Rafael Nadal could make a stunning comeback THIS year after stepping up comeback bid
Rafael Nadal is practising ahead of a potential return to the game next year, but there may be a possibility we will see the great Spaniard return to action before the 2023 campaign is out.
Nadal fans have been excited by the social media footage of their hero upping his training sessions in recent days, as he looks to recover from the hip problem that required surgery earlier this year.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion is also nursing a foot problem that cannot be cured with medical help, so his route back on court seems challenging.
Yet the 37-year-old tennis icon has insisted he is keen to do all he can to play again and there may be some events at the back end of 2023 that could see his return.
Nadal has confirmed that he is planning to play the first Grand Slam of 2024 at the Australian Open and he will want some match practice before he attempts to put his body through the rigours of a best-of-five set match in the hot Melbourne sunshine.
Nadal could look to make a comeback in the ATP’s United Cup event that will be held in Australia between December 29 and January 7.
He played in this event last year, leading the Spain team alongside Paula Badosa in the mixed tournament that proved to be a big success last year.
Nadal lost to Britain’s Cameron Norrie and Australian Alex de Mianur in the tournament last year and he could use the United Cup as a platform to test himself ahead of the Australian Open.
He may also consider entering the ATP 250 event in Adelaide ahead of the opening major of the year, with that tournament set to get underway on January 8th.
Nadal has played just four competitive matches in 2023, with his only victory coming against Britain’s Jack Draper in the opening round of the Australian Open.
just a little present for you all ❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/HRfFt6V0c6
— Fran (Carl1tos🇪🇸 era) (@_rafalewis) October 7, 2023
It was during his defeat against America’s Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the Australian Open that Nadal suffered the hip injury that has put his tennis career on hold.
Yet he remains upbeat about his hopes of making some farewell appearances to the tennis fans of the world in what he has suggested will be his final year on tour in 2024.
“My goal and my ambition is to try and stop and give myself an opportunity to enjoy the next year that will probably be my last year in the professional tour,” Nadal told reporters.
“That is my idea but I can’t say 100 per cent it will be like this, but my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy and say goodbye to all the tournaments that have been important for me.
“To enjoy being competitive and something that today is not possible. I believe, if I keep going now, I will not be able to make it happen.
“After a couple of years that in terms of results have been positive because I was able to win a couple of grand slams and important tournaments, the real situation is I was not able to enjoy my diary work.
“Since after the pandemic, my body was not able to do the practice or diary work in a good way so I was not able to enjoy the practice and competition because too many problems, too many times having to stop for physical conditions and too many days off not practising because of too much pain.
“I need to stop for a while. My position is to stop and I don’t know when I can come back to the practice court.
“I will stop for a while, maybe one month, maybe two months, maybe three months. I am a guy who doesn’t like to predict too much the future. I am following what I believe is the right thing to do for my body and my personal happiness.
“I don’t want to say one thing and do the other. It is better to hold the options open and see what is the best calendar possible.
“I would like to play the things that are important for me and of course, the Olympic Games is an important competition and one I hope to play. Will it be my last or not? I cannot say.”
