M 1000 MONACO.
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz pulled out of the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters.
Nadal, 22-time Grand Slam champion has been sidelined with a left hip flexor injury since the Australian Open. The Monte Carlo Masters begins on April 8. Second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz also withdrew from the event because of “physical discomfort” after his semifinal loss in Florida last week. Alcaraz had been so dominant recently, he hadn’t lost a set since February before that defeat.
Nadal has won the tournament a record 11 times, including an Open Era record streak of eight consecutive titles from 2005-12.
“I have post-traumatic arthritis in my left hand and muscular discomfort in the spine that needs rest to prepare for everything that is to come,” the 19-year-old from Spain said.
“I will not be able to play in one of the most important tournaments of my career, Monte Carlo,” Nadal wrote on Twitter. “I am not yet in conditions to play with the maximum guarantees and I continue my preparation process, hoping to be back soon.”
The 36-year-old Spaniard generally uses the event as a key part of his preparations for the French Open, which takes place May 28-June 11.