Rafael Nadal's comeback to professional tennis has hit a roadblock as the tennis player has suffered a fresh injury.
The 37-year-old took to X on Sunday to confirm his injury that he sustained during his last match at the Brisbane International last week. The 22-time Grand Slam champion suffered a defeat at the hands of Jordan Thompson in the Brisbane International quarter-finals last Friday, during which the Spaniard left the court on a medical timeout.
Nadal was making his comeback in Brisbane after spending almost a year on the sidelines with a hip injury, sustained during his second round defeat to Mackenzie McDonald in last year's Australian Open.
The Spanish superstar did not compete again last season after having surgery in June, and was using the Brisbane International as a warm-up for the Australian Open which begins on Jan. 14.
"I hope I can train next week and play the Australian Open, but I'm not 100 percent sure," Nadal had said after his 5-7 7-6(6) 6-3 defeat.
However on Sunday Nadal confirmed his injury that has ruled him out of the Australian Open.
" during my last match in Brisbane I had a small problem on a muscle that as you know made me worried. 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 5 sets matches. I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.", Nadal wrote on X.
