Rafael Nadal Skips Brisbane Event to Get Healthy for Australian Open
BRISBANE, Australia — Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Brisbane International on Wednesday to focus on being ready for the Australian Open, which will be his first competitive tournament since a knee injury forced him to retire from the United States Open semifinals in September.
The second-ranked Nadal, who cited a strained muscle in his left thigh for his withdrawal, said he still thought he could add to his 17 major titles by the end of the month.
“My hope is to win the Australian Open,” he said. “And being honest, I feel myself playing well. I feel myself playing at a good level of tennis. And I feel myself with very high motivation to compete and to play.”
“It’s a waste to damage my body for one month if I keep playing here,” said Nadal, who has spent lengthy periods on the sidelines because of injuries during his career. “After all the things that happened to me, probably I am not ready to assume that waste.”
Nadal said he had been able to practice confidently since ankle surgery at the start of November, and felt better now than he did at this time last year, when he had less time to prepare and was coming off a longer injury-enforced break.
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