Rafael Nadal will miss the Australian Open, starting January 14 in Melbourne. The winner of 22 Grand Slam titles got injured again during the ATP event in Brisbane three days ago. On Sunday, Nadal took to social media to share the distressing news that he was flying back to Spain.
“During my last match in Brisbane, I had a small problem on a muscle that had me worried,” said Nadal on Twitter (X). “Once I got to Melbourne, I had the chance to undergo an MRI (scan). I have a micro tear on a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury.
“The injury is not in the same part, that’s good news,” added Nadal, in reference to his painful injury last year at the Australian Open, where he lost to American Mackenzie McDonald.
“Right now, I am not ready to compete at the maximum level of exigencies,” said Nadal. “I am flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.”
Update 🚨
Rafael Nadal pulls out of Australian Open 2024. In the recent match in Brisbane, Nadal encountered a minor issue with a muscle, causing some concern. Upon arriving in Melbourne, he underwent an MRI, revealing a micro-tear in a different area from the previous injury,… pic.twitter.com/G8ePOlkrkV
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) January 7, 2024
The social media post has left tennis fans in shock as the return of Nadal was eagerly anticipated. He was brave in attempting a comeback after being out for almost the whole year in 2023. After the Australian Open injury in 2023, Nadal spent plenty of time away from tennis.
His emotional post on missing the French Open last year was an indicator that he wants to retire in 2024. However, in Brisbane, Nadal spoke of wanting to continue on the ATP Tour if he could enjoy tennis.
The big goal for the Spanish legend is to play the Paris Olympics this year, where he aims to pair with Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s doubles. The withdrawal from the Australian Open is sad news but the 37-year-old left hander had no other choice. He trained very hard in 2023 but competing in a match is so tough, with front and back movement plus lateral movement on hard courts being especially demanding.
To write off Nadal would be wrong. All his life, he has battled injuries and pain. The start of the 2024 saw him enter the Brisbane ATP quarter-finals, which was proof he had not forgotten the strokes. How he can find his way back in 2024 will be interesting to follow.
The Paris Olympics is a dream as he wants to play on clay. However, the decision to fly back and see his doctor in Spain means he will be out for an indefinite period.