"Feel for Rafa" - Nick Kyrgios compares his injury situation to Rafael Nadal's after Spaniard suffers new hip tear

Nick Kyrgios compared his own injury situation with Rafael Nadal's while conveying his commiserations to the latter. Nadal recently announced his withdrawal from the 2024 Australian Open.

The Spaniard made his return to tennis in 2024 after a long hiatus from the sport due to a hip injury. He kicked off his comeback at the Brisbane International and faced Dominic Thiem in his first match.

Nadal managed to win the match in straight sets. In the second round the 37-year-old went up against Jason Kubler, and he won in straight sets again.

In the third round, he came up against Jordan Thompson. Despite winning the first set and having three match points, Nadal ended up losing the match 7-5, 6-7 (6), 3-6. To make matters worse, during the match, he could be seen struggling with his left hip.

Nadal has now announced his withdrawal from the Australian Open due to a minor muscle tear, which is not the same injury he had earlier. After the announcement, many in the tennis fraternity came out in support of the Spaniard.

Nadal's rival Nick Kyrgios, who himself is dealing with injury troubles, took to X (formerly Twitter) to wish the 37-year-old well. The Aussie also mentioned that coming back too soon on the court was a fear he felt as well.

"Feel for Rafa man 😢💔 get better soon, that was the fear for me as well, coming back a little too soon…," Kyrgios tweeted.

Nick Kyrgios announced in December 2023 that he wouldn't be participating in the 2024 Australian Open due to his ongoing injury concerns.

"This is a very disappointing time for me, but I won't be able to compete at the 2024 Australian Open. Obviously, heartbreaking. I've had so many amazing memories there, and I just want to really get back to playing at the top of my game and doing it right, and I need a little more time," Kyrgios said on his social media.

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When a 19-year-old Nick Kyrgios stunned Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon

Nick Kyrgios celebrates against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon 2014

Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal have faced each other 9 times in their careers. The Spaniard leads their head-to-head 6-3.

Their first meeting was the most memorable one too, as it marked the arrival of the then 19-year-old Kyrgios, who was ranked 144 at the time. The Aussie defeated Rafael Nadal in the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2014 in four sets.

“That's the biggest win of my career obviously, and that's something I'm never going to forget. I’m going to draw so much confidence out of that no matter where I play now. To have that under my belt, it's massive,” Kyrgios told the tournament's official website on his win.

Nadal would avenge his defeat five years later at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships, beating Kyrgios in the second round 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3).