Novak Djokovic expressed his disappointment on Thursday over the last-minute withdrawal of Rafael Nadal from the Indian Wells tournament, marking Djokovic’s return to the event after a five-year absence. Nadal, one of the renowned ‘Big 3’ alongside Djokovic and Roger Federer, pulled out of the Masters 1000 due to ongoing physical issues that have limited his participation in competitions over the past year, keeping him off the courts since January.

“It’s unfortunate for the tournament that Rafa had to withdraw,” remarked Djokovic during the pre-tournament press conference in Indian Wells, California, United States. Despite the setback, Djokovic expressed his eagerness to return to the event after his absence since 2019, when his decision not to receive the Covid-19 vaccine prevented him from entering the United States.