Rafael Nadal’s worst fears have been confirmed after he announced he has been forced to withdraw from the Australian Open due to a muscle tear.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion admitted he was unsure of his fate after feeling discomfort in his leg during a defeat against Jordan Thompson in his comeback event in Brisbane.
Nadal hinted he may need to have a scan on his leg to assess the damage and the results are now in, with the Spaniard suffering a shattering blow as he confirmed his withdrawal from the Australian Open on his social media platforms.
“During my last match in Brisbane I had a small problem on a muscle that as you know made me worried,” said Nadal 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 five sets matches. I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.
“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.
After working so hard to give himself a chance to play in Australia, he will fly back home to Spain with real doubts over what comes next. Prior to his impressive appearance in Brisbane, Nadal had not played a competitive match since last year’s Australian Open due to a hip problem.
He had surgery last year and was forced to miss the rest of the 2023 season, with the tennis icon suggesting this would be his final year on the tour before retirement.
Now there have to be real concerns that Nadal’s body will not hold up to the rigours of top-level tennis after so many years of draining matches. As his great friend and rival Roger Federer discovered, every career has a point of no return and accepting the time has come to retire is an inevitability that faces all athletes.
The fact that this injury is only a micro tear in this muscle will encourage Nadal to believe that he could be ready to play again at the Indian Wells and Miami Masters in March.
Yet he may now be tempted to focus all his attention on what may be his final hurrah on the ATP Tour on getting ready for a final assault on his beloved clay courts in the European spring.
Nadal could look to prepare himself to play at the Monte Carlo Masters in April and then move onto a final push to win a 15th French Open title at Roland Garros.
It would be fitting for Nadal to bow out at a tournament that has meant so much to his career, but the cloud of uncertainty that has hovered over him is now back with real menace.
We are all expecting this to be the final year of Nadal’s incredible career, but tennis fans around the world will be hoping this desperately disappointing end to his last appearances in Australia is not the final full stop on his tennis story.
