Sawt Falasteen - 'Don't know when I'll be back': Nadal out of Madrid in new French Open blow

"For the moment I've missed Monte Carlo and Barcelona. And unfortunately I won't be able to be in Madrid either," Nadal said on Instagram.

"The injury still hasn't healed," he added.

The 36-year-old Spaniard has not played since losing in the second round of the Australian Open in January.

Nadal is hoping for a record-extending 15th French Open title at Roland Garros in May, but his hip flexor problem he suffered in Melbourne has badly disrupted his run up to the tournament.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion -- he shares the men's record with Novak Djokovic -- had originally thought he would be out for up to two months.

He 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, but it did not come to fruition.

"In principle it was supposed to be a recovery period of six to eight weeks and now we're around 14," said Nadal.

"The reality is that the situation is not what we would have hoped for. All medical indications have been followed, but the healing has not gone as they told us initially and we find ourselves in a difficult situation."

Nadal, who turns 37 in June, said he and his team have decided to try a different treatment and see if things improve, but that he was not setting a deadline for his comeback.

"I can't work on what I need to compete. I was training but a few days ago we decided to change course a bit, to try another treatment and see if things improve to try to get to what comes next.

"I can't give deadlines because if I knew I would tell you, but I don't know," he added. "This is how things are now."

- 'A shame' -

Nadal's plight brought sympathy from compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, the 19-year-old US Open champion.

"Besides being a tennis player, I am a tennis fan, so to see the best players in the world not being able to compete in these tournaments is a shame," said Alcaraz.

"I am young so not having Rafa close by in tournaments and not learning from him is a shame, I wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully we can enjoy his tennis soon."

Nadal's fitness problems have become an increasing issue since he won his 14th French Open crown last year.

At Wimbledon last summer he was forced to withdraw from his semi-final because of an abdominal injury.

Last month he dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since 2005, and is currently ranked 14th.

The French Open starts on May 28, with Nadal now in a race against time to be fit for the Rome Masters -- the last major tune-up event before Roland Garros.

J.Saleh--SF-PST