Rafa Nadal (37 years old) has regained the conviction that he will play tennis professionally again. He says it with words and his look, his unadorned gestures and his good humor also say it. He does not want to venture into announcing when yet, but he does not rule out being present in mid-January at the Australian Open and has regained the conviction that he will return to the circuit.
"I have nothing to hide and more at this point in my life. When I can communicate the date of my return I will say it, now I am not in a position to announce it. I will be the one to say it, not anyone for me. Now, I can say that until now I didn't know if I would play tennis again and now I honestly believe that I will, that's what I can say, I'm convinced."
The Balearic tennis player stated this yesterday afternoon in Barcelona, at the presentation of the Tennis Teknon clinic, piloted by his good friend, Dr. Ángel Ruiz Cotorro, and in front of a whirlwind of microphones and television cameras.
He had previously shared the event with other illustrious Spanish tennis players such as Manolo Orantes, Conchita Martínez, Sergi Bruguera and Àlex Corretja. The manacorí did not dare to go further because he argued that it was the day of Dr. Ángel Ruiz Cotorro, his doctor for more than two decades, and not his, but he did leave hints that a new horizon A much clearer panorama than last spring, when I saw everything black and almost impossible to reverse.
"From how things were for me a few months ago to how I am now in the last few weeks, I have taken a big step forward and that means a lot to me. The sensations are positive and I think the evolution of my injury is good. If you can say that I am closer to returning to the tracks? Yes, I have it closer. It's what I feel now and it's what I predict for how the injury evolves."
Nadal has not played a match since January 18, when he lost to American Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the Australian Open. He suffered a psoas setback that day. It was calculated that he would be out for six to eight weeks, but that was not the case. He tried to return for the clay season, but could not overcome the injury and announced a minimum layoff until the end of 2023. At the same time, he revealed that 2024 would be his last year as a tennis player if he could pick up the racket again.
In June, he went through the operating room, precisely at the Teknon clinic, and he was predicted to have five months of recovery, which were fulfilled at the beginning of November. For the past two weeks he has intensified the training load and his body is responding appropriately.
"If I still have pain? I will always have pain, but I have played with pain all my life. It's about whether or not this pain limits you on the track."
What the champion of 22 Grand Slam titles and two Olympic golds does not want is to put more pressure on himself, and less in what seems to be the final stretch of his build-up. "I will not win more major titles than Novak Djokovic, but I will give myself the opportunity to enjoy tennis. I'm not in that mood now, I haven't played for a year and my reality is different. It will be very difficult for me to reach the highest level, but my daily struggle is to play again and competitively".
Regarding a hypothetical participation in the Olympic Games in Paris, the Mallorcan did not want to get ahead of the events. He did not hide, however, that "it would be a great illusion to be there". Nadal has participated in the Games in Athens, Beijing and Rio de Janeiro. It is not long to find out if he will play the Australian Open. For days his uncle Toni has been convinced that Melbourne will see his nephew. Rafa Nadal wants to retire with racket in hand.
