Rafael Nadal’s much-anticipated return to Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (DDFTC) is in doubt.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner – the most successful male champion in the history of tennis – was announced as the star attraction of the ATP 500 event. However, Nadal tweeted on Thursday that he has been advised to rest for 6-8 weeks after suffering a grade 2 tear in his left pelvis area.
Nadal tweeted (translated from Spanish): “Good afternoon. I have carried out medical tests after the defeat yesterday. The MRI shows a grade 2 lesion in the Iliacus Psoas (a muscle in the pelvis area) of the left leg. Now it’s rest and anti-inflammatory physiotherapy. Normal recovery time 6 to 8 weeks.”
The DDFTC, an ATP 500 event sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, is scheduled from 27 February to 4 March, and even if Nadal is able to make a comeback after six weeks, it would be a week too late for the championship, which he won his 2006 and last played in 2008.
The likely comeback from his latest injury will be Indian Wells in March.
Rafael Nadal loses at Australian Open
The 36-year-old Spaniard was trying to defend his Australian Open title, but it came to a premature end on Wednesday when he lost his second-round match in straight sets to American Mackenzie McDonald.
On Wednesday, Nadal lost 4-6, 4-6, 5-7 and struggled with a left hip injury throughout the match which needed treatment during the second set on Rod Laver Arena.
The loss to McDonald was his earliest exit from a Grand Slam since the 2016 Australian Open, and he said after the round: “I didn’t want to retire (as) the defending champion here. I didn’t want to leave the court with a retirement.
“It’s better like this at the end. I lost, nothing to say, and I congratulate (my) opponent. That’s the sport at the same time – just try your best until the end.”
Currently ranked world No. 2, Nadal won his first ATP Tour final against the then world No. 1 and top seed Roger Federer in 2006, with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 effort.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships men’s tournament is preceded by the 23rd edition of the annual WTA event. The women’s tournament runs between February 19-25. Tickets for the championships go on sale online from 17 January.
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