ABDULL OFF TO DRAGONS
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RAFAEL Nadal is keeping his fingers crossed he will be able to play in the Australian Open after needing medical treatment during a gruelling loss to Jordan Thompson at his comeback tournament.
Nadal looked poised to claim another straight- sets win at the Brisbane International when he brought up a first match point in the 10th game of the second set but missed a backhand overhead.
Two more chances followed in the tie-break but Nadal was unable to take either and Australian Thompson fought back to claim a 5- 7 7- 6 ( 6) 6- 3 victory after three hours and 25 minutes.
More concerning was the off- court medical time- out Nadal took at 1- 4 in the deciding set, although he was able to continue without much discomfort.
The 37-year-old had surgery on the tendon in his left hip in June after being sidelined since an injury at last January’s Australian Open and revealed the latest problem is in the same area.
“I feel the muscle tired,” he told reporters in Brisbane.
“I mean, for sure it’s not the same like last year at all because when it happened I felt something drastic immediately. Today I didn’t feel anything. The only problem is because the place is the same, you are a little bit more scared than usual.
“I need to see how I
DEFEAT: Jordan Thompson wake up tomorrow morning. We have been talking these last days, talking about the positive things. That’s why I am not over-positive when I have been talking.
“I have been talking with a lot of precaution because I know after a year is difficult for the body to be playing tournaments at the highest level. When the things are becoming more difficult, you don’t know how your body is going to react.
“I hope it is not important and I hope to have the chance to be practising next week and to play Melbourne. Honestly, I am not 100 per cent sure of anything now.”
Nadal added later on Instagram: “I had a small sensation, not a good one, in a similar place where I had the surgery, but it’s too early to say anything.
“Hopefully it’s a charged muscle and in the next days I’ll make some more tests. If it’s only a charged muscle it’s been a very positive week.”
ENGLAND half-back Jordan Abdull has left Hull KR to join beaten Super League Grand Finalists Catalans Dragons on a season- long loan.
The 27-year-old earned international recognition in
2021 after a string of impressive performances for the Robins, but has been hampered by injury.
Rovers coach Willie Peters said he made the former Hull FC and London player aware of interest from Catalans and that Abdull decided to make the switch.
“Jordan and I sat down and had a good, honest conversation of where he was on and off the field. During the conversation, we discussed the opportunity for Jordan to join Catalans that was on the table,” Peters said.
“After a few days of reflection, Jordan chose to take up the opportunity with Catalans and we will not stand in his way.”