Tennis legend Rafael Nadal ruled out of the Australian Open

Spanish icon Rafael Nadal may never play in Australia again after withdrawing from this year’s Australian Open with a new injury.

Nadal, who had not played since last year’s Australian Open – because of a hip injury – before returning in Brisbane this week, announced on Sunday night he was out of the Melbourne grand slam.

Rafael Nadal is out of the Australian Open.Credit: Getty Images

The 22-time grand slam champion and former world No.1 revealed in May last year that the 2024 season would “probably” be his last but has backtracked slightly on that across the past week.

“During my last match in Brisbane I had a small problem on a [leg] muscle that, as you know, made me worried,” Nadal posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Once I got to Melbourne I have had the chance to make an MRI and I have [a] 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 [sic] in 5 sets matches. I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.

“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 3 months.

“Within the sad news for me for not being able to play in front of the amazing Melbourne crowds, this is not very bad news and we all remain positive with the evolution for the season. I really wanted to play here in Australia and I have had the chance to play a few matches that made me very happy and positive. Thanks for all the support and see you soon!”

Australia’s Jordan Thompson upset Nadal in three sets in the Brisbane International quarter-finals after the Spaniard beat Dominic Thiem and another Australian, Jason Kubler, in his first two matches.

Nadal won the Australian Open title in 2009 and 2022 and was runner-up on another four occasions, including classic five-set finals against Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in 2017 and 2012, respectively.

He is best known for his extraordinary and unmatched clay-court prowess – highlighted by a record-obliterating 14 French Open championships – but has won all four majors at least twice each.

Nadal is a key part of the sport’s golden generation, most notably alongside great rivals Federer and Djokovic, with Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka other greats from this era.

However, at age 37, injuries have become a bigger problem for Nadal, which is why he predicted eight months ago that he would likely be on an extended tennis farewell tour throughout this year, including the Paris Olympic Games being played on clay.

Nadal won the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

There is uncertainty about whether he has played his final Australian Open, after he hobbled off court from a shock straight-sets defeat to American Mackenzie McDonald in the second round last year.

Nadal stopped short of declaring this would be his final season since arriving in Australia, admitting only that he contemplated retirement during his long lay-off.

“I went through a lot of things [that were] pretty bad,” he said.

“I did not miss the competition because all this time my body was not ready to compete. What I missed was to be healthy; to wake up and not have pain.

“At some point I decided to keep going. Then I just began working day by day without thinking much and doing the things I have to do. It’s impossible to think about winning tournaments today. What’s really possible is to enjoy the comeback. I don’t expect much – one year without being on the court.”

Nadal said in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais in December that he would decide on his future before this year’s French Open.

“When I arrive in Paris, I will know if it is my last year. And there will be a prior announcement,” Nadal said. “There will have passed five months on the circuit, and I’ll know my reality.”

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