Tennis legend Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Australian Open 2024 on Sunday, January 7, 2024, due to a muscle tear. Nadal had earlier announced in December 2023 that he would be making his comeback to the professional tour with the Australian Open 2024. Nadal last participated in the Australian Open 2023 and announced a break ahead of the French Open 2023. He participated in Brisbane International as part of his preparation for the Australian Open, but lost in the quarterfinal against Jordon Thompson in a three-setter.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, last won the Australian Open title in 2022 when he beat Danil Medvedev in a five-set thriller. It was the same year when Novak Djokovic was deported from Australia because he did not get the Covid-19 vaccine shots.
Nadal, 37, who has won the Australian Open twice with the first title in 2009, said that the injury this time is a micro tear, which was confirmed by an MRI scan in Melbourne and that is why he is leaving for Spain. He also said that the fresh injury has nothing to do with the previous injury which kept him out of the tennis world for nearly one year.
Rafael Nadal career statistics in Grand Slam Finals till 2019
Nadal, 37, who has won the Australian Open twice with the first title in 2009, said that the injury this time is a micro tear, which was confirmed by an MRI scan in Melbourne and that is why he is leaving for Spain. He also said that the fresh injury has nothing to do with the previous injury which kept him out of the tennis world for nearly one year.
Rafael Nadal career statistics in Grand Slam Finals till 2019
Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
Win | 2005 | French Open | Clay | Mariano Puerta | 6–7(6–8), 6–3, 6–1, 7–5 |
Win | 2006 | French Open (2) | Clay | Roger Federer | 1–6, 6–1, 6–4, 7–6(7–4) |
Loss | 2006 | Wimbledon | Grass | Roger Federer | 0–6, 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–2), 3–6 |
Win | 2007 | French Open (3) | Clay | Roger Federer | 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 2007 | Wimbledon | Grass | Roger Federer | 6–7(7–9), 6–4, 6–7(3–7), 6–2, 2–6 |
Win | 2008 | French Open (4) | Clay | Roger Federer | 6–1, 6–3, 6–0 |
Win | 2008 | Wimbledon | Grass | Roger Federer | 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–7(8–10), 9–7 |
Win | 2009 | Australian Open | Hard | Roger Federer | 7–5, 3–6, 7–6(7–3), 3–6, 6–2 |
Win | 2010 | French Open (5) | Clay | Robin Söderling | 6–4, 6–2, 6–4 |
Win | 2010 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | Tomáš Berdych | 6–3, 7–5, 6–4 |
Win | 2010 | US Open | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 2011 | French Open (6) | Clay | Roger Federer | 7–5, 7–6(7–3), 5–7, 6–1 |
Loss | 2011 | Wimbledon | Grass | Novak Djokovic | 4–6, 1–6, 6–1, 3–6 |
Loss | 2011 | US Open | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 2–6, 4–6, 7–6(7–3), 1–6 |
Loss | 2012 | Australian Open | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 7–5, 4–6, 2–6, 7–6(7–5), 5–7 |
Win | 2012 | French Open (7) | Clay | Novak Djokovic | 6–4, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 |
Win | 2013 | French Open (8) | Clay | David Ferrer | 6–3, 6–2, 6–3 |
Win | 2013 | US Open (2) | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6–2, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
Loss | 2014 | Australian Open | Hard | Stan Wawrinka | 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Win | 2014 | French Open (9) | Clay | Novak Djokovic | 3–6, 7–5, 6–2, 6–4 |
Loss | 2017 | Australian Open | Hard | Roger Federer | 4–6, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Win | 2017 | French Open (10) | Clay | Stan Wawrinka | 6–2, 6–3, 6–1 |
Win | 2017 | US Open (3) | Hard | Kevin Anderson | 6–3, 6–3, 6–4 |
Win | 2018 | French Open (11) | Clay | Dominic Thiem | 6–4, 6–3, 6–2 |
Loss | 2019 | Australian Open | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 3–6, 2–6, 3–6 |
Win | 2019 | French Open (12) | Clay | Dominic Thiem | 6–3, 5–7, 6–1, 6–1 |
Win | 2019 | US Open (4) | Hard | Daniil Medvedev | 7–5, 6–3, 5–7, 4–6, 6–4 |