Rafael Nadal is gearing up for his return to the tennis court, and while it's not a troublesome hip that's causing restlessness, the mental aspect of the game is his primary focus. The 22-time Grand Slam champion recently announced his comeback at the Brisbane International, an ATP 250 event set to kick off on December 31.
At 37, Nadal hasn't played since his early exit from the Australian Open earlier in 2023 due to a lingering hip injury. This setback led to his withdrawal from the French Open, a tournament where he has historically excelled with 14 titles. To address the hip issue, Nadal underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on the iliopsoas muscle in his left leg, performed by a team of specialists, including Canadian doctor Marc Phillippon. The surgery took place in Barcelona, and Nadal embarked on a meticulous five-month recovery journey.
Initially opting out of the remainder of the season, Nadal later confirmed his return to action in January, aiming for an appearance at the Australian Open next month. Looking ahead to his comeback, Nadal acknowledged that controlling his expectations in 2024 would be the most challenging aspect, given his renowned never-say-die spirit that has defined his tennis career.
"I have been afraid to announce things because in the end it's a year without competing and it's a hip operation. But what worries me the most is not the hip, it's everything else," Nadal said.
"I expect from myself not to expect anything. This is the truth. To have the ability not to demand myself what I have demanded myself throughout my career," he said.
"I believe I'm in a different moment, in a different situation, and an unexplored terrain.
"I have internalised what I have had throughout my life, which is to demand myself the maximum, and right now what I hope is to be able not to do that, not to demand the maximum, to accept that things are going to be very difficult at the beginning and to give myself the necessary time and forgive myself if things go wrong at the beginning, which is a very big possibility," he added.
Nadal is anticipated to conclude his professional tour in the upcoming 2024 season. The Spaniard aims to leave a lasting impression at the French Open before setting his sights on a potential Gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
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