Rafael Nadal has revealed that he was almost forced to withdraw from the Australian Open prior to his round one match against Alex Kuznetsov because of injury.
The world number two suffered with pain in his knee just 24 hours before he took to the court against Kuznetsov.
"I had a fantastic week of practice with nothing of pain, not one bad feeling on the knee and not one place on my body. So I was really, really happy with everything," Nadal told a press conference. "But yesterday afternoon the most strange thing ever to happen to me. I was sitting on a chair in the hotel. I felt like a crack on the knee. It happens a lot of time with articulation, movement.
"After the second time, the knee stays with an unbelievable pain completely straight. I really couldn't move the knee like this. I have no movement on the knee.
"Seriously, yesterday during the evening I wasn't 100 per cent sure I would have the chance to play, because with the movement of that knee I felt that I will not be able to play."
Nadal's knee was heavily strapped as he defeated his American opponent in straight sets.
Liam Apicella
