Rafael Nadal targets return next month as he names Australian Open wish

Rafael Nadal announces end to 2021 season through injury

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Rafael Nadal hopes to return to competitive action next month in order to get some match practice in ahead of the first major tournament in 2022. The Spaniard has missed several months of the current season while nursing a foot injury, but hopes his return will not be too far away.

Nadal lost in the semi-finals of the French Open – a competition he has dominated throughout his career – in June.

He hasn’t been seen on the court since the Citi Open in early August, taking time away to recover from another foot injury made worse by his Muller-Weiss syndrome.

It is a degenerative disease which affects one of the bones in the middle of his foot – Nadal confirmed he had been suffering with pain for a year before he decided to end his 2021 season early, ahead of the US Open.

The Spaniard’s time on the sidelines saw him miss Wimbledon and the US Open, but he hopes to be able to take part in the next major tournament at the Australian Open.

JUST IN: Paris Masters chief left in awe of Andy Murray achievement on return

But Nadal hopes to return to the court before that trip to Melbourne, and is targeting a comeback at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

The mid-December competition will act as a warm-up event for the Australian Open, in his mind.

“My plan is to play Abu Dhabi in December and then in a tournament before Australia and then the Australian Open. That’s my goal,” Nadal confirmed. “We’re working hard to make it happen.

“I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back. But I can say that my goal is to try to come back to Abu Dhabi in December, and then, of course, for the start of the new season in January.

DON’T MISS:
Emma Raducanu makes Australian Open vow after crushing defeat
Frances Tiafoe slammed for lack of respect after Vienna Open win
Djokovic in strong shape in Medvedev practice ahead of Paris Masters

“The injury in my foot still needs to get a little better, but I’m already training almost an hour and a half a day so that’s positive.

“Some days are better than others, but I’m starting to have a lot more positive days than negative ones. So I’m on the right track.

“I’m training, I’m feeling better. I’m back on the court.”

Since winning the Australian Open in 2009, he has reached the final on four occasions but has tasted defeat in all of them.

Nadal may have the chance to set that record straight in 2022, with a weakened field potentially forming the draw in Melbourne.

Uncertainty remains over whether or not players will be able to enter the state of Victoria without proving they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic, a nine-time winner in Australia, has regularly refused to disclose his vaccination status as he believes it is a private matter.

Meanwhile, US Open champion Daniil Medvedev and world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas have also kept their lips sealed as to whether or not they have had the jab.

Their absences would leave the door open for an unexpected winner in Melbourne, and it could be a chance Nadal will try to take if he recovers in time to make the trip Down Under.

Source: Read Full Article