Injury cloud hangs over Rafael Nadal ahead of Australian Open | Tennis News – Times of India

MELBOURNE: World quantity 2 Rafa Nadal continues to be combating the again damage that dominated him out of this week’s ATP Cup however is hoping for some enchancment earlier than his first-spherical match on the Australian Open on Tuesday.
The 20-occasions Grand Slam champion pulled out of Spain’s ATP Cup tie in opposition to Australia on Tuesday with a decrease again downside and mentioned later within the week he was nonetheless removed from the extent required to play on the 12 months’s first Grand Slam.
Asked about his health, 34-12 months-outdated informed reporters on Sunday: “Not great, obviously, because if not I would have been playing at the ATP Cup,” including that he had been “suffering” for 15 days.
“I’m doing everything what’s possible to be ready for it. That’s the only thing that I can say. Today, I am still hoping to keep improving and hope to be ready for it.”
Nadal, who has suffered recurrently from again accidents all through his profession, mentioned he was not considering pulling out of the 12 months’s first Grand Slam.
“I don’t think about not playing,” he added. “The thing is about in which condition I going to start the tournament, no?
“Is not severe, however the muscle continues to be tight, so is troublesome to play with freedom of actions at the moment. Let’s hope scenario hold bettering.
“We are doing everything. My physio is here, the doctors here, everybody is helping me in all possible ways.”
Nadal mentioned he sustained the damage throughout quarantine however was undecided whether or not the enforced 14 days of isolation in an Adelaide lodge had contributed to his downside.
“I don’t know,” he mentioned. “I don’t want to think about that. That’s what happened. Normally I’m not a big fan of finding excuses or reasons about why this other thing is happening.”
With Roger Federer deciding to skip the Australian Open this 12 months as he recovers from knee surgical procedures, the door is open for Nadal to maneuver out of a tie along with his nice rival on 20 profession Grand Slam titles.
Nadal has received the Australian Open simply as soon as, in 2009, however performed the longest Grand Slam remaining ever in opposition to Novak Djokovic in 2012 at Melbourne Park and misplaced the 2014 title-decider to Stan Wawrinka after injuring his again within the heat-up.
The Spaniard is scheduled to get his marketing campaign underway on Tuesday with a primary-spherical match in opposition to Serbian Laslo Djere.
“I hope to be ready, that’s all,” he mentioned. “I know sometimes things change quickly. I going to keep staying positive and keep doing everything I can.”