Rafa Nadal just announced that he would be retiring shortly.

On the day of his Indian Wells first-round match, Rafael Nadal withdrew from the BNP Paribas Open, stating on social media that he was not “ready to participate at the top level at such an important event.”

“Everyone knows how much I cherish this location and how much I love to play here,” Rafael Nadal posted on X on Wednesday evening. “I came to the desert very early to practice and try to get ready, and that’s another reason.”

I regret to notify you that I will not be taking part in this incredible Indian Wells event.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who has participated in just 12 official matches since the US Open in 2022, was coming off a defeat at the hands of fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s Netflix Slam exhibition match. Due to a hip ailment that necessitated surgery, he missed almost the whole previous season. However, he made a brief comeback to the field for three games in early January before rupturing a hip muscle. He missed the Australian Open as a result, and he hasn’t played on tour since.

As everyone knows, this past weekend I had a test. Nadal wrote, “I don’t think I’m ready to play at my best in such a significant tournament, despite my best efforts and preparation.” “I can’t fool myself or the hundreds of people who encourage me—this is a tough decision; it’s not an easy one. I know the event will be a huge success, and I will truly miss each and every one of you.

12d

Rafael Nadal, 37, left for the hard-court encounter and made his way to the California desert. He then traveled to Las Vegas to perform Alcaraz for a 9,489-person sell-out audience.

Tournament director Tommy Haas issued a statement, saying, “We are unhappy that Rafa is unable to compete in the BNP Paribas Open, but we wish him continuous rehabilitation and hope he can be back in action again soon.” “We hope to see him come back to Indian Wells soon.” He is one of the all-time favorites of the audience here.

Lucky loser Sumit Nagal, who will play Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic on Thursday night, has replaced Rafael Nadal in the draw.

It was only a few seconds away from Diana Kasatkina’s match to start her US Open 2023 fourth-round campaign. After playing well in her first three games, she was now one victory away from making her big league debut in the quarterfinals. However, the world’s second-ranked player, Aryna Sabalenka, stood in her way.

When Kasatkina approached ESPN’s Rennae Stubbs for her pregame interview, she was aware that there would be a lot of eyes on her and that the stakes would be high. When Stubbs asked her how she got ready for a night bout, she hesitated.

“Well, to be honest,” Kasatkina said in a serious tone. “I believe this is the best way to promote my YouTube channel; we debated it endlessly yesterday.”

After saying that, she turned to face the camera.

Guys, please hit the subscribe button. You can find it on YouTube if you just type in my last name. If the game doesn’t pique your interest, you can always watch YouTube.

The match was actually rather boring; Kasatkina lost to Sabalenka 6-1, 6-3. However, the interview gained a lot of attention for her companion Natalia Zabiiako’s “What the Vlog” YouTube channel after going viral. Natalia, a former pairs figure skater, placed second in the 2018 Olympic team competition. Although the act may have appeared like a blatant promotion for yet another aspiring influencer to onlookers at the event, it may have been revolutionary to those who were aware of her past. or courageous—possibly even revolutionary.

Despite her popularity as a tennis player during the day, Kasatkina’s account features more than just sponsored items, even with the occasional shoutout. At a time when few Russians feel comfortable coming out as gay, 26-year-old Kasatkina comes out as LGBT. In spite of the recent designation of the “international LGBT movement” as an “extremist organization” by the Russian Supreme Court, Kasatkina and Zabiiako persist in documenting their lives together through the WTA Tour and showcasing their unwavering love to the world.

On multiple occasions, their channel has garnered over 41,000 followers, 134 videos, and over 100,000 views. Over 200,000 people watched their US Open compilation program.

This month, Kasatkina, who has also denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, told ESPN, “We’re receiving a lot of response from Russia, from people who are struggling right now and who are in this awful condition and cannot do anything about it.” Moreover, some claim that they currently get all of their motivation from our blog. Someone recently stated, “I found your channel and watched every video in just two days.” I am genuinely grateful to be alive at this time. It has appeal. It’s quite moving. It’s unexpected because, to be very honest, we weren’t expecting this response at all.