Spanish celebrity Rafael Nadal on Sunday pulled out of the Australian Open with a “micro tear on a muscle”, barely every week after making his comeback from a year-long damage 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, throughout my final match in Brisbane I had a small downside on a muscle that as made me anxious. Once I received to Melbourne I’ve had the prospect to make an MRI and I’ve micro tear on a muscle, not in the identical half the place I had the damage and that is excellent news.
Right… pic.twitter.com/WpApfzjf3C

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 7, 2024

Earlier, Nadal’s comeback to tennis got here to an finish when he misplaced a 3hr 25min marathon quarter-final to Australian Jordan Thompson on the Brisbane International on Friday.

Thompson saved three match factors within the second set earlier than overcoming an more and more fatigued Nadal 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 in a gruelling encounter that completed simply earlier than midnight on Pat Rafter Arena.

Thompson booked a semi-final in opposition to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov with the win, whereas on the similar time throwing a spanner within the works of Nadal’s Australian Open preparations.

Playing his first match after nearly 12 months away from the game by way of damage, Nadal appeared headed for a straight units win.

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

Nadal, who was damaged early within the third set, took a medical day trip at 1-4 down after showing to want therapy to his higher left thigh.

He was in a position to proceed however was unable to interrupt again and Thompson held on to the delight of the capability crowd.

With AFP inputs