Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Joining Others, Withdraws From Miami

Written by: Staff on 18th March 2013

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Joining Others, Withdraws From Miami |

The Miami Masters is facing a pullout plague, with Roger Federer and now Rafael Nadal both high-profile absentee as the Masters 1000 begins.

Nadal, who won the Indian Wells title, said he doesn’t want to overplay on hard courts. He has played 19 matches in four tournaments since returning after seven months off due to knee trouble in the past six weeks.

“The doctors recommend me to be back home for a few weeks and rest a little bit and keep practicing the right way,” he said. “I need more power on the left leg quadriceps, so I need to keep working hard. The competition is hard for the body, so after four fantastic weeks I can’t go to Miami. I need to prepare and rest for [Montel Carlo].

Federer announced that he would not be playing in Miami months ago, instead taking a long training block at home in Switzerland. Federer is due to return to defend his clay title in Madrid in the first week of May. Nadal’s decision came as the Spaniard reached a surprise final at the Indian Wells Masters, capping what has been a month-long comeback after seven months away with a knee injury.

Also missing will be American Mardy Fish. Fish revealed that after testing his long-standing accelerated heartbeat condition with a few matches at Indian Wells, he does not feel confident enough to take the next step and play a second straight big event. “Unfortunately I won’t be able to compete in Miami this year friends,” Fish tweeted. “Hope to be out there again soon! Thanks for the love and support in IW!”,

Ernests Gulbis also withdrew instead of playing in qualifying or asking for a wild card. The quirky Latvian had made headlines in recent weeks as he awoke form several seasons of half-hearted form and ran off a 13-match win streak, which was ended in the Indian Wells fourth round by Rafael Nadal. Gulbis, who played 14 matches in less than three weeks, has risen from outside the top 100 to almost into the top 50 in the current ATP list.

There could also be a nasty surprise on the women’s side as world No. 2 Victoria Azarenka continues to deal with an ankle inflammation which has bothered her for a month and forced her to withdraw in Dubai and Indian Wells. Her presence in Miami is dependent on her recovery.

Samantha Stosur also withdrew with a calf injury, joining Stan Wawrinka and Radek Stepanek on the sidelines.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Ernests Gulbis, Indian Wells Masters, Mardy Fish, Miami Masters, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Samantha Stosur, Sports, Stan Wawrinka, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenka

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.