TENNIS
Toni Nadal reveals Rafa’s possible comeback date
The 22-time major winner has been out of the courts since being eliminated from the Australian Open, but he is expected to return in the upcoming months.
While the tennis world is looking at Novak Djokovic’s latest accomplishment, it has been reported that one of his fiercest opponents could make his comeback soon.
Rafa Nadal has been out of action since he was eliminated from the Australian Open by Mackenzie McDonald. In that game, the Spanish star suffered a hip injury that didn’t allow him to play at his best.
Now, his uncle and former coach Toni Nadal has revealed that Rafa is recovering well from his hip surgery, and if everything goes as planned, he could return to action at the beginning of 2024.
“Rafa is good, recovering”, he said to the TV sports show El Desmarque.
“If all goes well he wants to return to the court for the 2024 Australian Open”, he stated.
If Nadal finally comes back next January and features in the first Grand Slam event of the season, he will try to win the tournament for the first time in his career, although Djokovic would be the favorite to lift his 25th major.
Toni Nadal: “Djokovic is probably the best”
Besides talking about his nephew’s return to the courts, Toni was also asked about Djokovic’s win at the US Open. He admitted that it will be very difficult to see a tennis player accomplish as much as what the Serb has so far and that he’s ahead in the race of the ‘Big Three’ debate.
“Djokovic is a great champion and it will be very difficult to reach him, not only for my nephew but for anyone. It’s tough to determine who is the best in history…you have to opt for Djokovic because the titles support him”, he said.
“Although I think [Roger] Federer has sometimes managed to play at an even higher level, I think in the world of sport if we go by the numbers, Djokovic is without a doubt the best”, he added.
After defeating Carlos Alcaraz in Cincinnati, in what many consider one of the best three-setter finals ever, Nole proved too strong for Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final, where he defeated the Russian in straight sets.