After struggling with injury throughout the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal will return to the clay in Buenos Aires on February 10th, according to coach and uncle Toni Nadal.
During his run to the final down under, Nadal struggled with blisters, but it was a different injury that has kept him out. In the 2nd set of the defeat to Wawrinka, Nadal was in tears due to the pain of his back injury, and many assumed he could be out for a while.
Toni Nadal told a Spanish radio station it wasn't too bad, saying "The doctor said it's a tightening of the muscles and a few days' rest should be enough," "He went into the match after feeling twinges during the week but very minor ones that normally do not affect you at all. "In the second game of the second set he felt a pinch. When I asked him after treatment what was happening he said, 'It's over'."
Toni Nadal was also critical of umpires after Nadal's timeouts, saying "Sometimes with the umpires the fact that they have not been players means they do not understand the game very well," he added. "It's just the same as in football. I always say that (it would be better) if referees were former players, second-division players who could do a very good job and they would be keen because of the salary. "I believe it would change everything, they have been in the thick of it and they know what it's like.