In a bid to make a triumphant return to the tennis court, 37-year-old Rafael Nadal faced an unexpected setback in Brisbane after spending almost a year on the sidelines due to a hip injury sustained during last year’s Australian Open. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, had not competed since undergoing surgery in June, and the Brisbane International was intended to serve as a crucial warm-up for the upcoming Australian Open, scheduled to begin on January 14.

The Spanish tennis legend expressed his uncertainty about participating in the Australian Open after a hard-fought match in Brisbane. Following his 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-3 defeat, Nadal mentioned, “I hope I can train next week and play the Australian Open, but I’m not 100 per cent sure.” Despite the setback, he refrained from making excuses and acknowledged his opponent’s commendable performance. “What matters now is that I’ve been able to play three matches in Brisbane. My opponent played very well, and you have to give him credit,” Nadal commented.

Nadal, known for his resilience, did not delve into the specifics of the pain he experienced during the match but revealed that the discomfort was in the same left hip that kept him away from the court for an extended period. Reflecting on the nature of the pain, Nadal stated, “The pain is in the same place, but I feel like it’s a bit more muscular because of the tiredness.” Drawing a comparison with last season’s injury, he explained that the previous issue involved the tendon and felt different than the current situation.

While Nadal remains hopeful about participating in this year’s Australian Open, he conceded that challenging for the title might be a stretch. “I hope it’s just that I have a strong muscle after several days of playing and a tough match like this with Thompson. I already said that my goal was to be competitive in a couple of months,” Nadal expressed.

Nadal’s defeat came at the hands of an impressive opponent, Thompson, who is set to face Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-finals. The first semi-final will see top seed Holger Rune take on Roman Safiullin. In the women’s semi-finals, Elena Rybakina will play against Linda Noskova, while a clash between Grand Slam champions Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka is scheduled for 8.30 am.

As Nadal navigates this unexpected hurdle, tennis enthusiasts worldwide anxiously await updates on his condition and his potential participation in the Australian Open. The uncertainty surrounding his comeback adds an intriguing layer of anticipation to the upcoming tennis season.

Rafael Nadal in 2024

Now ranked no.672, Nadal played his last match on the 5^th of January when he surrendered to world no.55 Jordan Thompson 5-7 7-6(6) 6-3 in the quarter in Brisbane (draw).

Currently, during this year the Spaniard achieved a composed 2-1 win-loss record.