This year’s Australian Open will get underway in less than a week, with the qualifiers already in progress ahead of the tournament in Melbourne. Novak Djokovic is the early favourite to claim the first Grand Slam title of 2024 but the Serb will need to be at his very best to overcome the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Alex de Minaur.
One player who will not be competing at the Australian Open is Rafael Nadal, who has withdrawn from the tournament after suffering a new injury at the Brisbane International. The Spaniard made his long-awaited return from a hip problem earlier this month but now finds himself back on the treatment table due to a small muscle tear.
John McEnroe believes that Nadal could retire from tennis before Wimbledon if his body continues to play up, saying: “I think Rafa was hoping: ‘Hopefully I’ll be ready for the French, see if my body holds up there’. If it doesn’t, I think you’ll see him not play anymore. We’re all obviously hopeful he can because Rafa has been amazing for the game. We’d like to see him as long as we can.”
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