LOST C-OZ FOR RAFA

Nada for Rafa as hip issue KOs Spaniard

- NEIL MCLEMAN

RAFA NADAL has pulled out of an Australian Open farewell with a "micro tear" on his hip he suffered in Brisbane last week.

But the 22-time Grand Slam champion claimed the injury is "not very bad news" for the rest of his likely last season on the circuit.

And the Spanish superstar, who turns 38 in June, hopes to be in peak form for the start of the claycourt season.

Nadal endured a hip issue in his second-round defeat at the 2023 Australian Open and underwent surgery on the psoas tendon in June.

He won two pain-free matches at his comeback event at the Brisbane International last week.

But Nadal required medical treatment during his marathon quarter-final loss to world No.55 Jordan Thompson where he failed to take three match points.

And the two-times Austrialian Open champ announced on X yesterday that he is heading home.