Australian Open promoters may now be nervous but Brisbane International's Cameron Pearson insists he was anything but when he invited Rafael Nadal to return, saying he expected him to play.
World No.2 Nadal left Brisbane organisers and fans gutted when he pulled out of the event for the second straight year, citing a thigh strain.
It continued the 17-time grand slam champion's shocking unreliability at hardcourt events.
In a worrying sign ahead of this month's Australian Open, the injury-prone Nadal has completed just one of the last 19 hardcourt events he has entered.
Nadal's withdrawal may have also robbed fans of their last chance to see him play at the tournament with the Brisbane ATP event's future up in the air from 2020.
There are question marks over men's tournaments in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney next year, with the $15 million ATP Cup team event set to be launched over three cities in 10 days in the 2020 Australian Open lead-up.
"I am really disappointed for Rafa. I know how much he wanted to play in Brisbane," tournament director Pearson said.
"He said a couple of times he wanted to play and was hoping to be fit but unfortunately he just hasn't come up."
Asked if he had any reservations about taking Nadal back after his 2018 no show, Pearson said: "Not at all".
"Injuries are part of the sport and it is well documented that Rafa has had injuries over time but he does everything in his power to be on the court."
Pearson claimed Nadal "agonised" over his decision to withdraw and even considered going against medical advice and taking the court at Pat Rafter Arena.
Organisers also bent over backwards for Nadal, delaying his opening clash until Thursday - a day later than expected - before the Spanish star pulled the pin.
"He asked for a late start. For a person of Rafa's stature we wanted to give him that opportunity," Pearson said.
"He wanted to play but medical advice said he shouldn't. He wanted to go against that but medical advice prevailed in this instance.
"He's practice fit but risks longer term damage and be out for an extended break (if he played) and no one wants to see that."
Pearson said Brisbane fans could still "get a selfie" with Nadal who will stay until Saturday to practice for this month's Australian Open.
Nadal was limited to nine tournaments in 2018 due to a string of ailments but still won five titles.
RAFAEL NADAL'S RECENT RECORD AT HARDCOURT EVENTS
2017: ATP Basel (withdrew), ATP Paris (withdrew), ATP London (withdrew).
2018: ATP Brisbane (withdrew), Australian Open (retired), ATP Acapulco (withdrew), ATP Indian Wells (withdrew), ATP Miami (withdrew), ATP Toronto (won title), ATP Cincinnati (withdrew), US Open (retired), Davis Cup semi-final (withdrew), ATP Beijing (withdrew), ATP Shanghai (withdrew), ATP Paris (withdrew), ATP London (withdrew), Saudi Arabia exhibition (withdrew), Abu Dhabi exhibition (withdrew).
2019: ATP Brisbane (withdrew).
