“My dream is not to win Roland Garros or Australia, but to play again and be competitive again.”
Rafael Nadal (Spain, 37) admitted that there is still a long way to go before returning to the Men’s Professional Tennis (ATP) tour.
Nadal, who suffered a ruptured iliopsoas muscle (iliopsoas muscle) at the Australian Open last January, has not yet returned to the court, contrary to the initial prediction that he would be able to return in 6 to 8 weeks. Last June, he underwent arthroscopic surgery to treat his iliopsoas muscle and ‘clean’ his left hip joint. It is expected that it will take 5 months to recover. There were rumors that he would not be able to make a comeback as a professional tennis player due to his slow recovery from injury.
In an interview with Spanish digital broadcasting platform Movie Star Plus on the 18th (local time), Nadal responded to the rumors surrounding him and expressed his hope to “compete on the tour again.”
He said that he trains for 40 minutes a day at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, by holding a racket and repeating limited movements, and that the only sport he can currently play is golf.
Nadal has 22 Grand Slam titles. While he left the court due to injury, Novak Djokovic (Serbia, 36) added 3 goals this year alone, bringing the total to 24.
He has announced that he will retire from active duty in 2024. Is there any desire to increase the number of wins in the final season to balance the competition with rivals?
Nadal said he could expect limited appearances at the Australian Open or Roland Garros next year. But he said it’s not about winning and he can’t aim to win.
“My dream is not to win Roland Garros or Australia, but to play again and be competitive again. At this point in my life, I am very far away (from a major title challenge). “I’m not saying it’s impossible because things in sports change very quickly.”
He said that he cannot be clear about what he will do next year because of the situation he is currently in. The way he approaches the year varies depending on his goals, and his hope now is to know how and where he is in two months.
He added: “Yes, I can play, but I am not in a position to win Roland Garros. Maybe I want to do a farewell tour, so I might play there. “This is a question that cannot be answered now,” he added.
Nadal hinted that he could set the Paris Olympics as a goal to end his brilliant career. But he said it was unclear due to his age and physical condition.
He said about the rehabilitation training situation, saying, “I can hit the ball as carefully as possible (with the same movement) at the intensity I am used to, without any other movements.”토토사이트
Additionally, “Luckily, I was able to play golf a few weeks ago. It’s the only sport I can compete in right now. “Golf keeps me focused and I need competition,” he added.
Through this interview, it was confirmed that Nadal, one of the greatest players in tennis history and a symbol of indomitable will and fighting spirit, is still uncertain about his successful return to the court.