Rafael Nadal pulled out of Spain's opening ATP Cup tie with a lower back problem less than a week before he launches his bid for a record 21st men's Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
The world number two, 34, was scheduled to face Australia's Alex de Minaur at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.
"I have a stiff low back," Nadal wrote on Twitter. "Hopefully I'll be better for Thursday."
Spain play Greece on Thursday.
Spain were runners-up to Serbia in the final of last year's inaugural ATP Cup.
The men's team event, which has been reduced to 12 teams from 24, is being played at the same time as five other tournaments at Melbourne Park this week after a strict quarantine for all players who arrived in the country for the Australian Open.
Nadal played an exhibition match in Adelaide on Friday, beating Austrian world number three Dominic Thiem 7-5 6-4.
Latest Stories
-
Attorney General Ayine won’t trade law for pressure – Deputy AG defends integrity of prosecutions
56 minutes -
Attorney General Ayine won’t prosecute without evidence – Deputy AG Srem Sai assures
2 hours -
Mahama to build Trauma and Emergency Centre in Walewale, leaves Bawumia-started project in limbo
2 hours -
Withdraw Dumsor Levy now, postponement isn’t enough – Minority Leader
2 hours -
Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic-run cities, undeterred by protests
3 hours -
MI6 appoints first female chief in 116-year history
3 hours -
Kenyan blogger’s wife seeks answers after his death in police custody
3 hours -
Gunmen kill at least 100 people in Nigeria’s Benue state, Amnesty International says
3 hours -
Ivory Coast workers say Unilever is violating their union rights amid share sale, documents show
4 hours -
Trump floats plan for undocumented farm and hotel workers to work legally in the U.S.
4 hours -
South Africa stocks suffer $3.7bn losing streak from foreign investors
4 hours -
Mahama orders military to secure Bolga-Bawku-Pulmakom road
4 hours -
Nigerian President Tinubu’s pardon of ‘Ogoni Nine’ draws ethnic group’s rejection
4 hours -
Senior Kenyan policeman arrested over death of blogger in custody
5 hours -
Egypt deports dozens more foreign nationals heading for march to Gaza
5 hours