![Fans of Spain's Rafael Nadal during the match. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UFSBUSN4TDNOB3B4WWWXOVAQZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d752dda1789264c30689c630cd85bf0b3b679bf401c81fe01167c2b1c4e87c8a&width=400&height=225)
![Spain's Rafael Nadal during his second-round victory against Michael Mmoh of the United States at the Australian Open on February 11. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5FR2Y3QDJZFPD5RFUITQJB5UAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=223a058a1ea956bf944e4c9439db3ee7115195247278b50daeea9128f77ce45a&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal defeated American qualifier Michael Mmoh 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GLDROYMNVDLIBZJJOFYCU5ZWA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9eead9d7ae8c7ea200c6db2c7f05b1a06ab97b920b5c749835a71f8a9a7a7d60&width=400&height=225)
![A spectator is escorted from Rod Laver Arena by security for shouting abuse at Rafael Nadal during his win over Michael Mmoh. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5YIW6XIDVLNM7OWBOMNZCOXMRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=25c7cf62d2ad4fbaa16faed04157e11fd8c38fd31252e6537620d42b46cfa6a1&width=400&height=225)
![A women is removed from the arena during yesterday's game. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHZPBRMSLU35FWIY367TAEW24M.jpg?smart=true&auth=d75260e13444351cf33e25267c31fe8bcfe3a0fc949ec9e26d972e14d820b0f9&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal during the match when a spectator was removed for shouting abuse at the Spaniard. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IJA6NNWOSU3GTTVU2RIRJO6ROM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ebd294af5f2051a3c6ce5359f85e21293d9ff06c48b7286aebfaf37279a1af90&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal plays a backhand at Melbourne Park. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C52BLRX6NX5QOQS752DC7HZSEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=06223aeca9755f1c3f6fa0352f6299a86a5a7aadf1e2840feb4ee29feb5aeaf3&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael shakes hands with Michael Mmoh after the match. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SDA2M4WYHIZPUKJWOV6LKGQOXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e0df42fac00206090c0dac445b8a2e3ea3a0c12673a581177047036298fa1cb5&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating Michael Mmoh. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ACWZOS3GYLAJ72C67ROITVLJNA.jpg?smart=true&auth=81215e50239a8c386e3953a47bce4b7334315ffc1582179e3f035a4460dafa1c&width=400&height=225)
![Spain's Rafael Nadal adjusts his headband in Melbourne. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZIXSZUI32AR7THOWBDRZJ6ELUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=94fb2b41382054ae9ef9184893fa785e5d541863e3890608fcfba47516c985d4&width=400&height=225)
![Fans of Spain's Rafael Nadal during the match. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UFSBUSN4TDNOB3B4WWWXOVAQZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d752dda1789264c30689c630cd85bf0b3b679bf401c81fe01167c2b1c4e87c8a&width=400&height=225)
![Spain's Rafael Nadal during his second-round victory against Michael Mmoh of the United States at the Australian Open on February 11. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5FR2Y3QDJZFPD5RFUITQJB5UAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=223a058a1ea956bf944e4c9439db3ee7115195247278b50daeea9128f77ce45a&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal defeated American qualifier Michael Mmoh 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GLDROYMNVDLIBZJJOFYCU5ZWA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9eead9d7ae8c7ea200c6db2c7f05b1a06ab97b920b5c749835a71f8a9a7a7d60&width=400&height=225)
![A spectator is escorted from Rod Laver Arena by security for shouting abuse at Rafael Nadal during his win over Michael Mmoh. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5YIW6XIDVLNM7OWBOMNZCOXMRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=25c7cf62d2ad4fbaa16faed04157e11fd8c38fd31252e6537620d42b46cfa6a1&width=400&height=225)
![A women is removed from the arena during yesterday's game. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHZPBRMSLU35FWIY367TAEW24M.jpg?smart=true&auth=d75260e13444351cf33e25267c31fe8bcfe3a0fc949ec9e26d972e14d820b0f9&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal during the match when a spectator was removed for shouting abuse at the Spaniard. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IJA6NNWOSU3GTTVU2RIRJO6ROM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ebd294af5f2051a3c6ce5359f85e21293d9ff06c48b7286aebfaf37279a1af90&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal plays a backhand at Melbourne Park. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C52BLRX6NX5QOQS752DC7HZSEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=06223aeca9755f1c3f6fa0352f6299a86a5a7aadf1e2840feb4ee29feb5aeaf3&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael shakes hands with Michael Mmoh after the match. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SDA2M4WYHIZPUKJWOV6LKGQOXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e0df42fac00206090c0dac445b8a2e3ea3a0c12673a581177047036298fa1cb5&width=400&height=225)
![Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating Michael Mmoh. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ACWZOS3GYLAJ72C67ROITVLJNA.jpg?smart=true&auth=81215e50239a8c386e3953a47bce4b7334315ffc1582179e3f035a4460dafa1c&width=400&height=225)
![Spain's Rafael Nadal adjusts his headband in Melbourne. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZIXSZUI32AR7THOWBDRZJ6ELUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=94fb2b41382054ae9ef9184893fa785e5d541863e3890608fcfba47516c985d4&width=400&height=225)
![Fans of Spain's Rafael Nadal during the match. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UFSBUSN4TDNOB3B4WWWXOVAQZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d752dda1789264c30689c630cd85bf0b3b679bf401c81fe01167c2b1c4e87c8a&width=400&height=225)
Rafael Nadal 'not ready' after declining Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships wild card
World No 2 continues recovery from back issue sustained in the lead-up to the Australian Open
![Steve Luckings](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fc3f09fc7-120b-42cf-8d44-356b28942fc4.png?smart=true&auth=a93b70171c6cc57bca013126f7257d62461086283c1cf22d9d4adcdbc940d865&width=70&height=70)
Steve Luckings
March 11, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic
March 11, 2021