World quantity two Rafa Nadal will likely be sidelined for six to eight weeks by the hip flexor harm he suffered throughout his second-round loss on the Australian Open, the Spaniard’s staff mentioned on Thursday.
Nadal’s title defence ended bitterly on Wednesday as he slumped to a 6-4 6-4 7-5 defeat by Mackenzie McDonald, the newest chapter in a protracted historical past of health issues at Melbourne Park.
The 36-year-old had an MRI scan on his left leg in Melbourne on Thursday, which revealed a grade 2 harm within the Illiopsoas, the first hip flexor.
“He will likely be resting the subsequent days as soon as again in Spain and can begin with anti-inflammatory physiotherapy,” his staff mentioned in an announcement.
“The traditional time estimated for a whole recuperation is between six and eight weeks.”
The 22-times Grand Slam champion arrived in Melbourne with just one win to his title for the reason that U.S. Open after rib, stomach and foot accidents stored him off courtroom for a lot of final season after Wimbledon.
“I imply, hopefully it is nothing too unhealthy. Ultimately (it has) been three optimistic weeks when it comes to apply,” he instructed reporters after his defeat.
“So I actually hope that (harm) does not put me out of the courtroom for a very long time, as a result of then it is robust to make all of the restoration once more.
“It isn’t solely the restoration. It is all the quantity of labor that it’s essential put collectively to return again at an honest stage.”
A six to eight week recuperation would permit Nadal to return properly earlier than the clay courtroom season and the run-up to the defence of his French Open title in late Could and early June.