Rafael Nadal finds out when he might be able to make a return to action

Rafael Nadal walked away from the Indian Wells tournament without hitting a ball and fearing his body may stop him from realising his ambition of playing out a final year on the ATP Tour, but the initial signs suggest his time away from the court may be brief.

The 22-time Grand Slam singles winner has been off the tour since suffering a muscle injury in Brisbane in January and he was set to mark his return with a first-round match at the BNP Paribas Open against Canada’s Milos Raonic on Friday.

However, in a post on social media, the 37-year-old Spaniard said he is not yet ready to compete.

“It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells,” he said.

Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here. That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready.

“I have been working hard and practicing and you all know I took a test this weekend but I don’t find myself ready to play at the highest level at such an important event.

“It is not an easy decision, it’s a tough one as a matter of fact but I can’t lie to myself and lie to the thousands of fans.”

With Nadal’s injury problems becoming an increasingly worrying sideshow to his ambitions to play at the highest level once again, the Spaniard returned to his homeland for medical tests on the back problem that forced him out of Indian Wells.

He was clearly hampered in his service motion as he played an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas on March 3 and after further practice sessions at Indian Wells he had to pull out of the tournament.