Rafael
Nadal trained at Indian Wells, but a video shows that he is having issues with
his serve. The Spaniard was hoping to play practice sets like some players
between Monday and Wednesday, but this hasn't happened yet, raising doubts
about his participation.
Nadal had
withdrawn from Indian Wells and the Qatar Open in the previous months and is in
California for his return to the courts after two months since the Brisbane
International. In what could be his last tournament on hard courts, Nadal
doesn't seem to be physically at his best.
Recently,
Nadal played in the Netflix Slam exhibition against Carlos Alcaraz, where he
displayed a relatively good level of play but showed limitations in his
movements, which can be attributed to his lack of match rhythm.
The
22-times Grand Slam champion has been particularly cautious in his service
training, and doubts remain about his physical condition before his debut
against Canadian Milos Raonic on Thursday, March 7th. If Nadal secures victory,
he would face the 7th seed Holger Rune in the second round, who has a bye in
the first round and is waiting for his opponent.
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
😨 These serves from Rafa? Hopefully it was just an extra careful start of warm-up.
Although he said that he wanted to play practice sets with players Monday-Wednesday, and so far he hasn’t…