Nadal Confirms He Will Play Again With The Help Of. …

Although the 2023 ATP Tour season is yet to reach its conclusion, with the
Nitto ATP Finals
nearing
their final rounds in Turin,Rafael Nadal
already has his
mind on 2024. After a return to training a few weeks ago, having not competed
since theAustralian Open
and
undergone an operation on his iliopsoas, the Spanish star has now confirmed
that he will play again. He has been working tirelessly toward that goal in
recent months.

“I’m well, training, and happy,” said the 22-time Grand Slam champion on
Wednesday afternoon in Barcelona. “I’m at a good stage of my life. Until now I
didn’t know if I would play tennis again someday, and now I genuinely believe I
will. I’m still not ready to say when, but I’m able to train increasingly
longer, and the progress is good,” he explained.

“We know that the pain will never disappear, but I’ve taken a step forward,”
said the Spaniard. “That’s a lot for me. Talking about tennis is another matter
altogether, as is the level I’ll be able to play at. But the steps toward
trying to play again have been big and positive, which is what we have been
fighting for for several months. I’m confident I’ll be able to say something
more specific in the coming weeks.”

After picking up an injury at the Australian Open
and then
withdrawing from several tournaments, includingRoland Garros
, Nadal
underwent an operation on 2 June in Barcelona and started his long recovery
period, from which he is now starting to emerge.

“I’ve always maintained hope that I would play again,” said Nadal. “How much?
At what level? It’s difficult to answer that. I never lost hope I’d play.
Things gradually become clear with the passing of the weeks. At the moment I’m
on the right track.”

Nadal, 37, said he has not set himself the loftiest goals, like playing in the
Paris Olympics or going forNovak Djokovic
Grand Slam
record (24 compared to the Mallorcan’s 22). It is not about that; it is a case
of a return that would represent the personal achievement of having recovered
when there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

“I haven’t played for a year,” reiterated the Spaniard. “Personal success is
often more rewarding than general success. The hope is that I’ll play again.
You never know what will happen. My gut says it will be very difficult to get
back to a good level of tennis. If I wasn’t hopeful of trying to be
competitive, I wouldn’t be doing everything I’ve done over the past months at
my age and after a long career,” he added.

“The years pass by. My hope is that I will play again, and that is hugely
satisfying to me on a personal level. I won’t win more Grand Slams than
Djokovic, but I will have the chance to enjoy myself again.”

An opportunity to see the Spaniard compete on a tennis court again seems to be
drawing ever nearer.