Rafael Nadal comeback
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday insisted he will be “competitive” when he returns to professional tennis next month after enduring nearly a year out of action due to injury. Photo: AFP

Home » Rafael Nadal anticipates a humble return to tennis

Rafael Nadal anticipates a humble return to tennis

Rafael Nadal opened up about his upcoming return to the tennis courts after a prolonged absence due to a hip injury.

05-12-23 12:46
Rafael Nadal comeback
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday insisted he will be “competitive” when he returns to professional tennis next month after enduring nearly a year out of action due to injury. Photo: AFP

Former world number one Rafael Nadal said on Monday he expects “nothing” from himself before his return to the courts next month.

Nadal, 37, has been out with a hip injury since last January but is set to feature at Brisbane in the near year.

ALSO READ: JUST IN: Nadal confirms return date to the court

The Spaniard will use the tournament as a warm-up to the Australian Open in Melbourne having slumped to 663rd in the world before starting his final year before his expected retirement.

RAFAEL NADAL

“I think I’m ready and I trust and hope that all goes well and it gives me the opportunity to enjoy myself on the court,” Nadal said in a video on social media.

“I expect from myself to expect nothing.

“To have the ability not to demand myself what I have demanded myself throughout my career,” the 22-time Grand Slam winner added.

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Since being sidelined Nadal has been overtaken in the number of Grand Slam tournaments won by Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic, who now has 24 major titles.

ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal to make Grand Slam comeback at Australian Open

FRENCH OPEN

Nadal will try to return to the highest level in Australia with the aim of competing at the French Open which he has won a record 14 times.

He is in line for a busy final season with the Grand Slams and the Olympic Games, where he won singles gold in Beijing in 2008 and doubles gold in Rio in 2016.

ALSO READ: Nadal set to compete in Australian Open following injury

“I believe I’m in a different moment, situation. I am in an unexplored terrain,” Nadal said.

“I have internalised what I have had throughout my life, which is demand myself the maximum.

“Right now what I really hope is to be able not to do that, to accept things are going to be very difficult at the beginning and give myself the necessary time,” he added.

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