Nadal officially out of French Open: "The injury I sustained has not progressed as planned"

For the first time since 2004, Rafael Nadal will not play at the French Open at Roland Garros and is set to drop out of the top 100.

Calling a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Nadal admitted that his injury recovery has not gone as planned despite recent videos of the 14-time champion training.

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Since sustaining the injury at the Australian Open, he has tried and failed to return at the Sunshine Double and in the run-up to Roland Garros, with the latter seen as the main end point as his favourite surface.

"The injury I sustained in Australia has not progressed as planned. It is impossible to get to Roland Garros, I won't be able to play it after many years," he said as translated from his press conference.

Now doubts will swell surrounding Nadal's future with Wimbledon next up later in the summer and with Nadal set to slide down the rankings, he will encounter tougher draws if he does decide to return at all.

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