Rafael Nadal announced Thursday that he is pulling out of the French Open because of a lingering hip injury that has sidelined him since January.
The owner of a record 14 championships at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament will miss it for the first time since making his debut there in 2005.
Nadal delivered the news of his withdrawal during a news conference at his tennis academy in Manacor, Spain.
Play begins at Roland Garros in Paris on May 28.
(AP)
