The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Nadal faces up to Australian Open injury scare
Rafael Nadal’s bid for a record 21st grand slam tennis title is in doubt due to a back injury. The Spaniard remains determined to start this year’s Australian Open against Serbia’s Laslo Djere in the first round tomorrow.
But the 34-year-old, who was forced to withdraw from Spain’s ATP Cup matches this week, is still struggling with the issue in his lower back.
Nadal, who equalled Roger Federer’s haul of 20 major titles at the French Open last year, said: “Well, I don’t feel great obviously because if not I would be playing at the ATP Cup.
“It’s true that for the last 15 days I have been suffering with the back. So here we are.
“I tried a little bit today to serve again. Well, I’m doing everything possible to be ready for it. That’s the only thing that I can say. Today I am still hoping to keep improving and hope to be ready for it.
“I have tomorrow and then play Tuesday, no? No, I don’t think about not playing.
“The thing is about in which condition I’m going to start the tournament.
“The whole positive feelings that I had one, two weeks ago, now disappeared a little bit, of course, because I was not able to practise the right way the last week and a half.
“At the same time I’m still having not the best feeling possible on the back. But I am practising again.
“I did a lot of things to recover. It’s not serious, but the muscle is still tight, so it’s difficult to play with freedom of movement today.
“Let’s hope the situation keeps improving. I hope to be ready, that’s all.
“I know sometimes things change quick. I’m going to keep staying positive and keep doing everything I can.
“I can’t say more today because it’s not an important injury but it’s a thing that stays here for a lot of days. Of course, it worries me a little bit.”
World number one and tournament favourite Novak Djokovic has no such problems as he begins his bid for a ninth title against Jeremy Chardy.
“I have been feeling more comfortable each year that I’ve been coming back,” he said. “The more you win, obviously, the more confidence you have. It just feels right.”
However, Djokovic did reignite his feud with Australian bad-boy Nick Kyrgios, who criticised the Serbian for making a list of requests for players who were stuck in quarantine.
“My respect goes to him for the tennis he’s playing,” added Djokovic.
“I think he’s very talented guy. He’s got a big game. He has proven that he has a quality to beat any player really in the world.
“Off the court, I don’t have much respect for him, to be honest.”
● Women’s world number one Ashleigh Barty says she is happy with her preparation ahead of her bid to become the first home champion in 43 years.
Barty had not played for 11 months due to the coronavirus pandemic but she still managed to win her warm-up event, the Yarra Valley Classic, by beating Garbine Muguruza 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.
“It’s very different. I think the circumstances and the situation is extremely different,” said Barty.
“I’m just trying to come out here and do the best that I can. I’ve done the preparation. I’ve eaten my Brussels sprouts, done everything to put myself in a position that I can go out there and perform at the best level I can.
“For me, I go into this Australian Open excited, well prepared, ready to play. We focus on that first match, try to do the best that we can, then we go from there.”
Barty kicks off her campaign against Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic, who is ranked 77 in the world.
She is joined by defending champion and fourth seed Sofia Kenin in the top half of the draw.
Britain’s Johanna Konta faces 20-year-old Slovenian qualifier Kaja Juvan.
“I don’t really know her and haven’t quite discussed the game plan yet,” she said.
“But everyone who is here deserves to be here because they are one of the best players in the world.
“With that in mind I’m going to be coming up against a very tough opponent but it will be really nice to be out there competing.”
Konta was defeated by Irina-Camelia Begu in a marathon match lasting three hours and 35 minutes at her warm-up event, the Gippsland Trophy.
Fellow Briton Heather Watson will meet Czech Kristyna Pliskova in the opening round.