Monte Carlo: Rafael Nadal’s preparation for a tilt at a record-extending fifteenth French Open name suffered an extra blow when he introduced Friday his withdrawal from the ATP Barcelona match.

The 36-year-old Spaniard mentioned he had nonetheless now not recovered complete health from the hip flexor damage he sustained within the Australian Open in January and which noticed him leave out this week’s Monte Carlo Open.

“I’m nonetheless now not in a position and so I proceed my preparation procedure for the go back to festival,” he tweeted.

The Barcelona match begins on Saturday and the French Open on Would possibly 28.

Nadal mentioned it harm him to leave out Barcelona.

“Barcelona is a distinct match for me as a result of it’s my membership through adoption and since enjoying at house is all the time a novel feeling,” he mentioned.

The 22-time Grand Slam singles champion — he stocks the checklist with Novak Djokovic — had at the start concept he could be out for as much as two months.

He pulled out of hard-court tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami, along with his attractions set on a go back initially of the clay courtroom season.

His health issues have change into an expanding factor since he gained his 14th French Open crown final 12 months.

He eased to victory in opposition to Casper Ruud in spite of having his difficult left foot anaesthesised to counter the ache — he was once identified with Müller-Weiss syndrome elderly 18.

He therefore withdrew from his Wimbledon semi-final because of an belly damage.

His lengthy absence from the circuit this time spherical has observed him drop out of the highest 10 for the primary time since April 2005 — he’s right now ranked fifteenth.