(Madrid) Rafael Nadal will not be able to play in the Italian Open as he still struggles with a hip injury.

The Spaniard made the announcement on his social networks on Friday.

“I am sorry to announce that I will not be able to play in Rome, he wrote in Spanish on Twitter. You all know how much it pains me to miss another tournament which has a special place in my career and in my life and not to meet my Italian supporters, who have always supported me. »

Nadal has won the Rome Masters in a record 10 occasions.

The 22-time Grand Slam tennis player has been sidelined since January due to a self-inflicted left hip flexor injury at the Australian Open. This problem has already prevented him from participating in tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid.

Nadal says that although he feels better, he is not ready to return to action.

“Although I have felt improvement in the past few days, it has been several months since I was able to train at a high level,” he wrote. Rehabilitation needs time and I have no choice but to accept this observation. »

The 36-year-old Nadal hasn’t mentioned whether he will be a French Open, which kicks off on May 28.