The 37-year-old Rafael Nadal is expected to play in Brisbane soon after missing the majority of last January due to a hip issue.
Before returning to the courts next month, Rafael Nadal, the former world number one, stated on Monday that he expects “nothing” from himself. Although Nadal, 37, hasn’t played since January of last year due to a hip injury, he will be back in Brisbane soon. Before beginning his final year before his anticipated retirement, the Spaniard fell to 663rd in the world. He will utilize the tournament as a warm-up to the Australian Open in Melbourne.
“I believe I’m prepared, and I have faith and hope that everything goes smoothly and I get to have fun on the court,” Rafael Nadal stated in a social media video.
“I set no expectations for myself.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner continued, “To have the ability not to demand myself what I have demanded myself throughout my career.”
Since being injured, Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic—who currently has 24 major titles—has surpassed Rafael Nadal in the amount of Grand Slam tournaments won.
With the intention of playing at the French Open, which he has won a record 14 times, Rafael Nadal will attempt to return to the greatest level in Australia.
With the Grand Slams and the Olympics, where he won gold in singles in Beijing in 2008 and doubles in Rio in 2016, he is expected to have a hectic last season.
“I think I’m in a different scenario right now. I’m in uncharted territory,” Nadal remarked.
“I’ve internalized the trait I’ve had my entire life: setting the highest standards for myself.
“Right now what I really hope is to be able not to do that, to accept things are going to be very difficult at the beginning and give myself the necessary time,” he said.
