Rafael Nadal has pulled out of this week’s Barcelona Open due to soreness in his knee that developed in Monte Carlo, the Spanish press reports. Nadal, who won his sixth consecutive Monte Carlo title on Sunday, has won Barcelona the last five years and has frequently said that the tournament feels like “his home.” Nadal, currently ranked No. 3, will lose 500 points by not defending his title.
“I feel bad about not playing Barcelona more than any other tournament, but after Monte Carlo my body is asking me to rest,” Nadal said in a statement. “I’ve said on many occasions that the tennis calendar, especially during the clay court season, is badly structured and for me not being able to play Barcelona is a consequence of that.”
Tournament director Albert Costa added: “The withdrawal of Rafa hurts the tournament, but we have to go on and there will be a lot of other interesting matches.”—M.C.