Rafael Nadal sheds light on injury concerns as he assesses his Brisbane comeback

Ewan West
Rafael Nadal Brisbane 2024
Rafael Nadal speaks to the press in Brisbane

Rafael Nadal has revealed the physical issue that arose in his Brisbane defeat to Jordan Thompson was “not the same” as the hip injury he suffered last year despite being in “a very similar place.”

The 37-year-old expressed hope that the muscle was just “supercharged”, while also assessing that his return to action in Brisbane had been “very positive.”

Nadal fell to a 7-5, 6-7(6), 3-6 loss to world No 55 Thompson at the ATP 250 tournament on Friday in a quarter-final marathon which lasted three hours and 24 minutes.

In his first two singles matches in his comeback tournament, Nadal downed Dominic Thiem 7-5, 6-1 and Jason Kubler 6-1, 6-2 with impressive performances.

The Mallorcan great looked set to claim another win against Thompson to book his place in the semi-finals, but was unable to convert the three match point opportunities he created in the second set.

Nadal left the court to receive treatment when trailing 1-4 in the deciding set, having appeared to feel his hip area between points.

READ MORE: Rafael Nadal suffers injury scare as he loses Brisbane thriller after having match points

Prior to Brisbane, Nadal had not competed since losing to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open due to a hip injury. The former world No 1 underwent arthroscopic surgery to treat the psoas muscle in his hip in June last year.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Nadal explained he felt the pain in his right hip, but stressed it was different to the “drastic” sensation he felt last year.

“Yeah, is a very similar place to what happened last year, but different stuff, no? I feel more muscle. Last year was tendon. I feel the muscle tired. I mean, for sure is not the same like last year at all because when it happened last year, I felt something drastic immediately,” the Spaniard said.

“Today I didn’t feel anything. The only problem is because the place is the same, you are a little bit more scared than usual. In ideal world, I mean, is just the muscle supercharged after a few days of effort and a very tough match. That’s will be the ideal thing, something that we know that can happen today.

“That is why I’m talking all the time that my goal is to try to be competitive in a few months. I mean, from this perspective, you don’t know all the information that I have. From that perspective, the only thing that probably you see is I have been playing very well the last two matches. It’s true, I have been playing well.

“A lot of things can be happening in a body like my body after a year without playing tennis. So hopefully is just that, just a muscle that is supercharged. Is a normal process on that. If that’s the thing, thing everything perfect.

“As I said, I didn’t came here to win tournaments now, no? I just came here to try to come back and do it in a positive way. It was a very positive way. Then let’s see.

“I really hope if the feeling on that leg is better and better tomorrow and after tomorrow, then it’s perfect news. If not, as I said, we’re going to do test and let’s see.”

The 22-time Grand Slam champion also expressed his hope he would be fit to play the Australian Open, but admitted he is not yet sure whether he will be able to compete.

“Is a beginning. I didn’t play a tournament for such a long time. Even without playing a tournament, is not that I am practising at the highest level for four months, no? As I said, the last month have been quite good in terms of intensity, but is not a long period of time,” Nadal commented.

“I don’t know. I mean, I hope is not important and I hope to have the chance to be practicing next week and to play Melbourne. Honestly, I am not 100% sure of anything now.”

READ MORE: Goran Ivanisevic provides update on Novak Djokovic injury ahead of Australian Open

 

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