Rafael Nadal won’t participate in this month’s Australian Open due to a recent small muscle tear suffered during his return at the Brisbane International last week. The 22-times Grand Slam champion confirmed this on Sunday. Nadal’s comeback in Brisbane marked his much-anticipated return after nearly a year sidelined because of a hip flexor injury sustained during his second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald in the previous year’s Australian Open. Nadal won the Australian Open in 2009 and 2022.