Martin Jaite, the former top-ranked player in the world, gave Rafael Nadal the nickname of a player with ‘nine lives’ in tennis. The director of the tournament in Buenos Aires praised Rafa’s incredible resilience and determination in overcoming injuries.
Jaite expressed his excitement for Nadal’s performance in the upcoming months. The Argentine emphasized that Nadal’s success will ultimately depend on the condition of his body and its ability to withstand the challenges of competition after his longest break from the sport.
After facing another setback at the beginning of the season in Brisbane, Rafa is working hard at his home in Mallorca to prepare for the ATP 250 event in Doha next week. Nadal will be participating in Doha for the first time since 2016, aiming to win his second title in the desert.
The 2023 season proved to be the most difficult in Nadal’s career, as he played only four matches and finished the year in Melbourne in January! Despite the setbacks, Nadal managed to win two Grand Slam titles in the first half of 2022, solidifying his legacy and standing alone with 22 Major victories.
The Spanish player struggled after Wimbledon, suffering from an abdominal injury that affected the second part of the season. Nadal started the 2023 season at the United Cup, losing two matches after being in a winning position, and arrived in Melbourne without much confidence.
In the first round, Nadal defeated Jack Draper and faced Mackenzie McDonald in the second round. However, Nadal suffered a serious left hip injury during the closing stages of the second set, fighting until the end but ultimately losing in straight sets.
Rafa went through a surgical procedure in June and was absent for the remainder of the year, getting ready for his return. Nadal felt positive on the training court and in the gym, scheduling his comeback for Brisbane at the start of 2024.
Rafa’s initial match after a hiatus of 349 days was against Dominic Thiem, and the seasoned player performed admirably from a tied score of 5-5 in the first set, leaving his long-standing rival behind. Nadal triumphed over Jason Kubler in the second round with another impressive display in terms of serving and returning, conserving energy and setting up a quarter-final clash with another Australian player, Jordan Thompson.
It turned out to be a grueling battle that lasted nearly three and a half hours, and Nadal ultimately couldn’t withstand the physical exertion. Rafa could have avoided injury had he not squandered three opportunities to win the match in the second set, resulting in a 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 defeat.
Rafa felt discomfort in his hip after giving his all on the court, necessitating a medical break during the deciding set but choosing not to retire. Rafa fought until the very end, losing the set 6-3 and allowing Jordan to emerge victorious.
Following an MRI examination, it was discovered that Nadal had a small tear in his muscle, leading to his withdrawal from the first major tournament of the season in Melbourne. Rafa returned home and resumed training after a proper period of rest, hoping to compete without any injuries in Doha against competitors like Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Karen Khachanov.
“Rafa is incredibly resilient. He has faced numerous injuries in the past but always manages to make a comeback. The future will depend on how his body responds. He has a strong desire to play competitive tennis again, but it will be impossible if his body cannot handle the physical demands,” commented Martin Jaite.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org