By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, October 21, 2024
Rafael Nadal is hitting and hoping for a Happy Slam return, but his hip will make the final call on a 2024 return.
Twenty-two time Grand Slam champion Nadal gave an interview to EFE Agency discussing the state of his surgically-repaired hip, his training and reports emanating from Australian that he’s good to go for the 2024 Australian Open.
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Responding to remarks from Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley that he’s set to play the Melbourne major, set for January 14-28th, Nadal said not so fast. While the two-time Olympic gold-medal champion aims to play the AO, he asserts it’s “very complicated to say today” that he definitely play down under.
“I have a very good relationship with [Craig Tiley] and I understand his enthusiasm and also that of the Australian Open,” Nadal told EFE. “But from there to saying that I’m going to be at the Australian Open seems very complicated to say today. In fact, I don’t know and I’m working to try to recover. So, my way of understanding my moment is that I don’t need dates, but I just need to work day by day with the illusion and with the right mentality to try to recover.
“If I set dates and I don’t meet them, I’m adding disappointments that I don’t need, because I’ve had enough disappointments on a sporting and physical level in recent times. So I don’t need to set any dates; I’m going about my day by day and I’m really improving. I’m better now than I was a month ago and I’m confident in a month and a half I’ll be able to say the news, I’m going there or I’m going there.”
The 37-year-old Spanish superstar aims to comeback and compete at a high level, but cautions he’s well aware of the considerable challenges he faces in advancing age, chronic injury and aches and pains that limit training time. Recovering from the arthroscopic surgery Nadal underwent on the left psoas tendon has limited his practice time—and prompted him to maintain an open mind about his 2024 aspirations.
In a Movistar Plus + interview with Juanma Castaño last month—his first major interview since undergoing hip surgery on June 2nd—Nadal reiterated his belief 2024 will possibly be his final season.
However, the king of clay made it clear he is not closing the door to continuing to compete if his body can cope with the rigors of the pro circuit.
“I said that possibly 2024 will be my last year. I stand by it, but I can’t confirm it 100 percent,” Nadal told Juanma Castaño. “I think there’s a good chance yes, because I know how my body is but how I’ll be in four months, I don’t know.
“I’m not sure what I will do in 2024, because it will change completely depending on whether I have some objectives or others. If I don’t recover it’s one thing, if I can compete at a level that excites me is another.”
Health is Nadal’s primary concern for the upcoming season. If Nadal is fully fit, he says he’ll be all-in on forming a Spanish dream team with Carlos Alcaraz and play for his third Olympic gold medal in Paris next year.
“I’m I’m okay, and he wants to, I’ll be glad to [play],” Nadal told EFE of an Olympic pairing with Alcaraz.
Photo credit: BNP Paribas Open Facebook
