By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday February 1, 2021
Rafael Nadal has pulled of his first match of 2021 with a back injury. The Spaniard announced his decision to sit out Tuesday’s ATP Cup tie vs. Australia shortly before the contest was set to take place.
“We have decided with Team Spain and my team, to not play today the first match of the ATP Cup here in Melbourne, since I have a stiff low back,” he wrote on Twitter. “Hopefully I’ll be better for Thursday.”
Hi all, we have decided with #TeamSpain and my team, to not play today the first match of the @ATPCup here in #Melbourne since I have a stiff low back. Hopefully I’ll be better for Thursday. We have a strong team, all the to @pablocarreno91 @BautistaAgut & @M_Granollers #vamos 🇪🇸
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) February 2, 2021
Nadal was set to face Alex de Minaur in the second tie of the evening. He plans to return for Spain’s next tie, which is Thursday against Greece, where Nadal would face Stefanos Tsitsipas.