Nadal set for Spanish tests on abdominal problem

Sep 13, 2009, 21:12 GMT

New York - Rafael Nadal leaves New York set for medical tests at home in Spain to determine the extent of the abdominal muscle problem that has plagued him for a month.

The Spaniard, who returns to second in the world next week, revealed Sunday after losing his US Open semi-final 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 to Juan Del Potro that pain from the problem has gotten worse.

After deciding to play through the Open no matter what, the six- time Grand Slam champion will now take the time to see what is actually wrong.

'I have to see the doctor in Spain and do another test, because I didn't want to do a test during the tournament because, anyway, I gonna play. So I don't know how is the injury right now, but I expect not a lot.'

Nadal withdrew from Spain's Davis Cup semi-final next week in Murcia on clay against Israel, but is due to play for the first time at the Bangkok Open starting in a fortnight.

The Spaniard said he picked up the problem a month ago in Montreal, where he returned after two months out resting tendinitis- plagued knees.

It cropped up durring a second-round match against German Philipp Petzschner.

'I preferred not to speak about the injury during the week because I was in the tournament,' Nadal said.

'After Montreal, I did a test. The doctor didn't see a lot, but the pain is still there. In Cincinnati (Ohio), the pain increased a little bit more. After the semifinals against (Novak) Djokovic, I went to do an MRI, and I had some edema, strained muscle. I think during these two weeks the strain is converted into a little bit of rupture.'

Nadal said that despite his pain he had always planned to give his all at the only Grand Slam he has never won.

'It's one of the most important tournaments of the year, and I had to try, no? The result was very positive for me after coming back,' he said.

'Today he played better than me. He beat me, and right now I just try to recover.'