Rafael Nadal to Launch Indian Wells Campaign against Milos Raonic

Spaniard Rafael Nadal and former Indian Wells runner-up Milos Raonic will be the protagonists of an intriguing first-rounder at the inaugural Masters 1000 of the season, the BNP Paribas Open, on Thursday evening.

Whoever wins the opening round will next face World No. 7 Holger Rune.

On Sunday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion showcased a competitive performance across an entertaining exhibition match with compatriot Carlos Alcaraz staged at the Netflix Slam in Las Vegas.

But neither Nadal nor the former World No. 3 are at the top of his game as both still struggle with injuries.

Early in January, the Spanish player, 37, made a winning return to tour-level competition, earning his first-round singles match at the Brisbane International, beating Austrian qualifier Dominic Thiem, scoring his 1069th victory, surpassing tennis legend Ivan Lendl.

It was an encouraging sign after nearly a year sidelined from the tour due to a hip injury that required surgery.

However, a micro tear in a hip muscle sustained during a marathon three-setter quarterfinal match against Jordan Thompson would halt the 92-time ATP titlist hopes of going any further in Brisbane or playing the Australian Open.

Through a social media post, Nadal shared: “During my last match in Brisbane, I had a small problem with a muscle that, as you know, made me worried. Once I got to Melbourne, I had the chance to make an MRI, and I have (a) micro tear on a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury, and that is good news.”

Adding: “Within the sad news for me for not being able to play in front of the amazing Melbourne crowds, this is not very bad news, and we all remain positive with the evolution for the season.”

Back at Tennis Paradise for the first time since 2022, the three-time winner has been putting up the work ahead of his 16th appearance at the tournament.

The Manacor native leads Raonic 8-2 in their head-to-head series, having met for the last time in 2019 at the Laver Cup.

Last Time at Tennis Paradise

In 2022, Nadal advanced to the Masters 1000 final, falling to American Taylor Fritz 6-3, 7-6(5), ending a remarkable 20-match winning streak.

During the championship match, he felt chest pain as he experienced breathing issues but refused to retire, fighting through the end.

Afterward, initial exams revealed a rib injury, which originated during a brutal semifinal clash against countryman Alcaraz.

Upon undergoing further tests in Barcelona, his medical team confirmed he had sustained “a stress fracture of the third left costal arch,” meaning he battled Fritz for two hours and six minutes, unaware the discomfort he felt would turn out to be a sign of a stress fracture in his rib cage.

The injury would sideline him from tour action for two months that year.

Raonic on Vintage Mode

Meanwhile, the 33-year-old Canadian player has been on a challenging comeback trail, courtesy of an unfortunate Achilles injury and a broken toe.

Regardless of the difficult path back to action, the resilient man, who owns one of the best serves in tennis, is looking forward to making his ninth appearance in California against Nadal.

If healthy, he can push for victory on vintage mode, and as both are ruthless warriors, a battle awaits them.

Raonic returned to tour-level action last June on the grass courts at the Libema Open in ‘S-Hertogenbosch with a victory over Miomir Kecmanovic after a two-year absence from official competition.

Given a wildcard to play at his home Masters 1000 in Toronto last season, he rose to the occasion, stunning Frances Tiafoe in a first-round match for the ages, only his fifth in 2023.

“Two years away, five years from playing in Toronto, a whole four years since I got to play in front of my parents, who were there for the majority of my matches as a junior and as a pro. All of these things came together for a great night for me, and I am incredibly grateful for it,” he stated after the matchup.

Thus far into the 2024 season, his best result came in Rotterdam, where he delivered a competitive showing, progressing into the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately, the 8-time ATP titlist was forced to retire in the second set, giving a walkover to eventual champion and World No. 3 Jannik Sinner.

A packed stadium awaits an exciting showdown on Thursday night in the Southern California desert.

The combined ATP/WTA Masters 1000 runs between March 6 to 17 in the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.