Five-time defending champion Rafael Nadal won’t play in Barcelona Open

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Five-time defending Barcelona Open champion Rafael Nadal announced Monday that he will skip this year’s tournament, which takes place this week.

Nadal, who won his first tournament in almost a year Sunday at the Monte Carlo Masters, said he has often complained that the clay court tennis schedule at this stage of the season ‘is poorly structured’ and that ‘not playing in Barcelona is a consequence of that.’

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.