Rafael Nadal Pulls Out Of Australian Open 2024 Due to Muscle Tear

Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal on Sunday pulled out of the Australian Open with a "micro tear on a muscle", barely a week after making his comeback from a year-long injury absence.

"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 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 posted on X.

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 and I have micro tear on a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury and that's good news.
Right… pic.twitter.com/WpApfzjf3C

Earlier, Nadal's comeback to tennis came to an end when he lost a 3hr 25min marathon quarter-final to Australian Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International on Friday.

Thompson saved three match points in the second set before overcoming an increasingly fatigued Nadal 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 in a gruelling encounter that finished just before midnight on Pat Rafter Arena.

Thompson booked a semi-final against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov with the win, while at the same time throwing a spanner in the works of Nadal's Australian Open preparations.

Playing his first tournament after almost 12 months away from the sport through injury, Nadal appeared headed for a straight sets win.

But an inspired Thompson refused to go away and took advantage of some unforced errors from the Spaniard to clinch the second set.

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