After a year-long break, Rafael Nadal will make his comeback to the professional tennis circuit in January, determined to end his illustrious career on a high note.
22-time grand slam champion Nadal has been out of competition since the Australian Open in January due to a hip injury, where he was defeated in the second round by Mackenzie McDonald.
Nadal recently announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he will be making his return at the upcoming Brisbane International event. After taking a year off from competition, he stated, “It’s time to come back. I will be in Brisbane during the first week of January. See you there!”
Nadal’s hip injury became a significant concern after it failed to sufficiently heal following the initial prognosis of a six- to eight-week layoff. Nadal eventually announced his withdrawal from the French Open, where he is a 14-time champion, and he underwent arthroscopic surgery.
Nadal’s career has been plagued by numerous injuries, with the most recent being his foot injury which has resurfaced during the Covid lockdown. As a result, he has had difficulty maintaining his fitness for prolonged periods of time.
Due to the impact of his injuries on both his mental and physical well-being, Nadal declared in May that he will most likely retire from the tour in 2024. “My goal is to bid farewell to all the tournaments that have played a significant role in my career and simply relish the experience of being competitive and on the court, which is currently not feasible,” he stated.
In September, Nadal expressed some uncertainty about his prospects for the 2024 season. At 37 years old, his main goal is to regain his competitive edge. While it may be difficult for him to win Roland Garros or another major title at this stage, he understands that circumstances can shift rapidly.
He stated that 2024 is probably going to be his final year and he still believes that. However, he is unable to fully guarantee it. He himself is unsure.
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Nadal’s performance and physical endurance will be the main concerns, as he continues to face the challenges of playing professional tennis. If it becomes evident that he is no longer able to compete, the Paris Games at Roland Garros would be a suitable opportunity for the two-time Olympic gold medalist to retire. However, given Nadal’s impressive accomplishments throughout his career, it is still possible for him to achieve more miraculous feats.
