(Reuters) – Rafa Nadal, who has been sidelined with a hip injury for nearly a year, is gearing up for his much-anticipated comeback at the Brisbane International. The 22-times Grand Slam champion, who is preparing for next month’s Australian Open, suffered the injury during last year’s competition at Melbourne Park, leading to surgery in June and absence from the sport for the remaining season.
Despite the expectations of his rivals, including world number one Novak Djokovic, that he will return to his competitive best, the 37-year-old Nadal has been modest in his predictions. He stated, “It’s impossible to think about winning tournaments today,” adding, “What’s really possible is to enjoy the comeback. I don’t expect much… one year without being on the court.”
Since arriving in Australia, Nadal has intensified his training and practiced with world number eight Holger Rune at the Queensland Tennis Centre. Although he has dropped to world number 672, he expressed feeling much better than a year ago, but cautioned that he cannot yet set long-term goals.
Nadal admitted uncertainty about the future, saying, “I don’t know how things are going to keep going,” and recognizing that dealing with adversity and imperfection will be essential for him. He emphasized the importance of approaching each day with the right spirit.
The Brisbane International is set to begin on Sunday, followed by the Australian Open from Jan. 14-28.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Stephen Coates)
