By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday March 16, 2021
Rafael Nadal will skip the Miami Open in order to “fully recover” and get ready for the clay court season.
The Spaniard, who owns a 40-12 lifetime record at Miami but has lost all five of his finals there, last played at the Australian Open, where he squandered a two-set lead and fell to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals. Nadal had been bothered by a back injury heading into the Australian Open, and even altered his serve slightly to reduce pain and get through the first week.
The King of Clay will likely make his return at Monte-Carlo, where he will look to improve on his 445-40 lifetime record on the surface. Nadal owns 60 titles on clay, including 11 in Monte-Carlo where he is 71-5 lifetime. Monte-Carlo will take place from April 11-18 this year
Nadal isn't the only player who has chosen not to make the trip to Miami. Roger Federer recently pulled out and more withdrawals are coming in. Among them is Dominic Thiem.