<p class="title">Former champion Rafael Nadal shrugged off concerns about his fitness ahead of the Australian Open and paid tribute to fellow 'Big Four' rival Andy Murray, a day after the emotional Briton revealed plans to retire.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 2009 winner Nadal pulled out of the Brisbane International warm-up with a thigh strain, raising fears about his campaign at Melbourne Park after his 2018 season ended early with ankle surgery and an abdominal injury.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"If I am not feeling good, I will not be here," the 17-times Grand Slam champion said at Melbourne Park on Saturday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have good feelings in terms of the surgery that I have in the foot. I can say it's almost done."</p>.<p class="bodytext">In an emotional media conference on Friday, a tearful Murray revealed the pain from his troublesome right hip was proving too much to bear and said the Australian Open could be his last tournament as a professional.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Of the many banged-up players on tour, Nadal may be the most able to empathise with Murray, having spent long periods on the sidelines with serious knee problems.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It will be a very important loss for us, for the world of tennis, for the tour, for the fans, even for the rivals that he has been part of a great rivalry between the best players for a long time, and a great competitor," Nadal said of the three-times Grand Slam champion, who he played in junior tournaments when they were barely into their teens.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"But that's life. Seems like he has not (had) a very long career because today players are playing that long.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"But he's 31. 10 years ago, if he retired at 31, we will say he had a great and very long career. That's the real thing. So all the best for him. We will miss him."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Nadal was forced to retire hurt in the fifth set of last year's quarterfinal against eventual finalist Marin Cilic, eight years after pulling out midway through his last-eight clash against Murray with a knee injury.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Doubts about the second seed's ability to withstand seven matches on hardcourts were reinforced when he retired in the US Open semifinal against Juan Martin del Potro last year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Despite that, Nadal is leaving no stone unturned in Melbourne and brings a remodelled serve aimed at generating more pace and, hopefully, shortening points.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"You need to make yourself feel alive, you know?" he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There are always things to improve ... I didn't compete with this new serve, so let's see how it works.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I am confident it's going to work well."</p>
<p class="title">Former champion Rafael Nadal shrugged off concerns about his fitness ahead of the Australian Open and paid tribute to fellow 'Big Four' rival Andy Murray, a day after the emotional Briton revealed plans to retire.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 2009 winner Nadal pulled out of the Brisbane International warm-up with a thigh strain, raising fears about his campaign at Melbourne Park after his 2018 season ended early with ankle surgery and an abdominal injury.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"If I am not feeling good, I will not be here," the 17-times Grand Slam champion said at Melbourne Park on Saturday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have good feelings in terms of the surgery that I have in the foot. I can say it's almost done."</p>.<p class="bodytext">In an emotional media conference on Friday, a tearful Murray revealed the pain from his troublesome right hip was proving too much to bear and said the Australian Open could be his last tournament as a professional.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Of the many banged-up players on tour, Nadal may be the most able to empathise with Murray, having spent long periods on the sidelines with serious knee problems.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It will be a very important loss for us, for the world of tennis, for the tour, for the fans, even for the rivals that he has been part of a great rivalry between the best players for a long time, and a great competitor," Nadal said of the three-times Grand Slam champion, who he played in junior tournaments when they were barely into their teens.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"But that's life. Seems like he has not (had) a very long career because today players are playing that long.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"But he's 31. 10 years ago, if he retired at 31, we will say he had a great and very long career. That's the real thing. So all the best for him. We will miss him."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Nadal was forced to retire hurt in the fifth set of last year's quarterfinal against eventual finalist Marin Cilic, eight years after pulling out midway through his last-eight clash against Murray with a knee injury.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Doubts about the second seed's ability to withstand seven matches on hardcourts were reinforced when he retired in the US Open semifinal against Juan Martin del Potro last year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Despite that, Nadal is leaving no stone unturned in Melbourne and brings a remodelled serve aimed at generating more pace and, hopefully, shortening points.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"You need to make yourself feel alive, you know?" he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There are always things to improve ... I didn't compete with this new serve, so let's see how it works.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I am confident it's going to work well."</p>