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‘Unprepared’ Nadal pulls out of Brisbane
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World No. 1 Rafael Nadal’s preparations for next month’s Australian Open have suffered a blow after he was a late withdrawal from the Brisbane International tournament yesterday.
The 31-year-old Spaniard has not played since he withdrew from the season-ending World Tour Finals in London in November with a knee injury. He had already withdrawn from an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi that starts later yesterday.
“I am sorry to announce I won’t be coming to Brisbane this year,” Nadal said on his Twitter account.
“My intention was to play but I am still not ready after last year’s long season and the late start of my preparation.”
The Brisbane event starts on Sunday.
Nadal returned from injury last year to reach the final of the Australian Open and win the French and US Opens.
He played in Brisbane last year as part of his preparations for Melbourne Park and made the quarterfinals before losing to Canada’s Milos Raonic.
“I had a great time there (in 2017),” Nadal added. “I will be seeing my Aussie fans when I land on the 4th in Melbourne and start there my preparation for the Australian Open.”
The Australian Open runs from January 15-28.
Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic is relishing his return to competition after serious injuries cut his last campaign short, but the overriding aim in the New Year is to stay fit and healthy.
Djokovic suffered a year-long dip in form before an elbow injury forced him to retire in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. The Serb has not played competitively since and underwent surgery.
“It’s been a real roller-coaster ride for me for a year and a half with this issue,” world No. 12 Djokovic told Sport360 ahead of his return at the World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.
“I’ve never had surgery in my life, I’ve never had any major injuries that kept me away from the tour for such a long time... I’ve learned a lesson because I really want to avoid getting to that stage of an injury ever in my career after this.”
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