Setback for tennis icon
Nadal cancels trip to Australia and flies to the doctor
January 7, 2024, 11:52 a.m
Rafael Nadal wanted to attack on his comeback. Now the Spaniard’s body is once again thwarting his plans. Right at the beginning of what will probably be his last season, the tennis icon has to cancel his start at the Australian Open.
Tennis star Rafael Nadal suffered a bitter setback in his comeback after a long injury break and canceled his start at the Australia Open due to injury. The 37-year-old Spaniard suffered a small tear in a muscle during his quarter-final exit in Brisbane on Friday.
“At the moment I’m not ready to compete in five-set matches at the highest level. I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get treatment and rest,” said the 22-time Grand Slam winner on X with.
Nadal lost to Australian Jordan Thompson 7:5, 6:7 (6:8), 3:6 after 3:26 hours and missed three match points in the second set. In the third round, the long-time world number one was treated for a few minutes, but played the match to the end.
“During my last match in Brisbane I had a small muscle problem which, as you know, worried me,” Nadal continued. He then had an MRI scan in Melbourne, “and I have a micro-tear in a muscle.” But this is not in the same place where he had his last injury. However, he will not compete in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, which begins on January 14th.
For Nadal, the 250 hard court event in northeastern Australia was the first tournament since his dramatic second-round exit at the Australian Open around a year ago. He then had to take a long break due to a hip injury and had to undergo surgery. In the meantime, Nadal was even threatened with the end of his career. The Spaniard had announced that 2024 would likely be his last season.