- Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the Australian Open
- Spaniard says he has ‘a small problem’
- He will miss the tournament in Melbourne
Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Australian Open in heartbreaking scenes for tennis fans.
Nadal, 37, revealed that he suffered ‘a small problem’ during his three-set defeat to Jordan Thompson in Brisbane on Friday night and as a result is unable to ‘compete at the maximum level’ in Melbourne.
‘Hi all, during my last match in Brisbane I had a small problem on a muscle that as you know made me worried,’ he said in a statement on Twitter.
‘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 of exigence in 5 sets matches. I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.’
Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the Australian Open in a major blow for the tournament
Nadal took to Twitter to announce he is flying home after ‘a small problem’ arose
Tennis fans were excited at the prospect of Nadal returning to the main stage after almost a year out of action. The 37-year-old suffered a career-threatening hip injury which required surgery and left many outsiders fearful for his tennis future.
The Spaniard had made an emphatic return in Brisbane with stunning victories over Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler, before Friday’s quarter final loss to Thompson.
Nadal had outlined his ambitions for a farewell tour in 2024, but this latest injury setback presents a major obstacle to those plans.
‘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,’ he added.
‘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.
Fans were excited for Nadal’s comeback after he spent most of 2023 on the sidelines
‘I really wanted to play here 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! Rafa.’
Nadal’s absence is a major blow for tournament director Craig Tilley, who had hoped for a star-studded lineup in Melbourne after Novak Djokovic stormed through his competition last year.
The Spaniard’s exit follows Nick Kyrgios’s withdrawal from the tournament last month.
More to follow.
