Nadal to miss French Open for first time

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Defending champion Rafael Nadal will miss the French Open after failing to regain full fitness from a hip injury suffered at the Australian Open in January.

"The evolution of the injury I sustained in Australia has not gone as I would have liked. I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible," the 14-times Roland Garros winner told reporters on Thursday.

The Spaniard also said that 2024 could be the final year of his career.

"I'll not establish a date for my return. I'll see how my body responds and take it from there ... if I can come back until the end of the year for the Davis Cup.

"At this moment, I won't be able to be at Roland Garros. With what that tournament is for me, you can imagine how difficult it is. I have no intention of continuing to play for the next few months," he added.

Nadal, who has dominated the claycourt season for years, has competed at Roland Garros every year since claiming the first of his men's record 22 major titles in Paris in 2005.

The French Open begins on May 28.