BRISBANE, Australia — Rafael Nadal isn’t putting much pressure on himself ahead of his first tournament in more than a year.
The 37-year-old Spaniard will return to action in Brisbane next week, following almost a year out due to a hip injury.
The 22-time major champion’s last match was a second-round loss at the Australian Open in January.
Nadal finally decided to have hip surgery in June.
Thousands of people queued at Queen Street Mall on Friday to see Nadal, during an appearance in downtown Brisbane.
Nadal played down the prospect of a title in the Queensland capital or a third crowning in Melbourne, where the first stage of the Grand Slam will begin on January 14.
“It’s impossible to think about winning tournaments right now,” he said. What is really possible is to enjoy the return. “I don’t have high expectations after a year without playing.”
Nadal triumphed at Melbourne Park in 2009 and 2022.
In 2009, he defeated his compatriot Fernando Verdasco in more than five hours in the semi-finals before beating Roger Federer two days later in a four-hour final.
Thirteen years later, after six months of absence due to a foot injury, he came from two sets behind to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the final.
Nadal said 2024 will be “probably my last year on the professional tour.”
But he said he was encouraged by his fitness, feeling “much better than I expected a month ago”.
“I can’t have very long-term goals because I don’t see myself playing for a very long time,” he said. I don’t know how things are going to go.”
For the ladies, it will be the return of Naomi Osaka, former number 1 and new mother.
She withdrew from the 2023 Australian Open, before announcing she was pregnant.
She and rapper Cordae became parents to their daughter Shai in July in Los Angeles.
2023-12-29 20:42:15
#Brisbane #tournament #Rafael #Nadal #realistic #year #Reflet #Lac
