SUMMARY
- Rafael Nadal has been facing injuries lately. He was absent from the tour for over a year.
- Fans anticipated Nadal's epic return at the Australian Open 2024 and he looked good at the Brisbane International 2024.
Rafael Nadal, who recently made a comeback after a year-long absence due to injury, faced an unexpected setback in the Brisbane International 2024. Despite starting strong and securing back-to-back victories, he experienced an injury scare during the quarterfinals, raising concerns about his participation in the Australian Open 2024.
Nadal had previously undergone arthroscopic surgery for a severe psoas muscle injury at the Australian Open the previous year. Despite playing without pain in the initial stages of the Brisbane International, Nadal had to take an off-court medical timeout in the deciding set of his match against Jordan Thompson. This has led to renewed concerns about his hip issue.
Rafa Nadal says he hopes he’ll have the opportunity to play the Australian Open, but he’s not 100% sure right now:
“I need to see how I wake up tomorrow morning. I mean, we have been talking these last days, talking about the positive things. That’s why I am not over-positive… pic.twitter.com/zmrPHfbB2E
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 5, 2024
Rafael Nadal did express uncertainty about his participation in the Australian Open, acknowledging the challenges of returning to the highest level of play after a year-long absence due to injury. He said that he needs to assess his physical condition daily, being cautious and realistic about the body’s response to tournament-level intensity.
Rafael Nadal will not play Australian Open 2024
In an Instagram post, Nadal revealed that he had a micro-tear in a muscle, not the same as his previous injury. He said that he is not currently ready for the demanding five-set matches and will return to Spain for treatment and rest.
View this post on Instagram
Rafa mentioned, “Right now I am not ready to compete at the maximum level of exigence in 5 sets matches. Therefore I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.” As he mentioned earlier too, Rafa targets to reach his optimum potential within 3 months which makes him take this precautionary measure to avoid injury scare.
Despite the setback, Nadal remains optimistic about his season’s evolution and aims to be at his best level soon. While disappointed about not playing in Melbourne, he thanked his supporters and expressed gratitude for the positive moments in Australia.