Rafael Nadal withdrew from the Australian Open with an injury a week before the season’s first major was due to start after playing just one tournament in his comeback from 12 months on the sideline.
Nadal said he had concerns over his surgically repaired hip after needing a medical timeout in the third set of his Brisbane International quarterfinal loss to Jordan Thompson on Friday.
The 22-time major winner initially said it seemed like more of a muscular problem than the tendon issue that caused him so much pain at this time last year.
But he posted on social media Sunday that scans after he arrived in Melbourne revealed a small tear in the muscle, and he was flying back to Spain for treatment.
“Hi all, during my last match in Brisbane I had a small problem on a muscle that as you know made me worried,” Nadal said on X. “Once I got to Melbourne I have had the chance to make an MRI and I have micro tear on a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury and that’s good news.
“Right now I am not ready to compete at the maximum level. I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.”
The Australian Open acknowledged Nadal’s announcement later Sunday, saying on social media that the tournament “will miss you in Melbourne, Rafa,” and “see you on the court soon.”
Nadal’s latest injury setback comes after being away from the court for almost a year and having surgery on his troublesome hip in June. The former top-ranked player also had a history of knee and foot issues that many thought would threaten his ability to remain on the tour for as long as he has.
But Nadal’s comeback looked promising as he won his first two competitive matches in a year before losing to Thompson. He wasted three match points in the second set with uncharacteristic errors in his quarterfinal before losing in three sets.
“A lot of things can be happening in a body like my body after a year without playing tennis,” he said after the loss to Thompson. “So hopefully it is just that, just a muscle that is supercharged. If that’s the thing, perfect.”
Nadal, 37, opened the tournament with straight-sets wins over Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler but was pushed for 3 hours, 25 minutes by Thompson in what was his third match in four nights.
He was playing on a wild card…
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