Rafael Nadal gives update on physical issues and explains what he must ‘learn again’ in comeback
Rafael Nadal has provided an encouraging update on his condition by revealing the hip injury he had surgery on last year is “not bothering him at all” after his latest Brisbane comeback win.
The Spanish great stressed the main physical issue remains his “problematic” foot condition, while declaring he needs to relearn the ability to play every point “with the right intensity.”
Nadal crushed world No 102 Jason Kubler 6-1, 6-2 in the second round of the 2024 Brisbane International on Thursday in the second singles match of his comeback.
The 37-year-old earned a convincing 7-5, 6-1 victory over world No 98 and former US Open winner Dominic Thiem in the first round in Brisbane, after losing with partner Marc Lopez in the first round of the doubles event.
Prior to Brisbane, Nadal had not competed since losing to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of last year’s Australian Open due to a hip psoas injury. The 22-time major champion underwent arthroscopic surgery to treat the psoas muscle in June.
Nadal has also been dealing with the chronic foot condition called Mueller-Weiss syndrome since 2005 and it proved particularly troublesome during 2021 and 2022.
In his press conference after beating Kubler, Nadal was asked how he felt after both of his singles matches in Brisbane.
“No, good. Today have been a match tougher in terms of humidity than the first day. Was very humid out there today. Was tough. I need to get used to that conditions because I was sweating a lot. After the first set I needed to change everything basically,” the Spaniard explained.
“But good. No, I mean, positive thing is first two matches haven’t been a super long matches. Of course, I had some feelings after the first match. I mean, have been a year without playing with the tension of a real match, so I felt a little bit some muscles tired here and there.
“In general terms, I felt good, no? Important thing is the surgery on the psoas-iliac and the hip, that’s not bothering me at all. That’s something that is super important for me.
“For the moment, the foot is answering well. That’s for me the main issue, that the foot is problematic, and for the moment I am able to move myself with no limitations. That’s for me makes me feel happy and be able to play better without a doubt.”
The former world No 1 also discussed the importance of experiencing pressure situations as he did when saving break points in serving out the opening set.
“Honestly, today I take the things whenever it comes, no? I think, of course, are important to survive these kind of moments because you practise the adversity. Something I need to practice again because have been a while, long time, without being in that positions,” Nadal said.
“To be honest, the ball in that end of the first set was super big. Was difficult to move the ball the proper way. I think the ball gets too big sometimes, especially under these humid and night conditions. I don’t know what’s going on with the ball, but it’s dead. With the new balls, of course the situation change a lot.
“Yes, I think today, not talking only about today’s match, today in general terms, every day is a learning again, no? I need to play every single point focus. I try to do it because doesn’t matter the result, is something I need to keep doing, learn again how to play every single point focus and with the right intensity.
“In the end [it] is something that you lose. You need to get used to the competition again and to understand the moments of the match to know when you have to push, know when you can play a little bit more relax. Is something that today I’m not able to do it, no?
“I need to play every single point very focus. That’s the thing that I need to do now, is practice that. Of course, wins helps to be more self-confident and to spend more hours on court.”
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