Nadal withdraws from Brisbane, Djokovic backs the 'legend' to return

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Novak Djokovic said that sport needed "legend" Rafael Nadal to make another comeback after the injury-plagued Spaniard announced Wednesday to withdraw from his season-opening tournament in Brisbane.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion, who was seeded at No. 1 in the Brisbane main draw, will be replaced by Japan's Taro Daniel in round two against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

32-year-old Nadal said that he would not play in Brisbane because of a left thigh strain, but doctors were confident he would be fit to play at the Australian Open which starts on January 14.

"They say that it's a very small thing, but it can become a big thing, because a strain in the muscle is dangerous," he said.

Spain's Rafael Nadal holds a press conference to announce his withdrawal from the tournament in Brisbane, Australia, January 2, 2019. /VCG Photo

"He has done the comebacks for so many times in his career that you always believe that he can do it again," said the Serb after reaching the Qatar Open quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Djokovic went on to day, "sport needs Rafa, no question about it. He is one of the greatest legends of all time and we want to see him play."

Nadal, the current world No.2, has not played a main tour event since a knee problem forced him to retire during his U.S. Open semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro in September last year.

He then had surgery on his ankle in November and only resumed training three weeks ago.

He since lost the world No.1 ranking to Djokovic, whose battles with the Spaniard are one of modern sport's greatest rivalries.

Djokovic and Nadal have met in the finals of all four of the Grand Slams and 52 times in total.

Among their most memorable matches was the 2012 Australian Open final, lasting almost six hours and won by the Serb.

A 2013 French Open semi-final was dubbed the greatest ever match on clay and last year battled again for more than five hours in a Wimbledon semi-final.

Source(s): AFP