Rafael Nadal withdrew from the Australian Open this Sunday, January 7 due to a “ micro muscle tear », less than a week after making his return following a year of absence during the Brisbane tournament. “ For the moment, I am not ready to play five-set matches at the maximum level of demand. I’m going back to Spain to see my doctor, get treatment and rest “, he declared on his social networks, two days after his defeat in the quarter-finals in Brisbane. During this match of more than three hours against the Australian Jordan Thompson (55th in the world), the 37-year-old Spanish player felt muscular discomfort in his left thigh at the end of the match. “ Once I arrived in Melbourne, I had the chance to do an MRI and I have a micro muscle tear, but not in the same area where I had already had an injury and that is good news “, he explained. The former world number 1 with 22 Grand Slam titles, falling to 672nd place after his long interruption, had not played singles since his defeat in the second round of the Australian Open on January 18, 2023, handicapped by a hip injury.
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