Nadal MRI Shows Hurt Left Hip Flexor

Jan 18, 2023; Melbourne, VICTORIA, Australia; Rafael Nadal during his second round match against Mackenzie Mcdonald on day three of the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2023; Melbourne, VICTORIA, Australia; Rafael Nadal during his second round match against Mackenzie Mcdonald on day three of the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
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Nadal MRI Shows Hurt Left Hip Flexor

Jan 18, 2023; Melbourne, VICTORIA, Australia; Rafael Nadal during his second round match against Mackenzie Mcdonald on day three of the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2023; Melbourne, VICTORIA, Australia; Rafael Nadal during his second round match against Mackenzie Mcdonald on day three of the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports

Rafael Nadal injured his left hip flexor during his loss at the Australian Open and could need about six to eight weeks to fully recover, his manager said Thursday.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion had an MRI exam at a hospital in Melbourne under his doctor's supervision on Thursday, a day after being injured during a straight-set exit against Mackenzie McDonald in the second round at Melbourne Park.

Nadal was the defending champion and seeded No. 1 in Australia.

The 36-year-old now will head home to Spain to rest.

Nadal has lost seven of his past nine matches, dating to a fourth-round defeat at the US Open in September.



Inter Milan's Mehdi Taremi Stuck in Iran and Will Miss Club World Cup

Iran's Mehdi Mohebi, right, vies for the ball with a North Korean rival during their Asian qualifier group A soccer match for 2026 World Cup, at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iran's Mehdi Mohebi, right, vies for the ball with a North Korean rival during their Asian qualifier group A soccer match for 2026 World Cup, at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Inter Milan's Mehdi Taremi Stuck in Iran and Will Miss Club World Cup

Iran's Mehdi Mohebi, right, vies for the ball with a North Korean rival during their Asian qualifier group A soccer match for 2026 World Cup, at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iran's Mehdi Mohebi, right, vies for the ball with a North Korean rival during their Asian qualifier group A soccer match for 2026 World Cup, at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Inter Milan forward Mehdi Taremi will not be able to join his teammates at the Club World Cup in the United States as he is stuck in Tehran amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.

Flights from all Iranian airports have been grounded following an exchange of military strikes between Iran and Israel over the last two days.

That meant the Iran international was unable to take his scheduled flight on Saturday to join his Inter teammates in Los Angeles.

Taremi will miss Inter’s opening match against Monterrey on Wednesday and Italian media reports said the 32-year-old will not feature in the other matches either regardless of whether Iranian airspace reopens.

Taremi joined Inter from Porto last year.