Nadal to miss Australian Open because of injury

Rafael Nadal will miss the Australian Open and instead return to Spain for treatment on a hip injury he sustained at the Brisbane International.

Nadal, 37, made his long-awaited return after almost a year out with injury this week, winning his first two matches in Brisbane in straight sets.

But he was injured in his quarter-final loss to Jordan Thompson on Friday.

The Spaniard, who had not played a singles match for 349 days prior to his opening win over Dominic Thiem.

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Nadal will now focus on returning to fitness in time for the French Open, which begins on 20 May and where he is a record 14-time champion.