Two words that will alarm Rafael Nadal fans as he waits for crucial injury update
Rafael Nadal’s statement outlining his injury concern following his defeat against Australia’s Jordan Thompson on Thursday will send a shiver of concern through his army of fans around the world.
Nadal is keeping his fingers crossed he will be able to play in the Australian Open after needing medical treatment during a gruelling loss to Jordan Thompson at his comeback tournament.
Nadal looked poised to claim another straight-sets win at the Brisbane International when he brought up a first match point in the 10th game of the second set but missed a backhand overhead.
Two more chances followed in the tie-break, but Nadal could not take either, and Australian Thompson fought back to claim a 5-7 7-6 (6) 6-3 victory after three hours and 25 minutes.
More concerning was the off-court medical time-out Nadal took at 1-4 in the deciding set, although he was able to continue without too much apparent discomfort.
The 37-year-old had surgery on the psoas tendon in his left hip in June after being sidelined since suffering an injury at last January’s Australian Open and he revealed the latest problem is in the same area.
“I hope to have the chance to be practising next week and to play in Melbourne,” Nadal said. “[But] honestly, I am not 100 per cent sure of anything now,” stated a concerned Nadal after his defeat to Thompson.
“The pain is in the same place, but I feel like it’s a bit more muscular because of the tiredness,” Nadal said after his loss.
“Last season it was the tendon and the feeling was completely different because I felt it a lot more. Today I didn’t feel anything, what happens is that being in the same place you get more scared.”
🎙 "Honestly I am not 100% sure"
Rafael Nadal is unsure if he will be fit to compete at the Australian Open after his defeat to Jordan Thompson ⬇pic.twitter.com/R6dEJZZkgJ
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) January 5, 2024
When athletes recovering from an injury feel pain in the same place from a previous concern, their sense of dread moves to a new level and the concern for Nadal is acute.
This iconic champion knows he may be one more injury away from the end of his career and having worked so hard to get himself back on court after a year on the sidelines with a hip problem, Nadal will now face an uncertain few days.
READ MORE: Rafael Nadal sheds light on injury concerns as he assesses his Brisbane comeback
It may be inevitable that he will feel tightness and even soreness in the area that was operated on last summer, but any reoccurrence of the injury may end Nadal’s hopes of a final year on the ATP Tour.
The excitement Nadal has created following what has to be seen as a successful return to action in Brisbane highlighted the huge pulling power this iconic champion will always have.
In addition, his impressive level of performance in his opening two wins suggested he could be a threat to win major titles once again in the coming months if he can stay fit and perform at his best.
Now Nadal has suggested he may be forced to have a scan on the problem that emerged in the match against Thompson and the results of that would be crucial to what comes next.
Tennis fans around the world will hope this is the muscular problem Nadal referenced and not something more serious, with the sight of Nadal playing at the Australian Open for what may be the final time later this month an image we all want to see.
