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• Djokovic expects Nadal back for more Grand Slams not just to play | France24

“I always expect him (Nadal) to play at his best, to be honest. Many times they’ve signed him out, they’ve done that with me as well. But we’ve proved them wrong,” Djokovic told journalists on the sidelines of an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Riyadh.

“He’s not a kind of a player that will come back to the tour just to play – let’s say – on a medium level, play a few matches,” continued Djokovic.

“He wants to win titles, he wants to be the best, that’s why he is who he is: a legend of our sport. I’m sure that his training and preparation is done with an intention to win a Grand Slam.”

Alcaraz added: “I think he’s ready… I saw some videos of him practising, he’s 100 percent.

I hear from other players that they practised with Rafa in these past weeks and they said that he’s going to return to his good level. His top level.”

“I think he’s ready for great things this year as well,” added the world number two of his compatriot.

• ‘Comes Back Like a Phoenix’- Rafael Nadal’s Fan Girl, the Russian WTA Star, Dishes Out Real Feelings About His Return | essentiallysports.com

Daria Kasatkina gushed: “I’m already happy that he’ll come back. It’s amazing how he proves it every time.” Here, the Russian star captured the collective sentiment of Rafael Nadal’s enthusiasts worldwide. She set the stage of description for her admiration. However, it doesn’t stop there. Daria delved deeper into the enigma that is Rafa. She further stated: “Everyone writes him off, but every time he comes back like a phoenix and wins something. It’s totally unbelievable.” Here, Kasatkina’s words encapsulated the awe-inspiring resilience of the Spanish maestro. 

As the interview unfolded, the conversation pivoted to Nadal’s current state. Daria asserts: “I’ve heard that Rafa is in very good shape right now — it’s the most important thing.” 

• Tim Henman tempers expectation for Rafael Nadal’s return – ‘Amazing if he won any tournament’ | Eurosport

“However, if he can stay injury free and play tournaments at the beginning of the year, to a certain extent, I feel like his comeback really starts once he gets on the clay courts and we will have had an opportunity to see where he’s at, how is his fitness, how is his movement, how is his body, how does he recover after matches?

“I think then when we get to [see him] play, then we can say if there is a chance of Rafa adding to his Grand Slam tally. It’d be amazing if he won any tournament on the tour because it’s not easy to do.

“But again, Rafa’s not there to come back and make quarters and semis in a couple of events. He wants to win the biggest titles. And so, I think the early part of next year will tell us a lot as to whether Rafa is going to be a contender.”

• Rafael Nadal tougher to play than Novak Djokovic, says top ATP star | tennishead.net

“It’s kind of the same with Novak,” Medvedev told The National. “It’s just that all the seasons that he played he wins a lot of matches and doesn’t lose many. It’s very tough to beat him.

“Actually with Rafa maybe I even had even less success than with Novak in a way. But we had some tight matches where I felt like I could win and maybe he got the edge in the end.

“So, for me, it’s going to be a great challenge if I have to face him. I don’t know at the moment his shape, no one knows, and how he’s going to handle.

“But from what I saw, he seems to be doing good and that’s great for tennis.”

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