Rafael Nadal to miss French Open with injured hip; won 14th title in Paris last year

By Joseph Wilson And Howard Fendrich
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rafael Nadal announced Thursday that he is pulling out of the French Open because of a lingering hip injury that has sidelined him since January.

The owner of a record 14 championships at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament will miss it for the first time since making his debut there in 2005.

Nadal delivered the news of his withdrawal during a news conference at his tennis academy in Manacor, Spain.

Play begins at Roland Garros in Paris on May 28.