Rafael Nadal announced his withdrawal from the 2024 Australian Open due to injury. After suffering a hip strain and surgery, Nadal missed the entire 2023 ATP Tour.
He made his comeback at the 2024 Brisbane International and put in a strong performance in the early rounds, beating Thiem and Kübler before losing to Jordan Thompson in the quarter-finals.
Nadal felt some discomfort in his left thigh during the match, and after examination, it was found that the muscle was slightly torn, and he had to return to Spain to accept **, ending his comeback plan.
While fans are looking forward to seeing him in Australia, Nadal's absence has had little impact on other top players such as defending champion Novak Djokovic. In addition to his own wrist injury, Djokovic will have to deal with other tough opponents.
Nadal's retirement has little impact on his championship prospects. Despite Nadal's impressive performances in Brisbane, his goal is not to win the title, but to fight it out game by game.
Djokovic and Nadal's clash at the Australian Open has been in the spotlight, but Nadal's withdrawal will not significantly change Djokovic's chances of winning the title. They have played each other 59 times on the ATP Tour, two of them at the Australian Open final in Melbourne.