Rafael Nadal is ready for a comeback in 2022 going by a recent video during a training session action in Abu Dhabi recently.
One can tell that he is in great shape going by the footage after months of recovering from an injury that locked him out of the US Open 2021.
Rafael Nadal Abu Dhabi:-
Nadal suffered a foot injury that took months to heal. But, the training session at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Abu Dhabi proves he is in great shape and is ready for a new season.
Rafael Nadal. Photo/Tennis World USA
The former world No.1 is in Abu Dhabi for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. Tournament organisers released Nadal’s footage preparing for his comeback match.
In November, he expressed optimism in playing in Abu Dhabi but added that his injury was yet to heal completely.
Next month, at the Australian Open, Nadal will restart his long-running battle with Novak Djokovic. He is attempting to add his 21st Grand Slam title in the first tournament for 2022.
Both players are presently deadlocked on 20 Grand Slams. The Australian Open 2022 will be another opportune moment for these two players to square out their rivalry.
Former top ten star Fernando Gonzalez told Tennis365 that it is tough differentiating Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer. The trio has individually proven their mettle.
Nadal and Djokovic lead the admission list for the 2022 Australian Open according to organisers. If he wins this year’s first major, Djokovic will break the record for the most major championships title with his 10th. The Serbian has won the last three tournaments and nine of the last 14 overall.
There is hope that the Serbian will play in Melbourne after throwing his fans into limbo over a vaccination standoff with organisers.
In the past few weeks, Djokovic remained non-committal on whether he would play in Australia by refusing to disclose his COVID-19 vaccination status.
His father Srdjan Djokovic called out tournament officials in November over the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination rule. His father says that his son who is the world No.1 is being blackmailed by tennis officials. Srdjan while speaking to Sports Illustrated said that he does not anticipate Djokovic playing in the Australian Open next year.
Srdjan said the vaccination rules by the tournament’s officials are tantamount to blackmail. He says his son should not be forced to be vaccinated so as to play adding he is willing to play in the tournament.
“As far as vaccines and non-vaccines are concerned, it is the personal right of each of us whether we will be vaccinated or not,” he told TV Prva.
Aug 4, 2021; Washington, DC, USA; Rafael Nadal is ready for US Open. Photo/ Scott Taetsch/USA TODAY Sports
Srdjan said it was unbecoming for Australian leaders to support the all tennis players vaccination rule. He added that the ultimate decision on whether Djokovic debuts for the Australian Open depends on what these leaders will ‘pose’.
“He would want it with all his heart because he is an athlete, and we would love that too. Under these blackmails and conditions, he probably won’t [play]. I wouldn’t do that. And he’s my son, so you decide for yourself.”
Djokovic’s participation in the Melbourne Park Grand Slam sparked a heated debate in the tennis world. However, even after his father’s take on the whole issue, the Serbian remains non-committal on his appearance.
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