Rafael Nadal is taking precautions as he suffered a setback in his tennis comeback during his 5-7 7-6(6) 6-3 defeat to Jordan Thompson in Brisbane.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion suffered a brutal defeat to the Australian in three hours and 24 minutes.
Not only did Nadal lose his quarter-final in Brisbane but he suffered a setback to his recovery from a hip injury as he had to have a medical time-out during the contest.
Despite the struggles, Nadal continued to fight through the pain as he battled through the three hour contest before Thompson triumphed.
Speaking after his defeat Nadal told reporters that his hip muscle is fatigued and he will take every precaution possible ahead of his return to the Australian Open, “I feel the muscle tired,” Nadal was quoted by The Guardian as saying.
“I mean, for sure it’s not the same like last year at all because when it happened I felt something drastic immediately. Today I didn’t feel anything. The only problem is because the place is the same, you are a little bit more scared than usual.
“I need to see how I wake up tomorrow morning. We have been talking these last days, talking about the positive things. That’s why I am not over-positive when I have been talking.
“I have been talking with a lot of precaution because I know after a year is difficult for the body to be playing tournaments at the highest level. When the things are becoming more difficult, you don’t know how your body is going to react.
“I hope it is not important and I hope to have the chance to be practising next week and to play Melbourne. Honestly, I am not 10 sure of anything now.”
The tennis world will be hoping Nadal will be fit for the Australian Open as he looks for a 23rd Grand Slam title in what could be his last ever appearance at Melbourne.
As for Thompson he prepares for a semi-final contest with Grigor Dimitrov on Saturday.
