Rafa Nadal Announces His Return to Tennis After Yearlong Hiatus

Nadal this Wednesday in Barcelona (REUTERS/Albert Gea)

Spanish sport and world tennis have been missing Rafa Nadal greatly in recent months. The year of inactivity is no longer so far away for the Balearic player, although it seems that his time off the court is beginning to run out. He himself wanted to announce it this Wednesday, giving news that was more than expected by everyone. Starting with the legend himself: “Until now, I didn’t know if he would ever play tennis again and now, honestly, I think so.”

Nadal dares to assure that he will once again be part of the ATP game to which he has given so many moments of glory, with the 22 Grand Slams he has conquered as great milestones. He does not, however, have enough security to venture with a specific return date. “When I know when I will play again, I will be the first to tell you,” he said in Barcelona during the presentation of the Teknon Tennis Clinic, directed by Ángel Ruiz Cotorro, his eternal doctor.

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The winner par excellence of Roland Garros clarified that he is not prepared to say what the first tournament he will play will be, thus putting the brakes on the pretensions of the Australian Open, whose organization counts, perhaps with too daring security, on him. “There is nothing to all this,” Nadal said bluntly. He used the same forcefulness to refer to his current state: “I’m fine, training, happy. I’m in a good time in my life […] From how things were going a few months ago to how they are going now, I think I have taken a step forward without a doubt, and for me that is a lot.”

Nadal during his attention to the media (REUTERS/Albert Gea)

He will continue playing with pain, a classic in his case, but the Manacor native will be able to handle it, because “the evolution is positive.” Nadal has not played a match since January 18, when he lost in the second round in the Australian tournament against the American Mackenzie McDonald (6-4, 6-4, 7-5). Right now, he is ranked number 664 in the men’s circuit rankings, so the protected ranking or invitations will become a recurring dynamic when he competes again.

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“I sense that it will be very difficult to recover a very high level of tennis. But hey, if I didn’t have the illusion of trying to be competitive, well, I probably wouldn’t be doing everything I’ve done in recent months, all the effort that goes into it at the age I am, and after having a very long career, which the “Years weigh,” Nadal acknowledged. For this reason, it seems practically impossible to surpass the record of majors, held by Novak Djokovic thanks to his 24 titles.

Nadal at the presentation of his doctor’s clinic, Ángel Ruiz Cotorro (REUTERS/Albert Gea)

“I’m not going to overcome them, I don’t think we’re in that situation. I live a very different reality, I haven’t played for a year and for me personal success is maintaining the enthusiasm to do it again,” she explained. Despite everything, he has dreams on the horizon, such as being in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It is not a 100% realistic goal, because there are “many months” left for them to take place. Even so, Nadal has them in mind, to visualize the possibility of representing Spain on the Parisian clay court. You know: like at home, nowhere.

2023-11-15 19:02:00
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