Nadal Aiming to Make Comeback from Injury at Monte Carlo

In this Jan. 23, 2018, file photo, Spain's Rafael Nadal answers questions at a press conference after retiring injured from his quarterfinal against Croatia's Marin Cilic at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. (AP)
In this Jan. 23, 2018, file photo, Spain's Rafael Nadal answers questions at a press conference after retiring injured from his quarterfinal against Croatia's Marin Cilic at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. (AP)
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Nadal Aiming to Make Comeback from Injury at Monte Carlo

In this Jan. 23, 2018, file photo, Spain's Rafael Nadal answers questions at a press conference after retiring injured from his quarterfinal against Croatia's Marin Cilic at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. (AP)
In this Jan. 23, 2018, file photo, Spain's Rafael Nadal answers questions at a press conference after retiring injured from his quarterfinal against Croatia's Marin Cilic at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. (AP)

Rafael Nadal is aiming to make his comeback from a hip injury at the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters next month, organizers said Wednesday.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been sidelined with a left hip flexor injury since the Australian Open, and pulled out of hard-court tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami.

The Monte Carlo Masters begins on April 8 and tournament director David Massey is optimistic Nadal will play.

"Rafa was the first (player) to be registered," Massey said in statement. "He really wants to play at the Monte Carlo Masters and is giving himself every chance to take part in the tournament he's so fond of."

Nadal has won the tournament a record 11 times, including an Open Era record streak of eight consecutive titles from 2005 to 2012.

The 36-year-old Spaniard uses the event as a key part of his preparations for the French Open, which takes place May 28-June 11.

Nadal has won 14 of his major titles on clay at Roland Garros, including last year while dealing with chronic pain in his left foot.

In January, Nadal hurt his hip flexor during a second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald of the United States at the Australian Open.

An MRI exam the next day revealed the extent of the injury.



Piastri Wins in Jeddah to Take Formula One Lead

 Formula One F1 - Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 20, 2025 McLaren's Oscar Piastri celebrates on the podium after winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix alongside second placed Red Bull's Max Verstappen and third placed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 20, 2025 McLaren's Oscar Piastri celebrates on the podium after winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix alongside second placed Red Bull's Max Verstappen and third placed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. (Reuters)
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Piastri Wins in Jeddah to Take Formula One Lead

 Formula One F1 - Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 20, 2025 McLaren's Oscar Piastri celebrates on the podium after winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix alongside second placed Red Bull's Max Verstappen and third placed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 20, 2025 McLaren's Oscar Piastri celebrates on the podium after winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix alongside second placed Red Bull's Max Verstappen and third placed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. (Reuters)

Australian Oscar Piastri won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday to take the lead in the Formula One world championship from McLaren teammate Lando Norris with his third win in five races.

Red Bull's four times world champion Max Verstappen finished second, after starting from pole position at Jeddah's Corniche circuit, with Charles Leclerc third for Ferrari's first podium of the campaign. Norris was fourth.

Victory made Piastri, triumphant in Bahrain last weekend and in China last month, the first Australian to lead the championship since his manager Mark Webber in 2010 and also the first back-to-back winner this season.

Norris, who had led by three points before the race and is now 10 behind Piastri, started in 10th place after crashing in qualifying.