World number one Novak Djokovic has received a major boost after the withdrawal of the Spain’s legendary tennis star Rafael Nadal from the Indian Wells.
The mega-event has already begun in California where players from all over the world are battling it out to secure the ultimate prize.
On Thursday, Nadal, who recently came back from a lengthy injury layoff, announced in a detailed post on social media platform X — previously known as Twitter — that he will not take part in the competition.
"It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells," Nadal wrote. "Everyone knows how much I love this place… I have been working hard and practicing and you all know I took a test this weekend but I don’t find myself ready to play at the highest level at such an important event.”
The development became a big boost for Djokovic as he is now the only player in the competition who can take a shot at overtaking the former world number one Roger Federer’s record at Indian Wells.
As things stand, both Nadal and Djokovic have won the title five times, equal to what Federer achieved in his career. Since the former is not taking part in the competition, Djokovic now has the chance to become the first player to lift the Indian Wells title six times.
It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells. Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here. That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready.
