Rafael Nadal is uncertain if he’ll compete on the upcoming Australian Open after his defeat to Jordan Thompson within the Brisbane Worldwide quarter-finals on Friday, throughout which the Spaniard left the courtroom on a medical timeout.
Nadal was making his comeback in Brisbane after spending virtually a 12 months on the sidelines with a hip harm, sustained throughout his second-round defeat to Mackenzie McDonald in final 12 months’s Australian Open.
The 37-year-old, winner of twenty-two Grand Slams, didn’t compete once more final season after having surgical procedure in June, and was utilizing the Brisbane Worldwide as a warm-up for the Australian Open which begins on January 14.
“I hope I can train next week and play the Australian Open, but I’m not 100 per cent sure,” Nadal stated after his 5-7 7-6(6) 6-3 defeat.
Nadal, nonetheless, didn’t want to make excuses or play down his opponent’s achievement.
“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,” the Spaniard stated.
“I don’t think it’s the time to talk about that [degree of pain during the match]. I have to leave satisfied and congratulate the opponent. We’ll see how I wake up tomorrow and the day after.”
Nadal stated the ache is within the left hip, which triggered him to overlook a lot time away from the courtroom, however it might not be the identical difficulty.
“The pain is in the same place, but I feel like it’s a bit more muscular because of the tiredness,” he stated.
“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 the same place you get more scared.”
Nadal has received the Australian Open twice, in 2009 and 2022, and continues to be hopeful of constructing this 12 months’s match, however doesn’t count on to be difficult for the title.
“I hope it’s just that I have a strong muscle after several days of playing and a tough match like this with Thompson,” Nadal stated.
“I already said that my goal was to be competitive in a couple of months.”
When to observe Saturday’s semi finals in Brisbane stay on Sky Sports activities
After conquering Nadal, Thompson will now face Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov within the semi-finals on Saturday from 10.30am UK time, with the latter having knocked out Andy Murray earlier within the match
The primary semi-final will see prime seed Holger Rune tackle Roman Safiullin, with the match scheduled for 5am.
Within the girls’s semi-finals, Elena Rybakina performs Linda Noskova at 3am, with a conflict between Grand Slam champions at 8.30am when Aryna Sabalenka goes up in opposition to Victoria Azarenka.
All matches are stay on Sky Sports activities Essential Occasion and Sky Sports activities Enviornment.
Watch the conclusion of the Brisbane Worldwide this weekend, and the ATP and WTA Excursions all through 2024, on Sky Sports activities. Stream tennis and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership