MONACO (AP) — Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday because of a lingering injury, delaying the start of his clay-court tournament preparation ahead of the French Open and extending his absence that began in January.
The 37-year-old Nadal had hip surgery last summer and has played only three competitive matches — in Brisbane before skipping the Australian Open — this year.
Nadal has won the Monte Carlo Masters 11 times but announced on his social media accounts that he won't be ready to play when the tournament starts next week.
“My body simply won’t allow me,” the 22-time Grand Slam champion said in a statement.
The Spaniard didn't mention the French Open — he's won the clay-court major a record 14 times — in his statement. The Roland Garros tournament begins May 25.
In early March, Nadal played an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas but days later pulled out of the Indian Wells tournament.
“You have no idea how hard this is for me to not be able to play these events,” he wrote. “The only thing I can do is to accept the situation and try to look at the immediate future keeping the excitement and will to play in order to give me a chance for things to get better.”
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
FILE - Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his second round loss to Mackenzie McDonald of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. Rafael Nadal pulled put of the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday, April 4, 2024, because of a lingering injury, delaying the start of his clay-court tournament preparation ahead of the French Open and extending his absence that began in January. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, File)
STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Bayern Munich left back Raphaël Guerreiro was injured early in the team’s 3-1 Bundesliga defeat at Stuttgart on Saturday, a blow for the Bavarian powerhouse ahead of its Champions League semifinal at Real Madrid.
The Portugal international went off in the 17th minute after stretching too far for the ball. It seemed to be a muscular injury.
“Rapha’s not doing well at all. He’s going around on crutches,” Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said. “He’s cursed. He’s probably out of the return match for us – bitter, bitter, bitter for us.”
Tuchel made six changes from the team that drew 2-2 with Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal, with Guerreiro among those starting. The player made a good impression after going on at halftime in the first leg on Tuesday.
Alphonso Davies, Aleksander Pavlovic, Serge Gnabry, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Mathys Tel also started in place of Noussair Mazraoui, Konrad Laimer, Leon Goretzka, Thomas Müller and Leroy Sané (all substitutes) as well as Jamal Musiala (not in squad).
Tuchel took Eric Dier off at halftime as a precaution after the defender clashed heads with Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy in the first half. Dier had continued playing with a bandage on his head.
Tuchel said Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt took part in individual training on Saturday and was expected to join team training on Sunday.
Bayern visits Madrid on Wednesday. The winner of the two-leg semifinal will play either Borussia Dortmund or Paris Saint-Germain in the final in London on June 1.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Munich's Raphael Guerreiro, right, leaves the pitch injured as coach Thomas Tuchel gestures , during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart, in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)
Munich's Raphael Guerreiro, right, leaves the pitch injured, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart, in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)
