Nadal's participation in the Australian Open is uncertain.

Following a physical setback in his quarterfinal loss to Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International, Rafael Nadal's participation in the first Grand Slam of the year is uncertain.

"I need to see how my body reacts," Nadal said after his 7-5, 6-7(6), 3-6 comeback loss on January 5. "That's why I haven't been too positive lately. I'm cautious because I know that after a year, it's difficult for the body to compete at the highest level. When things are tough, you don't know how the body will react."

Nadal waits for medical attention after his loss to Thompson at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia, on January 5th. Photo: AFP — Nadal waits for medical attention after his loss to Thompson at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia, on January 5th. Photo: *AFP*

In the match against Thompson, Nadal won the first set and had three match points in the second. After missing three opportunities to win the match, Nadal lost 6-8 in the tie-break. In the third set, after losing his serve, Nadal suffered a left leg injury and called for medical attention at 1-4, causing concern among his fans. He was then unable to turn the tide, accepting a 3-6 defeat.

"I have to accept whatever happens," Nadal added. "I hope to have the opportunity to train and compete in Melbourne next week. But I'm not 100% sure about anything."

Last year, Nadal suffered a hip injury in the second round of the Australian Open, leading to a 0-3 loss to Mackenzie McDonald and requiring surgery in the middle of the year. The Spanish player believes his current situation is still positive, compared to 2023.

"This start is very similar to last year, but there are also some positive differences," Nadal said about his physical condition. "I feel more muscular. Last year I felt tired. Last year my body reacted strongly, but this year I haven't felt anything yet. The problem is probably mental. I'm a little more worried because this is Australia – where I was injured last year."

Nadal also hoped that his physical decline in the third set against Thompson was due to not having played such a strenuous match in a long time, rather than an injury. He also didn't regret missing three match points, believing his opponent deserved to win. "I'm sad that I missed so many opportunities, but Thompson played very well," Nadal commented. "He always forced me to play an extra point in each long tie."

Nadal has had over a week of rest before entering the Australian Open – a Grand Slam that begins on January 14th. With a ranking outside the top 600, the 37-year-old is likely to face tough opponents in the early rounds.

Vy Anh

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