January 07, (THEWILL) – Rafa Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, has withdrawn from this month’s Australian Open after sustaining a small muscle tear during his comeback from injury last week. The 37-year-old Spaniard made his long-awaited return from a year-long hip flexor injury at the Brisbane International but suffered an upper left leg issue during his quarter-final defeat.
An MRI scan in Melbourne revealed a micro tear in a different muscle to his previous injury. While positive it is not the same area, Nadal feels he is currently unable to compete at the maximal level required for best-of-five-set matches. He will now fly home to Spain for treatment and rest with his doctor.
Nadal, a two-time Australian Open champion in 2009 and 2022, expressed his sadness at missing the first Grand Slam of 2024. He was hoping to build momentum after finally returning to competition in Brisbane. However, he remains positive about his evolution this season, with his sights set on a 15th French Open title.
The Spanish superstar recently stated in an interview that he was thinking about Roland Garros, where he has dominated on the red clay. Nadal has won a record 14 titles in Paris, part of 112 total match wins, the most of any player at a single Grand Slam.
While a blow to fans and the tournament, Nadal’s withdrawal is a prudent move at this stage of his career. Having only just returned from a major injury, it is wise to address new fitness concerns methodically. Pushing too hard now could jeopardise his recovery and chances of further success across the season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
