Rafael Nadal is one of the big names missing from the 2024 Miami Open entry list with the tennis great set to play only one official hard-court ATP event before switching to clay.
After he registered for the Indian Wells Open, there were strong expectations that Rafael Nadal would participate in both Sunshine Doubles competitions. However, the 22-time Grand Slam champion is not included among the entrants for the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic leads the rankings, with the remaining nine spots in the top ten. Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Holger Rune, Hubert Hurkacz, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Hubert Hurkacz are also scheduled to compete.
The top 10 players, including world No 1 Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Hubert Hurkacz, Alex de Minaur, and Taylor Fritz, are all set to compete. In fact, all of the top 77 players in the current ATP Rankings are included in the list released by the Miami Open organizers.
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Rafael Nadal’s decision not to participate in Miami is not surprising, as he hasn’t played there since 2017. However, he could still accept a late wildcard and participate in what might be his last season on the ATP Tour. He has previously expressed a preference for using his protected ranking to enter tournaments.
Nadal’s decision to skip Miami aligns with his “objective” for the 2024 season, which is to focus on clay. His first tournament is likely to be the Monte Carlo Masters. In a recent interview with Spain’s El Objetivo, Nadal stated, “My priority objective is to get to the clay season in the best possible way. I hope to be in Indian Wells, it will possibly be the last time I play it and it is a very special tournament for me.”
After returning to the game at the Brisbane International, Nadal had to withdraw from the Australian Open due to a new injury. He also cautioned that he needs to be more adaptable with his schedule. “My plans in recent years have had to deviate greatly from what I would have liked,” he confessed. “That is why we have to be flexible with decisions and try to get it right.”
Nadal is scheduled to play against Carlos Alcaraz in The Netflix Slam in Las Vegas on March 3, before heading to California for the Indian Wells Open, which starts on March 6. Despite concerns that the exhibition match against Alcaraz might be cancelled due to an ankle injury Nadal sustained during a fall at the Rio Open, the world No 2 has confirmed his participation. “I have a sprain that will keep me out for a few days! See you in Las Vegas and Indian Wells! 🇺🇸🙌🏻” the current Wimbledon champion announced on social media.
