Spanish world No.2 Rafael Nadal pulled out of his country’s ATP Cup tie against Australia with a stiff lower back but his teammates did not need him, beating the home side 2-0 at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday evening.
Our champ tweeted hours before his match with Alex de Minaur to say that he had a stiff back:
“Hi all, we have decided with Team Spain and my team, to not play today the first match of the ATP Cup here in Melbourne, since I have a stiff low back. Hopefully I’ll be better for Thursday (against Greece).”
Rafa’s unfortunate update late on Tuesday left his legion of fans understandably devastated and hopeful about his speedy recovery.
Rafa’s spokesman Benito Perez-Barbadillo told Reuters that the 34-year-old preferred “not to force too much”.
Rafa’s replacement Pablo Carreno Busta (the world No.16) trounced Australia’s world No.38 John Millman 6-2, 6-4 first, then world No.13 Roberto Bautista Agut defeated world No.23 Alex de Minaur 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Carreno Busta returned to the court alongside Marcel Granollers to complete a 3-0 victory for Spain.
Team Spain made the semis without Rafa, good job👏
Hope all four team members will be ready for the AO. Good luck to all, especially Rafa🍀❤️
Congratulations to Team Russia and Team Italy 👏👏
RBA will have to be/act like ‘Superman’to take out both Fognini &Beretinni all in one day…LOL
Not even Rafa can accomplish such a feat. .
But, as always, we go day by day, match by match….. Cheers
Apologies All,
PCB is set to face Fabio while RBA is to face Beretinni… That’s more like it, isn’t it?
I hope injuries are not becoming a trend. Serena has pulled out from her semifinal match against Ashleigh Barty due to a shoulder strain/injury.
I hope PCB is OK, all I can find is that he injured himself warming up before the doubles match that Spain retired from. I hope that Rafa doesn’t feel pressured to play. I would rather see Spain withdraw than have either Pablo or Rafa play when they’re not fit.
Please say where you found that Spain retired from doubles? And that PCB is injured. Spain doubles is still listed on ATP schedule and other sites.
They’ve got gronollers/pcb as playing doubles on Saturday [Australia’s Saturday]
Hi Margo, Team Spain retired from the previous doubles match against Team Greece.
I was referring to retiring in the tie against Greece, sorry if I wasn’t clear. Only one game was played in the doubles match before Pablo and Marcel retired. It’s reported on the Spanish website EFE that Pablo had an injury, I found the link on Twitter. I didn’t see the match and I haven’t seen any discussion of it online, just the score and overall result. I hope Pablo was just being cautious.
I hope so too. I think Team Spain will make the right decision, let’s wait and see……
Thank you Mimi and jas_uk because I’ve been looking for more info, on and off, since your comment was posted jas.
You would think by now something would be announced. All I can think about is what players have been saying for months “..it’s dangerous to start playing competitively before your body is prepared.”
I found out about Serena in my search for PCB. So now we have three ailing star players. And my one and only star hasn’t given an update. It’s the uncertainty that’s fueling my anxiety about THE RAFA.
Looks like PCB is okay.🤞He broke serve right away, first game of the match against F. Fognini. 🤗
Vamos PCB 💪
Oh no, PCB had to retire. He won the first 2 games, but F. Fognini won the following 7 games before his retirement. Take care PCB❤️
I am so sorry for the incorrect information. PCB and F. Fognini are still playing. I think I am lack of sleep lol
PCB just won the 2nd set by winning 6 games in a row, 6-1, 3rd set coming up.
Vamos PCB!!!
F. Fognini won the set 6/4 and the match 😬 PCB did his best saving 3 match points, good effort. Maybe he will play doubles later?
Good luck Team 🇪🇸 🍀 Vamos💪
LOL Lorna…
True Confession:
I have to admit that I was going to respond earlier to your comment about “getting a full night’s sleep.” When I saw your VERY early morning comment today [Friday, Feb. 5] I thought “huh… Lorna was indirectly blaming Rafa for keeping her from sleeping but Rafa isn’t playing now. How dare she blame Rafa.” I started laughing because I was going to post [in jest]
DON’T BLAME RAFA FOR KEEPING YOU AWAKE!!
Still laughing.
😂😂😜
What a draw for Rafa!!! With focus and determination, which we know he has, and a back that has loosened up… he could go all the way!!!
VAMOS RAFA!!!
If Rafa is healthy, and I think he is, the draw is very good for him. Vamos!!!
Looks like none of us slept 😂
Margo, you got it in one. 👍🏽 My family is used to me camping out in the living room when Australian tennis is on. I’m in a world of my own – bliss! 😀
Lorna my response is above. My fault this time. I went out and then came back and forgot to click your response link 😬
TEAM SERBIA IS OUT ! COME ON TEAM SPAIN !
