After almost a year of absence due to injury, Rafael Nadal, aged 37, withdrew from the Australian Open, he declared suffering from a micro muscle tear.
His return was eagerly awaited on the courts, Rafael Nadal, who made his return on Tuesday January 2 in the first round in Brisbane, withdrew this Sunday from the first Grand Slam of the year, after the appearance of a new injury . It was he himself who announced this news on his social networks.
It was during his quarter-final in Brisbane against the Australian Jordan Thompson (55th player in the world), that the Spaniard felt a sharp pain in his left thigh at the end of the match. Examinations revealed a micro muscle tear.
However, everything started well for the Mallorcan, easily beating the Austrian Dominic Thiem (7-5, 6-1). He then eliminated Australian Jason Kubler, 102nd in the world, on Thursday (6-1, 6-2), before stopping in the quarter-final.
After his long interruption, including two operations and months of rehabilitation, the 37-year-old former world No. 1, who holds a record of 22 Grand Slam titles, fell to 672 place.
Rafael Nadal had not played singles since his defeat in the second round of the Australian Open on January 18, 2023, hampered by a hip injury.
