Rafael Nadal’s return is off to a shaky begin. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to an damage, however fortuitously it won’t be too huge of a set again.
Nadal was out nearly all the 2023 season after he suffered a hip damage throughout the second spherical of final 12 months’s Australian Open. The Spanish star underwent surgical procedure in June and stated he intends to retire on the finish of the 2024. His purpose was “to try to take pleasure in and say goodbye to all of the tournaments which were essential to me” this 12 months.
He was already in Australia and made it to the Brisbane International quarterfinals earlier this week. That was his first singles competitors since January 2023. Nevertheless, Nadal said that during Brisbane he had “a small downside on a muscle” on his hip that frightened him. Nadal stated he received an MRI in Melbourne and was discovered to have a “micro tear” on a muscle, however fortuitously it was not in the identical half the place he had the surgical procedure.
Nadal is flying again to Spain to see his physician, get therapy and relaxation. The Australian Open is about to start out Jan. 14. The following Grand Slam would be the French Open in Could, which ought to give Nadal loads of time to heal. Whereas he was solely gained two titles at Melbourne, he has gained a document 14 championships at Roland-Garros.
“I’ve labored very arduous throughout the 12 months for this comeback and as I all the time talked about my purpose is to be at my greatest stage in 3 months,” Nadal wrote on X. “Inside the unhappy information for me for not having the ability to play in entrance of the superb Melbourne crowds, this isn’t very dangerous information and all of us stay optimistic with the evolution for the season. I actually needed to play right here in Australia and I’ve had the prospect to play just a few matches that made me very completely satisfied and optimistic.”
