Rafael Nadal lifts lid on worrying back injury after Australian Open first round win

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Sharing the all-time Grand Slam title record with Roger Federer, Nadal has not been able to add to his 2009 championship at Melbourne Park, despite four trips to the final.

A string of injuries have hurt his chances in through the years, which three-times Australian Open champion Mats Wilander put down to the relative punishment of honing his high-energy game on hardcourts in the off-season.

“It could be a combination of hard courts and practising, needs more repetition and pushes himself hard,” the Eurosport pundit said.

“This is Rafa Nadal, this is what he has done throughout his whole career and he is going to push himself to the limit.”