Setback for tennis icon: Nadal cancels trip to Australia, flies to doctor

A throwback to a tennis icon
Nadal canceled his trip to Australia and flew to the doctor

January 7, 2024, 11:52 am

Rafael Nadal wanted to attack his comeback. Now the Spaniard's body thwarts his plans again. At the start of his last season, the tennis icon had to cancel his start at the Australian Open.

Tennis star Rafael Nadal suffered a bitter setback in his comeback from a long injury layoff and canceled his start at the Australian Open due to injury. The 37-year-old Spaniard suffered a minor muscle tear while pulling out of Friday's quarter-final in Brisbane.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner X said, “I'm not ready to compete in five-set matches at the moment. I'm going back to Spain to see my doctor, get treatment and rest. .

Nadal lost to Australian Jordan Thompson 7:5, 6:7 (6:8), 3:6 after 3:26 hours and lost 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 to the end.

“I had a little muscle problem during my last match in Brisbane, which, you know, worried me,” Nadal continued. He then underwent an MRI scan in Melbourne, “I have a micro-tear in the muscle.” But this was not where he was last injured. However, he will not play in the first Grand Slam of the year, which starts on January 14.

For Nadal, the 250 hard court event in northeastern Australia was his first since a dramatic second-round exit at the Australian Open a year ago. After that he had to take a long break and undergo surgery due to a hip injury. Meanwhile, Nadal was threatened with the end of his career. The Spaniard had announced that 2024 would be his last season.