He said on Monday, a day after winning his first tournament in nearly a year in Monte Carlo, “my body is asking for rest.” “I am really sorry not to play in Barcelona, more than any other tournament,” he said in a statement.

Nadal said he has often complained that the clay court tennis schedule at this stage of the season “is poorly structured.” “For me, not playing in Barcelona is a consequence of that,” Nadal said.

Sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic and David Nalbandian of Argentina both pulled out of the event because of injury on Monday.