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.
Rafa will not be playing for Team Spain against Team Greece. A single match success would be enough for Team Spain to win the group and the associated entry into the semi-finals.
“I’m not doing well enough to play tomorrow,” Nadal told Movistar a few hours before the entire Thursday was canceled. He is “…feeling better but not good enough to undertake a full-intensity match yet.” He continues to have daily treatments.
Friday’s weather is not looking good . Rain is expected and will cause problems for the preparatory tournaments.
I don’t envy Tiley.
With Thursday’s tennis at Melbourne Park being cancelled, the only consolation for me is that I’ll get a full night’s sleep.
So many tournaments and matches to reschedule and shoe horn in – a logistical nightmare for the organisers. I’m hoping that it really is a “minor setback” and, going forward, the AO won’t be affected
Imagine you make it to AO2021 finals. Then find out you are positive before the Championship match and forced to withdraw. You then will stay in your hotel for 14 days before flying home. And force to record the runner up speech from your hotel room.
That would be so tragic, it doesn’t bear thinking about ! 😫
“Any players, coaches or officials who quarantined at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Melbourne were deemed to be casual contacts of the 26-year-old infected man and required to isolate in their hotels until they’ve returned a negative test.
The hotel advertises it has 550 rooms, including 25 premium suites, so potentially hundreds of people associated with the tournament could be forced back into isolation.”
[Source: AP]
I hope for all involved that no one contracted the virus. What nags me is how after one negative test result a person can be considered virus free. The incubation period can be up to ten days. Just praying everyone is virus free. This is awful.
All tomorrow’s matches have been cancelled. With 6 events on, I can’t see that they’ll be able to play them all on Friday, as well as Friday’s scheduled matches, so it’s all a bit of a mess … and I’m worried about Rafa’s ongoing back problems 🙁 .
The following is dated February 3, 2021 @ 9:33AM EST
(Reuters) – Up to 600 players and support staff connected to the Australian Open will have to isolate until they have been tested for COVID-19 after a hotel quarantine worker in Melbourne returned a positive result for the virus on Wednesday.
Play at the six warm-up events for the Grand Slam at Melbourne Park is likely to be heavily disrupted on Thursday but Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said it should not impact the Australian Open itself, which starts on Monday.
“There is a number of about 500, 600 people who are players and officials and others who are casual contacts,” Andrews said at a news conference late on Wednesday.
“They will be isolating until they get a negative test and that work will be done tomorrow.”
“At this stage there is no impact on the tournament proper,” Andrews added. “I must say (the Australian Open) is important to us but the issues are much broader and that is about public health and public safety.
“This is one case. There’s no need for people to panic. There’s no need for people to be alarmed.”
I am really bummed out.
Genny SS
@genny_ss
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In a tease of his interview for VAMOS, Rafa’s said that he’s not in a terrible shape but he’s not perfect yet. Hence he won’t risk and tomorrow he will NOT play against Greece. We’ll have the full interview this evening.
Not playing in the tie with Greece is the right decision for Rafa if there is any concern. A sore back is no fun. When is the AO draw? Saturday? Thanks.
David,
Unless there is a change because of the additional testing of 500-600 players, the draw is scheduled for Thursday 4 February, 6pm local time – 7am in the UK.
I am still waiting for Tiley to make a statement. Supposedly the AO will go on as scheduled.
Did you see that the draw was rescheduled for Saturday or were you just thinking out loud?
Thanks
Some people think this interview was done before Spain’s tie with Australia. I’s not clear, but obviously not good news either way.
I have no idea what’s going on but many different reports on Twitter say all matches scheduled for tomorrow have been canceled.
In addition, it is reported that Rafa is still having back pain.
Team Spain is so deep, and Rafa makes a great cheerleader. I hope Rafa is better, but he should not push it. While I would love to see Rafa play Tsitsipas on Thursday, the AO is more important. Rafa does seem to have continual bad luck down under.
Get well soon Rafa❤️
Hi Get well Soon Rafa & All the Best for Ur new season start
You did it well Rafa!!👍🏻, it is better to be cautious and to prevent a serious injury, you have had enough. Better to start the AO in good shape and perfect conditions! 👏🏻👏🏻.
Congratulations for the Team Spain!! 😃, your team, our team, my team. And great pics!!, thanks a lot 🙏🏻😌.
We’ve always been with you, we are with you, and always will be!!. For the good, for the bad, whatever happens. But, take the AO with you and bring it to our country😜😆. Because you can, because you deserve it. We believe in you, you are an example for all of us, to the Sports.
Keep going, never give up, VAMOS RAFA!! 💪🏻💪🏻💥⚡🔥
Forget the Atp cup 2021. A 2nd AO is worth more for Spain.
Time for the physio to earn his money and get Rafa into shape for next week. Take it easy for the big one, champ.
Hopefully it’s nothing serious, but it’s certainly worrying.
Great selection of photographs. Thank you. Great performance from Team 🇪🇸. I pray that Rafa is not injured. I hope that he does not take any risks but rests and recovers.
Well done Team Spain 🇪🇸
Thanks 🙂
Hope your alright rafa take care of yourself
Thank you for the pics🙏
Get well soon, Rafa ❤️
You’re welcome! 🙂
Mimi, how are you doing? If Rafa doesn’t play the AO he will probably come back even stronger. Hopefully it’s not serious.
Hi Margo,
I am okay. Thanks for asking.😘 I am waiting patiently for any updated news about Rafa. I believe Rafa and his team will make the smart decision! I think you are right, how many times have we seen him come back even stronger after an injury……but of course hopefully it’s not too serious this time🤞
The best to Rafa always❤️
Rafa is in the draw….yaaaa
👍
Thank you, Margo🙏
Imagine making it to AO 2021 and a back injury giving your opponent the Championship. I think we need not imagine. It happened before.
Hope back issue resolves before AO 🍀💪👏👍All the best❤️