Hopefully PCB will be fit enough to play going forward.
Great news Lorna👍👌💪
Team Germany just took out Team Serbia👏👏👏
WOWWEEEEE
MUSIC TO MY EARS.
LET’S GET TO 21 IN 2021
Sounds great👍
Vamos Rafa 💪❤️🍀
He drew Laslo Djere in round 1 then will face either Troicki or Mmoh in round 2.
That’s good to know. Fingers crossed that Rafa will ease his way through the early rounds, fitness permitting.
RAFA IS IN THE DRAW
YAAAAAAAA
Looks like a good draw 🙏 hope Rafa will be ready for the tournament🤞🤞
Vamos Rafa 💪❤️
🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞
Posted on Twitter a short while ago 😀
Rafael Nadal ‘improving every day in’ in fitness bid, says Spain ATP Cup captain Pepe Vendrell
👌🙏
Fingers and toes crossed!!!
Player received great news.
Nearly 500 Australian Open players and staff who stayed at a quarantine hotel where a worker contracted Covid-19 have tested negative for the coronavirus, with 12 awaiting results, tournament director Craig Tiley said on Friday.
👏🤗
hope your back get back to normal soon rafa
I am praying his back will heal and he will be playing. This tournament is very important for the history books. But he alone knows his body. If it is not the right thing to do then he should withdraw.
In that case I sincerly hope that nole will not win this tournament
All we can do is wait and see about Rafa’s back. The draw is in two hours and I’m sure Rafa will not withdraw right now- his star power is too important to the tournament and his back can still improve by Monday.
He did practice for an hour Thursday Melbourne time. It doesnt look good I admit.
I’m not too worried about his game because he looked in good form against Dominic. If Rafa plays his first match will tell the tale. Here’s hoping he doesn’t draw Nick first up.
Thanks for the update, David 🙏
The draw has been delayed by two hours to 4pm local.
Congrats to Team Spain for reaching the semis. Best of luck vs.Italy on Saturday.
Vamos Team Spain 💪🍀
I’m getting very anxious about the back injury – he’s saying that he’s not ready yet, and it’s Thursday now and the tournament’s due to start on Monday. I hope all the warm-up events can be finished, but I think 62 matches were postponed today, so that’s a lot to fit in.
Spain will play Greece on Friday but Rafa is not scheduled to play so I guess his back is still iffy. 🙁
It’s very worrying 🙁 .
The latest statement from him is that the back is feeling a bit better and that he is having daily treatments.
It was a wise decision not to continue in the ATP Cup especially now that the final won’t be until Sunday. Just his presence on the bench has significant value for his cheerleading ability.
Seeing as the AO draw is today I believe that if he doesn’t feel ready to compete next week he will most likely withdraw so as not to mess up the schedule for the other players.
Sincerely hoping that this won’t be the case. Heal up Rafa for us Rafel Maymo.
Apologies Margo. The credit goes to you for the update on Rafa’s back issue from your 3:36 a.m. posting.
No worries Pauline but the draw is tomorrow. You did gives us the time in response to mine @7:01 February 4. Thank you because I couldn’t find it at the time.
The AO draw has been pushed back to Friday afternoon, time to follow.
Tiley said Tennis Australia is working with the WTA and ATP to ensure all lead-in events are completed on Sunday.
Players who were classified as casual contacts aren’t considered to be in serious danger of exposure to the virus, but 50 staff members have been deemed close contacts and have begun two-week quarantine periods.
It will now be at 2pm local which is 10:00 tonight ET, 7pm Pacific and 3 am in London.
Thanks for that update, Pauline.
Thanks Margo. That’s good to hear as far as the players are concerned.
You’re welcome Lorna.
I hope Tiley’s insistence that the AO is on as scheduled indicates that no players tested positive. He said if matches resume on Friday, as expected, all matches should be completed by Sunday. Let’s see if he is the master of shoehorning 🤓
WTA matches are transitioning to a 10-point match tiebreak for deciding sets.
There is also the possibility that some singles players will have to play two matches in the same day.
GOOD LUCK TEAM SPAIN
Hi Margo,
When I stated that the AO draw is today it was because it was already Friday over there and it will be held tonight our time. There is a 16 hour time difference in my zone. Crazy confusion huh?
It is being held behind closed doors so not sure how fast we will get the result. There are some big name unseeded players such as Kyrgios and Anderson who Rafa could face in the first round.
Rafa seemed to indicate in his last statement that he would give it a go and if it didn’t work out then there’s still the rest of the year.
He’s always philosophical and firmly planted in reality.
I just hope they don’t wait forever to publish the draw.
Any excitement I was feeling has dwindled since Rafa’s back pain was announced.