Nadal, Alcaraz pull out of Monte Carlo. Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz withdrew Tuesday from the Monte Carlo Masters, raising questions over their fitness ahead of next month’s French Open. Nadal, who has won the Monte Carlo tournament 11 times, is preparing for a tilt at a record-extending 15th French Open title and a 23rd Grand Slam crown, to break the men’s all-time record that he shares with Novak Djokovic of Serbia. “Hi everyone, I’m still not ready to compete at the highest level,” Nadal tweeted. “I will not be able to play in one of the most important tournaments of my career, Monte Carlo.” The 36-year-old Spaniard said he was hoping to return soon from the hip flexor injury he sustained in the Australian Open in January, suffering a second-round exit against Mackenzie McDonald. Nadal pulled out of hard-court tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami, with his sights set on a return at the start of the clay-court season.
