Looking for Tennis and Racket Sports International News?

Like the preparations for this COVID-influenced Australian Open, Rafael Nadal’s back injury is not ideal, but his overall position is one of gratitude: to Tennis Australia, to the nation of Australia for excellent pandemic management, and for the mere fact that he can ply his trade as a tennis player amid global carnage that has impacted on him personally.

Lumbered with what he describes as a “spasm” in his back’s lumbar region, Nadal thinks he will play in this compromised Australian Open.

“I think I’m going to play, of course ... of course. I’m not thinking about not playing,” said Nadal, whose first match is Tuesday against Serbia’s Laslo Djere.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - World number two Rafa Nadal is still struggling with the back injury that ruled him out of this week’s ATP Cup but is hoping for some improvement before his first-round match at the Australian Open on Tuesday.

The 20-times Grand Slam champion pulled out of Spain’s ATP Cup tie against Australia on Tuesday with a lower back problem and said later in the week he was still far from the level required to play at the year’s first Grand Slam.

Asked about his fitness, 34-year-old told reporters on Sunday: “Not great, obviously, because if not I would have been playing at the ATP Cup,” adding that he had been “suffering” for 15 days.