Xtra Time Web Desk: Tennis ace Rafael Nadal has pulled himself out of Australian Open due to an injury. The winner of 22 Grand Slams sustained a micro-tear in his muscle during the quarter-final defeat in the Brisbane International. Nadal emphasized that it was not a recurrence of his previous hip injury, describing it as “good news.”
The injury occurred in a gruelling 3-hour and 26-minute match against Jordan Thompson, where Nadal missed two match points. Despite the setback, Nadal views this as a chance for rest and recovery as he returns to Spain. Following the quarter-final exit on January 5, he expressed uncertainty regarding his participation in the Australian Open.
“Hi all, during my last match in Brisbane I had a small problem on a muscle that as you know made me worried. 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,” Nadal said in an emotional Instagram post on Sunday, January 7.
“Right now I am not ready to compete at the maximum level of exigence in 5 set-matches. Therefore, I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.
“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 3 months.
Nadal returned to competitive action for the first time in close to a year at the Brisbane International, in the lead-up to Australian Open, starting January 14.