Rafael Nadal - At least eight weeks break
Bitter news for Rafael Nadal the day after his second round failure at the Australian Open: The 36-year-old Spaniard suffered an injury to the iliopsoas muscle (hip flexor) of his left leg.
by SID
last edit: Jan 19, 2023, 10:35 am
The Grand Slam record champion is again out for six to eight weeks. This was announced by Nadal after an MRI scan. The Spaniard has always struggled with injuries.
In Melbourne, Nadal had no chance in his second round match against the American Mackenzie McDonald after suffering the injury in the second set. His wife Maria was clearly affected by the scenes, tears ran down her cheeks in the stands. Nadal lost 4-6, 4-6, 5-7.
"I didn't want to give up as the defending champion," Nadal said after the game: "It's the hip. I couldn't hit the backhand at all and couldn't run anymore." He also expressed the hope that he would not have to take a long break again. The diagnosis is now a major setback for the tennis star.