The Australian Open will be without Rafael Nadal, who is set to return to Spain for treatment on a hip injury sustained at the Brisbane International.
At 37 years old, Nadal made a successful return this week after almost a year away due to injury, claiming victories in his first two matches in Brisbane with straight-set mastery.
Unfortunately, Nadal’s quarter-final loss to Jordan Thompson on Friday was marred by an injury, disrupting his performance.
Nadal explained that a scan showed a micro tear on a muscle, emphasizing that it was in a different area than his previous long-term injury.
The Spaniard, who had not played a singles match for 349 days prior to his opening win over Dominic Thiem, said the result was “good news” but added he was “not ready to compete at the maximum level”.
‘I have worked very hard during the year for this comeback and as I always mentioned my goal is to be at my best level in three months,” 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal said on social media.’
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‘Within the sad news for me for not being able to play in front of the amazing Melbourne crowds, this is not very bad news and we all remain positive with the evolution for the season.’
‘I really wanted to play in Australia and I have had the chance to play a few matches that made me very happy and positive.’
‘Thanks all for the support and see you soon!’
Nadal will now focus on returning to fitness in time for the French Open, which begins on 20 May and where he is a record 14-time champion.
Nadal’s most recent Grand Slam participation took place at the 2023 Australian Open, where he encountered injury difficulties leading to a second-round defeat against Mackenzie McDonald.
After his last appearance at the 2023 Australian Open, Nadal underwent a left hip operation in June. The former world number one has since descended to the 672nd position in the rankings.
After being absent from the French Open for the first time in 19 years, Nadal indicated in May that 2024 is likely to be the culmination of his extraordinary career.
While Nadal’s most recent injury mirrors the location that caused “one of the toughest years” in his illustrious career, it appears to be less severe than his initial concerns.