Rafael Nadal will miss the French Open for the first time since 2004 after the 14-time champion announced on Thursday that he has withdrawn from the tournament due to injury.

The Spaniard suffered a hip injury during his second-round Australian Open defeat to Mackenzie McDonald in January and initially said he hoped to be fit again within six to eight weeks.

However, in an update posted on social media on April 20, the 22-time grand slam champion said his recovery process was taking longer than anticipated, but that he would attempt to play a tournament in the clay court season.

More to follow...