Rafael Nadal's Australian Open withdrawal through injury 'doesn't have to affect him mentally' says Alex Corretja
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ByEurosport
Published 08/01/2024 at 09:12 GMT
Rafael Nadal announced on social media on Sunday that he would not be competing at this year's Australian Open after picking up a "micro tear" in his hip at the Brisbane International. It is the latest injury setback for Nadal who had been out for almost a year with a hip problem. Eurosport expert Alex Corretja thinks Nadal's latest injury will not deter him from having a successful 2024 season.
‘Really tough news’ - Schett’s reaction to Nadal’s withdrawal from the Australian Open
Alex Corretja believes Rafael Nadal won't be mentally affected by his latest injury setback that has seen the 37-year-old withdraw from this year's Australian Open.
Nadal announced on Sunday that he would not play the season-opening Grand Slam due to a "micro tear" in his hip suffered during his three-set defeat to Jordan Thompson in the Brisbane International quarter-finals.
The Spaniard was playing for the first time in 12 months after a hip injury picked up at last year's Australian Open ruled him out for the rest of the 2023 season.
Corretja believes the 22-time Grand Slam champion will bounce back from his latest injury and says his matches in Brisbane will have given him confidence to put off retirement for a little longer yet.
"It's certainly a setback that could happen," Corretja exclusively told Eurosport.
"After so many months without competing, it is logical that muscularly you may feel some discomfort. The important thing is that it is not in the place where the big injury was made, that would be something to take into account and would perhaps be more worrying.
"I believe at the moment that if Rafa recovers, it doesn't have to affect him mentally.
"He has realised that his level has grown, that he is back to more or less where he wanted to be and now the only thing we have to hope is that he can recover, play a few more days and return to compete in the tournaments that he wants."
Corretja believes Nadal's main goal will be to be fully fit for the clay-court season and the French Open in May.
"I think for clay it's maybe where his problems would have less impact and where he's going to feel the best," he said.
"Let's see what happens, but it's clear that for all the people who had created this expectation it's a shame."
Eurosport expert Barbara Schett also believes the clay season will be Nadal's big target this year, alongside the Paris 2024 Olympics, which takes place at Roland-Garros.
“It's really, really tough news, especially knowing that this is going to be his last year," she said.
“We won't see him back here on the court at the Australian Open, but I do understand that he wants to make sure that his body is fit.
“We know that he puts the emphasis on the clay-court season. He wants to play well there, he wants to be fit and healthy. He wants to compete in the Olympics as well, so he has to rest up."
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