{"id":14668,"date":"2023-12-29T03:45:57","date_gmt":"2023-12-29T08:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/rafael-nadal-being-realistic-ahead-of-first-tournament-in-year\/29\/12\/2023\/"},"modified":"2023-12-29T03:45:57","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T08:45:57","slug":"rafael-nadal-being-realistic-ahead-of-first-tournament-in-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/rafael-nadal-being-realistic-ahead-of-first-tournament-in-year\/29\/12\/2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Rafael Nadal being realistic ahead of first tournament in year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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BRISBANE, Australia — Rafael Nadal<\/a> is not putting a lot of pressure on himself ahead of his first tournament in nearly a year.<\/p>\n

The 37-year-old Spanish left-hander is set to return at the Brisbane International next week after almost a year out with a hip injury. The 22-time Grand Slam singles champion’s last match was a second-round loss at the Australian Open in January, and Nadal eventually decided to have surgery on his troublesome hip in June.<\/p>\n

Thousands queued for a glimpse of Nadal on Friday at a fan appearance in downtown Brisbane, where Nadal was keen to play down the prospect of a title in the Queensland state capital — or a third Australian Open crown beginning Jan. 14 in Melbourne.<\/p>\n

“It’s impossible to think about winning tournaments today,” he said. “What’s really possible is to enjoy the comeback. I don’t expect much — one year without being on the court.”<\/p>\n

But he was quick to mention his Melbourne Park wins when prompted, two against-the-odds titles won in 2009 and 2022 that set aside the current world No. 672’s low expectations.<\/p>\n

In 2009 he outlasted countryman Fernando Verdasco<\/a> over five hours in the semifinal before beating Roger Federer<\/a> two days later in a four-hour final. Thirteen years later, after six months sidelined with a foot injury, he came from two sets behind to beat Daniil Medvedev<\/a> in the final.<\/p>\n

“I still don’t know,” he said of how he won that 2009 title. “Before the match it was impossible to imagine myself winning that match.”<\/p>\n

Nadal has said 2024 is “probably going to be my last year on the professional tour.”<\/p>\n

But he said he was encouraged by his fitness, confessing he feels “much better than what I expected a month ago.”<\/p>\n

“I can’t have super long-term goals because I don’t see myself playing a super long time,” he said Friday. “I don’t know how things are going to keep going. I’m not a player who tries to predict what can happen in the short term, and it’s even tougher in the medium period of time.”<\/p>\n

No. 8-ranked Holger Rune<\/a> is the highest-ranked player in the 32-man Brisbane field, while Andy Murray<\/a>, Ben Shelton<\/a>, Grigor Dimitrov<\/a> and Sebastian Korda<\/a> headline the other internationals.<\/p>\n

Former No. 1 and new mom Naomi Osaka<\/a> is in the women’s field and will make her WTA comeback at the tournament. A two-time Australian Open and US Open champion, Osaka pulled out of last year’s Australian Open in Melbourne, then later revealed she was pregnant.<\/p>\n

The U.S.-based Japanese player and her American rapper boyfriend, Cordae, became parents to daughter Shai in Los Angeles in July.<\/p>\n

Reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka<\/a>, Elena Rybakina<\/a>, Jelena Ostapenko<\/a>, Victoria Azarenka<\/a>, Sofia Kenin<\/a> and Sloane Stephens<\/a> are also in the 54-player women’s draw.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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BRISBANE, Australia — Rafael Nadal is not putting a lot of pressure on himself ahead of his first tournament in nearly a