Rafael Nadal is currently on the entry list for Indian Wells but is unlikely to play depending on the recovery from an injury to his hip at the Australian Open with a grade two tear in his iliopsoas muscle confirmed.
The recovery time was confirmed to be six to eight weeks but a telltale sign of him not making the Sunshine Double is the cancellation of a pre tournament exhibition.
Played on March 5 in Las Vegas alongside Carlos Alcaraz, the latter will now face Taylor Fritz or Frances Tiafoe with the timing of his recovery not making it possible for him to play in a statement shared by journalist, Christopher Clarey.
The likelihood is that he won’t return until the clay court season with a reduced schedule also a possibility due to recovery from the injury but this will not leave a lot of room for manoeuvre ahead of Roland Garros.
Rafael Nadal withdraws from exhibition with Carlos Alcaraz on March 5 in Las Vegas. Alcaraz will now face winner of match between Taylor Fritz & Frances Tiafoe. But have to think, if Nadal cannot play March 5, it is unlikely he'll be able to play a few days later in Indian Wells
