Rafael Nadal is not playing for money” – Jimmy Connors draws comparison to Tiger Woods, defends Spaniard’s Indian Wells withdrawal after Netflix Slam

Jimmy Connors recently came to Rafael Nadal’s defense following the Spaniard’s withdrawal from the Indian Wells Open, comparing this stage of his career to that of American golf legend Tiger Woods.

Rafael Nadal kicked off his 2024 season at the Brisbane International, where he reached the quarterfinals but was knocked out by Jordan Thompson, sustaining an injury during the tie.

Nevertheless, Nadal recovered and competed at the NetflixSlam in Las Vegas on March 3 against his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in an exhibition match.

Nadal, who had previously confirmed his participation in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, withdrew from the tournament just before his first match, saying that he did not find himself to play at the highest level.

The Spaniard received criticism from fans, particularly when he started practicing on clay after his withdrawal from Indian Wells. However, former World No. 1 Jimmy Connors came to his defense while speaking on the “Advantage Connors” podcast.

The 71-year-old said that despite Nadal participating in the Netflix Slam exhibition event, it was not considered real competition. He stressed that the Spaniard reached a stage in his career where monitoring his health weekly was crucial.