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Andrey Rublev has revealed he will “not be surprised” if Rafael Nadal wins more Grand Slam titles when he makes his return from injury in the 2024 season.
The world No 5 highlighted the fact that the ‘Big Three’ of Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have always proven observers wrong when they were written off.
Nadal will make his long-awaited comeback at the Brisbane International tournament in January in preparation for the 2024 Australian Open.
The 37-year-old has not played since suffering a hip injury in his second round loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the 2023 Australian Open in January. The former world No 1 underwent surgery to address the issue in June, having initially expected to be out for around six to eight weeks.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion was forced to postpone his intended comeback during this year’s clay-court season and missed Roland Garros for the first time since 2004.
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The Spaniard won his most recent title at the 2022 French Open, where he defeated Casper Ruud in a straight-set final to claim a record-extending 14th crown.
Rublev, who is currently competing at the World Tennis League exhibition, discussed Nadal’s comeback and explained why he feels it would be a mistake to disregard the Mallorcan’s Major chances.
“We don’t know yet [what Nadal’s level will be when he returns],” the 26-year-old Russian said in an interview with The National.
But how many times people would say, not just about Rafa, about all those three players, every time they were injured or down and losing matches everybody was saying, ‘Now the time of Roger, or time of Rafa, or time of Novak – is coming to an end’, and they always proved them wrong.
“So I will not be surprised if he will prove it again and wins more Slams.”
Rublev has faced Nadal three times, with the great Spaniard holding a 2-1 head-to-head advantage. Nadal prevailed in straight sets in the pair’s first meeting in the quarter-finals of the 2017 US Open.
The ‘King of Clay’ then downed Rublev in straight sets in the round robin stage of the ATP Finals in London in 2020. Rublev defeated Nadal for the first time with a three-set victory in the quarter-finals of the 2021 Monte Carlo Masters in the duo’s most recent encounter.
