After multiple sources* reported that Rafael Nadal had pulled out of the upcoming Australian Open, the tournament confirmed that the 2009 champion withdrew from the tournament with a stomach virus.
"I am sorry and very sad to announce that I will not play in the Australian Open," Nadal said in a statement. "My knee is coming along okay, but a stomach virus has left me unable to get ready in time to tackle the rigours of a Grand Slam.
"Because of the virus, I have been unable to get any match practice and simply would not be doing myself or my friends in Australia justice if I went down there so unprepared. You need your body to be at its best for the Australian Open.
"It was a difficult decision and I am extremely disappointed to be missing such a great event. I love coming to Melbourne and playing on Rod Laver Arena before the Australian crowds. It brings out the best in me. It hurts to have to wait another 12 months before I get another chance. In the meantime, the focus is now on desperately trying to get back on the tour."
Nadal previously withdrew from this week's exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi with a stomach virus, and has also pulled out of Doha, where he was scheduled to compete next week.
Doctors have advised that Nadal take a week-long period of rest without training, beginning today. He will then be examined and have an x-ray in four to five days.
“Rafa suffered last week a viral process that provoked a gastroenteritis with high fever for four to five days,” said Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, who heads Nadal’s medical team and is the director of the Mapfre Center for Tennis Medicine. “Starting next week he won’t be in sufficient physical conditions to continue with his rehabilitation process.”
Rafa’s uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, added that there wouldn't be enough time for Rafael to properly prepare for the Australian Open.
“It is simply not conceivable that his first event is a best of five sets event, he wouldn’t be ready for that,” Toni Nadal said. "It is true we have been quite unlucky with this but there is nothing we can do. After all this time it is better to do things well and the most professional thing to do is to start when we are ready.”
Nadal has not played on tour since losing in the second round of Wimbledon to Lukas Rosol. He is targeting the clay-court tournament in Acapulco, in early February, as a return date.