ARTICLES:
- Resurgent Nadal happy with fitness: “The surgery…is not bothering me at all” | tennismajors.com
“The positive thing is first two matches haven’t been super-long matches,” he said. “Of course, I had some feelings after the first match. I mean, (it has) been a year without playing with the tension of a real match, so I felt a little bit some muscles tired here and there.
“In general terms, I felt good. Important thing is the surgery on the psoas-iliac and the hip, that’s not bothering me at all. That’s something that is super-important for me.
“For the moment, the foot is answering well. That’s for me the main issue, that the foot is problematic, and for the moment I am able to move myself with no limitations. That’s for me makes me feel happy and be able to play better without a doubt.”
- Toni Nadal: Rafa’s Return Better Than We Expected | Tennis Now
Toni Nadal says he’s pleased with Rafa’s performance and is intrigued to see how he will respond against higher-ranked opposition in both Brisbane and Melbourne.
“The truth is that Rafa can be very happy and excited because his level is good enough,” Toni Nadal told Onda Cero Mallorca. “It’s true that we have to see it in more difficult matches, but at the moment things are going better than we expected.
“Rafa has always had the condition of coming back by getting back into form quickly. This time it’s more difficult and we’ll see if he can continue like this.”
- 2024 vision: What the ATP season could bring | Roland-Garros
Sidelined by a hip injury and then subsequent surgery for pretty much the whole of 2023, ‘Big Three’ gladiator Rafael Nadal is ready to roll in 2024.
The 14-time Roland-Garros champion is cautious over his return to action – which has already begun very well with an impressive win over Dominic Thiem at the Brisbane International – but the tennis world will be buoyant to see the Mallorca native’s unmistakable passion, on-court routines and lassoed shots.
It could well be Nadal’s farewell tour and the packed houses, the outpouring of emotion for a modern-day icon at every tournament he plays will make it a must-watch feature of the season.
What can the 37-year-old bring to the party? What is 100 percent assured is that the 22-time major winner will give it every last drop from the tank.
VIDEO: Rafael Nadal: The Comeback
Rafael Nadal’s return to ATP Tour action after 12 months away could barely have been more impressive, but it came with hard work and determination
Social media related to Rafa:
Good luck for today. Vamos Rafa❤️
Doing a great job with the come back all the best for your next match 👍 vamos rafa congratulations on your 2 wins already
Make no mistake-we are thrilled to see you back. BTW-ya had me with the Bag Check🫶
Yea, Carlitos, this is tennis👏💪👍🤛🍀🎾❤️
Just renewed subscription to TennisTV… I lost interest for a whole year:)
Great to have Rafa back!
During the work there is no way I can watch Rafa, but often I check the results on my mobile phone.
You’ll be fiiiiiiine.
You’ve come back so many times and shut up your detractors. This time is no different.
Glad to see that he is enjoying.. My only fear is the unlucky AO bad vibes he gets one way or another (except 2022, all other years were some sort of bad luck)
Everyone thought Roger was gonna win in 2009. Never count Rafa out.
I do get you about the curse of the AO though.
Six finals, four losses, two of those losses Rafa was a break up in the fifth then went on to lose I believe.
If anyone has the mental strength to get those circumstances out of his brain, it’s Rafa. He proved that in 2022 when he was a break up in the fifth against Meds then subsequently didn’t consolidate the break. I’m just thinking from memory here but I’m sure that happened.
Then Rafa turned the air blue during a live interview on Eurosport, which was mid afternoon GMT. Oh, that really tickled my funny bone. Mats Wilander and cum on Tim apologising profusely for Rafa’s foul mouth. Haha.