Hopeful of Australian Open participation but not 100 percent sure after injury scare in Brisbane: Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal, 22-time Grand Slam champion, is unsure about his participation in the upcoming Australian Open following an injury scare at the Brisbane International. Despite a promising start to the tournament with victories over Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler, Nadal's progress was halted by Jordan Thompson in a match that lasted over three hours. During this intense battle, Nadal required medical attention for his left thigh, raising concerns about a potential repeat of the injury that sidelined him for nearly a year.

Nadal, currently ranked No. 672, has expressed cautious optimism about his ability to compete in Melbourne. However, he acknowledges the unpredictability of his body's response after such a prolonged absence from competitive play. The Spaniard, who turns 38 in June, is candid about not being "over-positive" and emphasizes the need for precaution given his recent return to high-intensity tennis.

"I need to see how I wake up tomorrow morning. I mean, we have been talking these last days, talking about the positive things. That's why I am not over-positive when I have been talking. I have been talking with a lot of precaution because I know after a year it is difficult for the body to be playing tournaments at the highest level. When the things are becoming more difficult, you don't know how your body going to react. I need to be open. Nothing changed for me," Nadal said.

"The way I approach everything didn't change at all. I need to accept everything how it comes. If things happen, if I have one problem there, one problem to the other part of the body, I need to accept it. It's a beginning. I didn't play a tournament for such a long time. Even without playing a tournament, it's not that I am practicing at the highest level for four months, no? As I



said, the last month have been quite good in terms of intensity, but it is not a long period. I don't know. I mean, I hope it's not important & I hope to have the chance to be practicing next week & to play Melbourne. Honestly, I am not 100% sure of anything now," Nadal told the press in Brisbane.

Nadal hopes that the issue is simply a result of muscle fatigue from recent exertion and not something more serious. His focus remains on assessing the situation in the coming days, determining whether he can practice next week, and ultimately deciding on his participation in the Australian Open.

"The amount of pain on the match is not important at all. Today the thing is I had the chance to play three matches. The opponent played well. All the credit to him, that he fought very hard. For my side, happy the way that the week went. If the injury is not significant, it's a very positive week. If something is worse than what we want, then it's not that positive. But let's wait. I mean, it's not the day to talk about these kinds of stuff. It's the day to be happy & to congratulate the opponent. Then the next couple of days, let's see how I feel. If I don't feel well, then we're going to do a test and we going to check it. But today is the moment to be calm & to wait how I wake up tomorrow & after tomorrow, then let's see," Nadal added.

Despite the setback, Nadal remains hopeful for a positive outcome, stating that if the injury is not significant, his performance in Brisbane can be seen as a successful step in his comeback journey. As he awaits further evaluation, Nadal's status for the first Grand Slam of the year hangs in the balance, with fans and the tennis community eager to see if the legendary competitor will grace the courts in Australia.