World No. 2 Rafa Nadal on Thursday said doubts remain over his fitness ahead of next week’s Australian Open.

Nadal pulled out of Spain’s ATP Cup tie against Australia on Tuesday with a lower back problem and, despite some improvement, said he was still far away from the level required to play at the year’s first Grand Slam.

“It’s not that I’m in a really bad way, but I’m also not alright in the sense that I can’t play either,” Nadal said. “I’ve improved a little but I’m not in a position where I can go and play a game at full intensity.”

The 34-year-old practised for an hour on Thursday evening at the Rod Laver Arena and his fitness was improving, sources said.

Nadal sits level with Roger Federer on 20 Grand Slam titles and, with the Swiss not taking part in Melbourne after knee surgery, the Spaniard would have the chance to become the all-time major record holder in the men’s game.

He insisted, however, that that was not something he was focused on. “First things first, and that’s to play the Australian Open,” he said.