2024-01-05 16:21:41
The return of Rafael Nadal The circuit left a bittersweet feeling. The nice thing regarding seeing him in action once more and at a high level, he was somehow overshadowed by the concern regarding his physique days before the Australian Open (starts Sunday, January 14). He explained this at a press conference. following saying goodbye to Brisbane.
In this return in 2024 following almost a year without activity, the Spaniard played three matches in the ATP 250. He beat none other than Dominic Thiem in his debut in straight sets, in the second round he beat Jason Kubler also in two partials, but ran into with Jordan Thompson in the quarterfinals and fell in three. Although that was not all, because His grimaces of pain and the requested medical times set off alarms.
Nadal returned with two wins and one loss in 2024.
Third Pickard / LaPresse
Against Kubler he had used the five minutes of the regulation between the first and second set, in fact that earned him a warning for exceeding time. Although there he gave no signs of pain. But once morest Thompson the situation changed.
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What Rafael Nadal said regarding his pain in Brisbane
In a press conference following being defeated 5-7, 7-6 (6) and 6-3 once morest the local tennis player, Nadal gave details of what he felt and left doubts regarding his presence in the first Grand Slam of the season.
“I have to see how I get up tomorrow. These days, when I have spoken to you, I have always done so with caution because I know that following a year, it is difficult for the body to play tournaments at the highest level. You never know how your body is going to react. That’s why I have to accept things as they come. I hope it’s nothing important and I hope to have the opportunity to train next week and play in Melbourne. The truth is, right now I’m not 100% sure of anything,” explained the manacorí.
There is a lot of uncertainty regarding how Rafa’s body will evolve, as he felt pain in his operated hip and left with his head down, an alarming situation. “It is in a similar area to last year, but different. I feel it more on a muscular level. Last year it was the tendon, and this feels more like a tired muscle,” he explained.
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The Spaniard was surprised when he returned to the court for the second set.
And he added: “What is certain is that it is not the same as last year, because I felt it instantly. Today, I did not feel that. The only problem is that it is in a similar area and that makes you a little more worried than normal. The best thing that might happen is that the muscle is super loaded following the effort of these three days and this tough match. “That would be ideal, but we can’t know that today.”
It should be remembered that the Spaniard had not played since the Australian Open last year, where he was injured and missed the entire season because he had to undergo surgery. Still, he tried to stay positive: “What you can see is that I have been able to play these games well. A lot can happen to the body following a year without playing. Let’s hope it’s just that, the muscle is tired. “It would be a normal process of this.”
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