- Rafael Nadal is prepping for his last mile in his tennis career
- Nadal’s 14 French Open titles is one of the greatest achievements in tennis history
- The 22-time Grand Slam champion underwent a medical procedure at a clinic in Barcelona in June
Rafael Nadal is prepping for his comeback in his tennis career and he is happy that he is recovering well from an injury he underwent an operation for early this year.
Nadal is currently training at his Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca he has laid out a plan for what is likely to be his final year in tennis.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion underwent a medical procedure at a clinic in Barcelona in June and openly admitted that he wasn’t certain if he would ever return to the sport.
However, his team has provided an update, stating that the arthroscopic procedure on his left psoas tendon was successful. It involved the cleaning and reinforcement of damaged areas.
Doctors also addressed an older labrum injury that posed a big challenge to his bid to defend his Australian Open title in January.
Rafael Nadal. Photo/Inquirer Sports
Initially, Nadal had anticipated a recovery period of only six to eight weeks, but doctors recommended surgery after failed multiple rehabilitation attempts.
He said early in the year that his aim was to condition his body to be ready for the 2024 season which will be his last in the ATP Tour.
Nadal will play all his favourite tournaments among them the French Open which he has won 14 times. His dominance at the French Open is due to his incredible clay-court game.
He is known for his powerful forehand and his ability to slide on the clay, which gives him an extra edge over his opponents.
Nadal’s 14 French Open titles is one of the greatest achievements in tennis history. He is considered by many to be the greatest clay-court player of all time.
While many observers initially had doubts about Nadal’s comeback plan, he has been steadily regaining his form in recent days.
Reports from Spain indicate that the veteran player is optimistic about the strides he has made in his practice matches. There are ongoing discussions about the possibility of him representing Spain in the Davis Cup later in 2023.
Although the goal may seem ambitious, Nadal’s uncle, and longtime coach, Toni Nadal, is optimistic of his nephew’s return.
Toni told ElDesmarque de Cuatro that: “Rafa is fine, recovering. If everything goes well, he wants to return to the courts for the 2024 Australian Open.”
Toni also shared his thoughts on Novak Djokovic’s recent Grand Slam victory at the US Open, which put Djokovic two titles ahead of Nadal in the race for the most major titles in the history of tennis.
Rafael Nadal Training. Photo/Tennis.co
He praised Djokovic as a great champion and expressed the difficulty in surpassing him, not just for his nephew Rafa but for any player.
However, Toni acknowledged the challenge of determining the greatest player in tennis history but emphasized that Djokovic’s impressive title count makes a strong case for him.
Despite recognizing moments when Roger Federer showcased exceptional skills, Toni believes that Djokovic’s achievements, as measured by titles, establish him as the unequivocal best in the world of tennis.
Djokovic, on the other hand, has openly acknowledged the significant influence Nadal has had on his career, elevating his own game to new heights.
He expressed a desire for a potential final match with his long-time rival in the coming year, citing their intense rivalry as a profound motivational factor that has fueled his career growth.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login