip the Rome Masters for the first time since 2004.

Rafa has played only 13 matches after the last year's Wimbledon, experiencing eight losses and embracing his worst period in a career!

Nadal made a slow start to the current season and entered the Australian Open with no confidence. To make things worse, he experienced a severe hip injury that ended his campaign. The Spaniard revealed a Grade 2 iliopsoas that should have kept him away from the court for two months.

Instead, a 22-time Major champion is yet to recover, skipping some of his favorite tournaments and extending his terrible luck. Nadal missed Doha and Dubai before withdrawing from Indian Wells and Miami, losing points and dropping out from the top-10 for the first time in almost 18 years!

Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid were also out of Rafa's reach, and he could not return to the desired level ahead of the Rome Masters. "Hello, everyone. I'm sorry to announce I will not be able to compete in Rome. You all know how much it hurts me to miss another tournament that has marked my career, especially with all the love and support from the Italian fans.

I have noticed an improvement in the past few days. However, I have not trained at a high level for many months, and I have to continue with the process of readaptation and keep working," Rafael Nadal said.