Rafael Nadal will miss next week's Monte Carlo Masters having failed to recover in time from an injury that has sidelined him for months, shortly before top-10 players Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime also pulled out of the tournament.
Nadal was forced to skip the Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells last month as well as the Miami Open that ended last week, as he continues his recovery from a hip issue that ended his Australian Open title defence in the second round, in January.
"Unfortunately I am still not ready to compete and will miss one of those special tournaments I always love to play," Nadal said in a statement.
"Monte Carlo is and has been a key event in my career, but unfortunately I will have to miss it again since I am still not ready to compete without the risk of getting injured.
"I will continue the process of getting ready to come back."
When Nadal will return to the court remains a mystery but the Spanish great has typically used the tournament to kickstart his clay-court season, which historically culminates with a French Open triumph.
He has also won the title in Monaco 11 times in 17 attempts, but last raised the trophy there in 2018, when he trounced Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-2 in the final.
Nadal's losses in two attempts since have come to 2019 winner Fabio Fognini and 2021 finalist Andrey Rublev, at those respective events.
His absence from competitions means that Nadal days ago dropped four places to 13th in the rankings, ending his record 912-week stay inside the top 10.
Nadal still hopes to be fit for the French Open in May, where he has lifted the title 14 times on the clay of Roland Garros.
World number two and Nadal's fellow Spaniard Alcaraz — who had an injury-plagued start to the season — was last in action at last week's Miami Open, where he was beaten in the semifinal by Italian Jannik Sinner.
"After two months of competing, I am happy to be back home but sad that I finished my semifinal match in Miami with discomfort," the US Open champion said in a post on social media.
"After visiting my doctor today ... and being evaluated, I won't be able to go to Monte Carlo to start the claycourt tour.
"I have post-traumatic arthritis in my left hand and muscle discomfort in my spine that needs rest to cope with all that is to come."
Canadian Auger-Aliassime, ranked seventh in the world, said he has been struggling with a left knee issue.
"(I) decided it was the smartest decision to take some time off so I'm able to fully heal and recover before my next tournament at the Madrid Open," Auger-Aliassime wrote.
ABC/Reuters
