Rafael Nadal has low expectations for his Australian Open return, saying that he is not getting his hopes up.
Nadal has played just two ATP Tour matches in the last six months, and has dropped to sixth place in the world rankings. The lack of game time was due to a foot injury he picked up this year, which ruled him out of action for the final months of the year.
The 35-year-old will make a return at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, where he will play Andy Murray. He will then make an appearance at the Australian Open since his last major tournament in June.
Nadal has low expectations for the Australian Open, saying that he will try to be realistic about his comeback.
“I know the comeback will be not easy,” he said, as quoted by BBC.
“It has been a very tough period of time for me, honestly, so just to be here is great news for me,” the 20-time Grand Slam winner said in Abu Dhabi.
“I really hope the foot is going to get better and better to be again at the level that I want to be. If I am able to play with no limitations, I want to fight again for everything, so that’s the goal.”
Aussie days
On his chances in Melbourne, he remarked, “It’s going to be super difficult for me.
“If things are going well, I’m only going to play one tournament before Australia and these two matches here.
“The amount of hours on court at the competitive level before such a tough and demanding tournament like Australia will be not much but the main thing is still always the same – be healthy.
“If I am healthy, I still have the interior fire to keep going and to fight for my goals,” he concluded.
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