But he just returned... Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Australian Open 2024

The renowned Spanish tennis maestro and 22-time victor of Grand Slam tournaments, Rafael Nadal, has withdrawn from the Australian Open 2024.

He conveyed this information through his Instagram account, where he shared a post addressing his devoted fanbase.

"Greetings, everyone. During my last match in Brisbane, I experienced a slight issue with a muscle that, as you know, caused me concern. Once I arrived in Melbourne, I had the opportunity to undergo an MRI, which revealed a microtear in the muscle. The good news is that it's not in the same part where I had an injury before.

At the moment, I am not ready to compete at the maximum level in best-of-five-set matches. Therefore, I am flying back to Spain to see my doctor, undergo treatment, and take some rest.

Throughout the year, I've worked very hard on this comeback, and, as I've always said, my goal is to be at my best level within three months. I am positive about the upcoming tournaments in this season.

I was really looking forward to playing here in Australia, and I had the opportunity to play a few matches that made me very happy and positive. Thank you all for your support, and see you soon! Rafa".

Rafael participated in the Brisbane tournament, where he encountered defeat in the quarterfinals against Thompson. Prior to the competitions in Australia in 2024, Rafael had not graced the court since January 2023 following the Australian Open.