<!–
–>
Rafael Nadal has made his first public comments since Australian Open chief Craig Tiley ‘revealed exclusively’ that the 22-time Grand Slam champion would play in the first major tournament of 2024.
Tiley made his comments in an appearance on Australian TV as he told The Today Show: “We can reveal exclusively here that Rafa will be back.
“He’s been off for most of the year and in talking to him over the last few days he confirmed he will be back, which we’re really excited about, the champion of 2022. That’s awesome.”
Those comments were greeted with surprise by Nadal’s camp, who issued a statement confirming the Spanish legend is not in a position to confirm when he will return to action after missing most of 2023 with a hip problem.
Now Nadal has given his first public comments since Tiley’s claim that he will be back on a Grand Slam stage in January and those hoping to see the 37-year-old Spaniard at his very best may be worried by what he had to say.
Nadal has not played since losing Mackenzie MacDonald at the Australian Open in January and it appears he is no closer to knowing when he will make a comeback.
“My first realistic option to be back on the professional court would be January in Australia, but right now, I really can’t confirm something I don’t know,” said Nadal at an event in Madrid.
“Nothing has changed in the last few weeks except for the fact that I’m training a bit more than before, which is an accomplishment for me and my mental health.
“I’m on the right path but I’m in unknown territory because it’s an injury I haven’t had before.
“Even so, I’m still looking forward to it. I wish I could know when I’m coming back but that’s not the case. I tried to come back for the clay season but it wasn’t to be.
“The pressure has always been from me personally because I have always been a demanding person with myself.”
Worryingly, Nadal also confirmed he is still in pain when is training at his Academy base in Majorca.
“I’m not training without pain. I’m in less pain than I used to be, but I’m still in pain,” he continued.
“However, this pain allows me to do more and more things eventually. Things would be different if I had zero pain. I could give you a date for my return if I had zero pain because I would have time to prepare myself for that.
“I’m training more now than a month ago but I’m taking it one day at a time. Let’s see if I have the chance to increase the intensity to come back little by little.”
They were not the words of a tennis player who is confident he will be ready to play in gruelling best of five set matches in the Australian Open heat in a few weeks.
Yet there is clearly a push from Nadal to try and get himself fit for the first major of the New Year.
Even for a player of his considerable talents, emerging from a year in the treatment room and making a mark at the Australian Open would be a massive challenge.
Yet this iconic legend of the game has been written off before and he has found a way to come back and triumph.
It is the prospect that he could have one more glorious moment in his failing body that is inspiring Nadal to push for a dream in 2024.
<!–
–>