Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Australian Open after an MRI scan revealed that he had sustained a micro tear on a muscle at the Brisbane International, creating fresh concern that the 37-year-old may have played his final professional match in Australia.
The 22-times grand slam winner made his long-awaited comeback in Brisbane after spending almost a year on the sidelines with injury, sustained at the Australian Open in January last year.
Nadal had surgery on the psoas tendon in his left hip in June and previously stated before his singles comeback in Brisbane that there was “a high percentage” that the 2024 tennis season could be his last.
While the latest setback is not related to last year’s hip problem, the Spaniard made the decision on Sunday morning that he is not fit enough to compete at this year’s first major, despite “remaining positive” for this season.
“During my last match in Brisbane I had a small problem on a muscle that as you know made me worried,” Nadal said in statement 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 in five-set matches. 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 three months,” Nadal continued. “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. 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.”
Nadal had impressed in Brisbane while disposing of Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler to reach the quarter-finals. The Spaniard’s promising comeback was ended in a gruelling three-and-a-half-hour quarter-final loss to the Australian Jordan Thompson as Nadal was hampered by a leg problem on Friday night – his third match in four days after almost 12 months without playing.
Liam Broady has also had to pull out of the first major of the year due to injury. The Briton, who was beaten in the second round of the Hong Kong Open by Andrey Rublev earlier this week, said: “Sad to say I have had to withdraw from the AO. I have two bone stresses in my ankle that got worse in Hong Kong until I felt I couldn’t move properly on court in my last match.
“When I arrived in Melbourne I got an MRI, which confirmed what the pain was. If I continue to play there’s a high chance they could become fractures and instead of a month out it could be three. Although tempting to play injured and take full prize money I felt it wasn’t right when other competitors have a better chance fully fit.”
