Rafael Nadal’s bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title has been overshadowed by fitness concerns as he begins his Australian Open campaign on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old Spaniard will play his first match of the year against 56th-ranked Laslo Djere after back trouble ruled him out of last week’s ATP Cup.

Nadal is not the only player troubled by injury after the coronavirus-hit build-up to the year’s first Grand Slam, in which players underwent two weeks’ quarantine in Australia.

Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams and Simona Halep, who all carried injury worries into their opening matches, safely reached the second round on Monday.

But Nadal rang the alarm bells on Sunday when he said he has been “suffering” with the injury for more than two weeks.

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“The muscle is still tight, so it is difficult to play with freedom of movement,” he said.

“We are doing everything. My physio is here, the doctors here, everybody is helping me in all possible ways. I hope to be ready, that’s all. I know sometimes things change quick,” Nadal added.

Nadal, currently tied with the absent Roger Federer on 20 Grand Slam titles, is attempting to move ahead of the Swiss legend to take the all-time record.

He is also looking to widen the gap from eight-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who has 17 major titles and won his opening match late on Monday.

Defeat on Tuesday would constitute an Australian Open low for Nadal, the 2009 champion, who has never lost in Melbourne to a player ranked as low as Serbia’s Djere, the world number 56.