ATP: Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome - when is Rafael Nadal coming back?
While attending a soccer game on Thursday , Rafael Nadal gave a brief update on his current condition. In terms of comeback date, nothing has been decided yet.
by Robin Huiber
last edit:
Mar 03, 2023, 07:22 pm
In all likelihood, something will happen after the tournament that tennis fans who are graduating from high school this year could not witness during their lifetime: then the ATP will publish a world ranking that does not list Rafael Nadal as a member of the top ten. The Spaniard has made himself comfortable there for 18 years, plagued again and again by injuries from which he has always come back.
Speaking of which: The reason why Nadal will not serve at Tennis Paradise, where he lost to Taylor Fritz in the final last year, is of course also buried in physical complaints. Nadal is training again, but he didn't seem particularly optimistic when he visited the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid on Thursday evening.
Which may also have something to do with the fact that his favorite football team, Real Madrid, lost 1-0 to arch-rivals FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. In any case, he does not know when he will make his comeback, according to the 22-time Grand Slam champion. Most recently, Nadal was in action at the Australian Open, where he lost in round two to the American Mackenzie McDonald.
Nadal loses to Alcaraz in Madrid
One thing is clear: the return will take place on ashes. But whether in Monte Carlo, in Madrid or only in Rome - Nadal left that open. In the Principality, the record champion was also missing last year, in Madrid he was eliminated in the quarter-finals against Carlos Alcaraz, in Rome a round earlier against Denis Shapovalov.
However, what followed is known. A monstrous five-set success in the round of 16 at Roland Garros against Félix Auger-Aliassime. Then the almost impossible victory against Novak Djokovic. Then the epic semi-final overshadowed by Alexander Zverev's injury. And finally the safe victory against Casper Ruud in the final.
That is certainly the big goal this season. And Rafael Nadal knows his body so well that he will know exactly when to return to the Tour. Because that also let football fan Nadal know that after all he was not 20 years old anymore.