Rafael Nadal’s plan to shine again in the elite of world tennis

The Spanish tennis player will return to activity after a long injury which kept him out of competition for almost a year. The Manacorí legend herself confirmed that her return will take place in the first days of January in the Australian city of Brisbane, which includes a series of works ahead of the competition. The protected ranking will help you position yourself in the best competitions, despite your inactivity.

This Friday December 1st Raphael Nadal surprised and delivered the news that millions of tennis fans around the world had been waiting for. It’s that the former number 1 of the planet announced his return to the professional circuit after being absent from the courts for more than ten months due to physical problems .

The Spaniard published a moving video on his social networks in which he confirmed that “After a year, the time has come to come back. It will be in Brisbane, the first week of January. We’ll see each other there” announced the winner of 22 Grand Slams.

An expected return, since the Manacorí played his last official match on January 18, 2023, when he lost to the American Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets in the second round of the Australian Open. .

That fateful day, Nadal felt pain in the iliopsoas of his left leg which has marginalized him from sporting activity until today.

Rafa played his last match on the circuit in mid-January. Photo: REUTERS/Loren Elliott

The return plan

The return of the Hispanic legend will take place in Brisbane ATP 250 in Australia an event which was one of the last to confirm its presence on the calendar for the coming season (in September, the capital of the state of Queensland returns to the circuit after five years of absence).

The tournament will take place between December 31, 2023 and January 7, 2024 and in him the winner of 92 ATP titles will enter directly into the main draw, either via an invitation from the organization, or via the protected ranking (today it is 663°) , the one he has due to his long injury. In any case, in this championship and in the following ones, the 37-year-old tennis player He will not be seeded so he will have to play the first rounds .

ANDProtected classification is one of the weapons Hispanics have. It must be requested by the tennis player himself from the ATP. . For that, You must prove that you have been injured for more than six months . If your request is accepted, The tennis player obtains a provisional ranking calculated on the basis of his results three months before the injury, which in the case of the Spaniard places him in 11th position.

The truth is that Nadal’s decision to return to competition in Brisbane is not accidental: he does it because it is an ideal event to get back into rhythm after a long absence, especially thinking about the greater challenge that represents THE Australian Open (January 14 to January 28), a competition that the Balearic Islands have won twice (2009 and 2022) and which they intend to reach at a good level, especially since he could come up against a favorite in the first phase .

In this sense, the left-hander is in the middle of an intense and extensive preseason. , which also served to confirm that he is fit to compete. In this way, He will continue his preparation in his native Manacor, then settle in Kuwait (where he has an academy) and finish in Mallorca, before going to Australia. .

In fact, it will be in the Middle East, starting December 8, where will begin its final setup with the promising French tennis player Arthur Fils (36th) – recent vice-champion of the Next Gen ATP Finals – as fight .

“It’s very important for me to play with one of the best players of all time. I will do my best for him, but I have a big season ahead of me, so I will also do my best for myself. I will try to take advantage of it too,” said Arthur Fils in statements collected by the ATP.

Furthermore, Son stressed that it was a complete surprise that the Spanish tennis player decided to travel to Kuwait to face him. “I was very happy, I was very surprised when he asked me to train with him,” he stressed. A few words which show how important this face to face between the two players will be.

Despite the above and the excitement surrounding the return of one of the best tennis players in history, We must base the aspirations generated regarding his return in 2024, which will perhaps mark the end of his professional career. .

In this sense, it is a mystery that remains to be solved if Nadal will be able to get closer to his best form and win a tournament. For this reason, and after a long period of convalescence, His main goal is to play at a good level in special championships for him, such as the Conde de Godó in Barcelona, ​​the Masters 1000 in Madrid, Roland Garros and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. .

Follow at El Deportivo

Source: Latercera

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