Rafael Nadal of Spain waves goodbye to spectators after the men's singles quarterfinals loss to Jordan Thompson of Australia at the Brisbane International in Brisbane, Australia, January 5, 2024. /CFP
Spanish tennis superstar Rafael Nadal will not participate in the coming Australian Open because of a hip injury, the 22-time Grand Slam winner announced on social media platform X on Sunday.
"Hi all, during my last match in Brisbane I had a small problem on a muscle that as you know made me worried," Nadal posted 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. I'm flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest."
Having spent nearly 12 months trying to recover from a different hip injury, Nadal played at the Brisbane International and lost to Jordan Thompson of Australia in the quarterfinals last week. In the third set of that match, the 37-year-old veteran needed a medical timeout for concerns over his surgically repaired hip.
Rafael Nadal of Spain competes in the men's singles quarterfinals match against Jordan Thompson of Australia at the Brisbane International in Brisbane, Australia, January 5, 2024. /CFP
"A lot of things can be happening in a body like my body after a year without playing tennis," Nadal said after the loss. "So hopefully it is just that, just a muscle that is supercharged. If that's the thing, perfect."
The organizers of the Australian Open expressed their regrets for the absence of Nadal on X on Sunday. "We will miss you in Melbourne, Rafa. Sending all our love and best wishes for a speedy recovery. See you on the court soon," they said in the statement.
This year's Australian Open will begin on January 14 and end on 28. Novak Djokovic of Serbia is the reigning men's singles champion and listed as the No. 1 seed of the tournament this time, followed by Carlos Alcaraz of Spain.