Rafael Nadal has announced that he will not be participating in the upcoming Monte-Carlo Masters next week, citing physical limitations that prevent him from competing.

The 37-year-old, who holds the record for winning the Monte-Carlo Masters 11 times, had been eager to kickstart his clay-court season in the Principality. However, he has been sidelined since Brisbane due to a hip injury, similar to the psoas problem that kept him out of most of the 2023 season.

After a week of speculation about his participation, Nadal confirmed the news through a statement on social media, accompanied by a video of him practicing at his home in Manacor.

In his statement, Nadal expressed the difficulty of the decision, explaining that despite his efforts and daily hard work, his body is not ready for competition in Monte-Carlo.

He conveyed his disappointment at being unable to participate in events that hold significant importance to him and thanked his supporters for their continued encouragement.

Looking ahead, Nadal remains hopeful for his return to the court and is aiming to compete in upcoming tournaments such as Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome Masters 1000s, leading up to Roland-Garros, which commences on May 26th.