Nadal To Miss Australian Open
One of the year’s biggest storylines has already hit its first speed bump, as the comeback of Rafael Nadal has been interrupted after the Spaniard suffered an injury at the Brisbane International last week.
Nadal played his first competitive event since last year’s Australian Open in Brisbane and won his first couple of matches to reach the quarterfinals. In that quarterfinal showdown, however, he lost to Jordan Thompson in a hard-fought three-set match, in which he suffered a muscular tear.
“Hi all, 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. I have micro tear on a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury and that’s good news,” Nadal said. “Right now, I am not ready to compete at the maximum level of exigence in 5-set matches. I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.”
Because of the revelation, Nadal announced that he will miss the Australian Open, but wanted to reassure tennis fans that this is not the major setback it seems like.
“I have worked very hard during the year for this comeback and as I always mentioned my goal is to be at my best level in three months,” he said. “This is not very bad news and we all remain positive with the evolution for the season.”
France’s Quentin Halys will take Nadal’s spot in the Australian Open main draw.
