afael Nadal says he has made the “tough” decision to withdraw from Indian Wells as he is not yet “ready to play at the highest level”.
The 22-time grand slam singles winner has been off the tour since suffering a muscle injury in Brisbane in January. He was set to mark his return with a first-round match at Indian Wells against Canada’s Milos Raonic on Friday. However, in a post on social media, the 37-year-old said he is not yet ready to compete.
“It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells,” he said. “Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here. That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practise and try to get ready.
“I have been working hard and practising and you all know I took a test this weekend but I don’t find myself ready to play at the highest level at such an important event. It is not an easy decision, it’s a tough one as a matter of fact but I can’t lie to myself and lie to the thousands of fans. I will miss you all and I am sure the tournament will be a great success.”
Nadal has been replaced in the draw by India’s world No 101 Sumit Nagal. The Spaniard made his comeback at the Brisbane International in January after spending a year on the sidelines due to a long-term hip problem. The Spaniard sustained a muscle tear near his hip in his quarter-final defeat to Jordan Thompson, but scans revealed it was not in the same area.
Meanwhile, Andy Murray produced an accomplished display to beat David Goffin in straight sets and progress to the second round in Indian Wells. Murray had won his previous seven meetings with the Belgian, but entered this clash in poor form and revealed last week it was likely he would end his decorated tennis career this summer. The three-time grand-slam champion appeared rejuvenated after his announcement in Dubai and put in one of his best displays of the year to claim a routine 6-3 6-2 victory, which sets up a last-64 clash with Andrey Rublev.
In a nip-and-tuck first set, Murray had to be patient after a break point in Goffin’s opening service game was held before he was able to strike when 4-3 up. Murray claimed his first break of the match in the eighth game and sent down two aces to seal a 34-minute opener where he won the final 10 points.
The momentum was with the Briton and a double-fault by Goffin handed him an early advantage in the second set. The world No 61 continued to ask questions of Goffin’s serve and a second break arrived to put him on the verge of a place in the last-64, which was sealed with an ace.
Compatriot Jack Draper suffered disappointment as he lost in three sets to Chris O’Connell.
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