Toni Nadal ‘excited’ by Rafael Nadal comeback as he assesses his Australian Open chances
Toni Nadal believes Rafael Nadal can be “very happy” after an “exciting start” to his comeback at the 2024 Brisbane International because “the level he is showing is good enough.”
The legendary coach thinks it is “possible” that Nadal “will have a good tournament” at the Australian Open, but feels it is “essential” he gets a good draw given he will be unseeded.
The Mallorcan coached his nephew Nadal from his childhood until 2017, helping him win 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles. The 62-year-old is the director of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca and has also been working with ATP star Felix Auger-Aliassime since 2021.
Nadal made his return from almost a year out of action at the ATP 250 event in Brisbane this week and has delivered impressive performances in both of the matches he has played so far.
The 37-year-old dismantled world No 102 Kubler 6-1, 6-2 in the second round on Thursday, having crushed former US Open winner Dominic Thiem 7-5, 6-1 in the opening round.
READ MORE: Rafael Nadal gives update on physical issues and explains what he must ‘learn again’ in comeback
The 22-time major champion will take on 29-year-old Australian Jordan Thompson, the world No 55, in the quarter-finals in Brisbane on Friday.
Speaking on the Onda Cero Mallorca radio station, Toni Nadal expressed his approval at the level his nephew has displayed early in his comeback.
“Rafa can be very happy because the level he is showing is good enough. It is an exciting start, but we have to see him in more difficult games. At the moment, things are going almost better than we expected,” he assessed.
“Rafa has always had the good condition of getting into shape very quickly. Sometimes, after many injuries, he has come back even better than he had done before. This time is the most difficult because the years are there and it is more complicated. Let’s see if he can continue like this.”
The Spaniard also discussed the former world No 1’s hopes for the 2024 Australian Open and the prospect of this being his final season on tour.
“I think he does have options (chances). If Rafael manages to play a few more matches, if in Brisbane [he] plays with more qualified people and at the Australian Open he has a good draw, essential since he is not seeded, it is possible that he will have a good tournament at the Open,” Nadal added.
“I believe that Rafael is going to go day by day, depending on how things are going, depending on how competitive he is, the results. Although he said that this may be his last year, then we have to see how it goes.”
READ MORE: Rafael Nadal in contention to be named ‘The Best in History’
