Rafael Nadal of Spain waves to the gang in his doubles match towards Australia’s Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson through the Brisbane Worldwide tennis match in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. (AP Photograph/Tertius Pickard)
BRISBANE, Australia–Rafael Nadal refused to rule out taking part in past the 2024 season as he prepares to return from a hip damage that sidelined him for almost a 12 months, however the Spaniard admitted on Sunday there was additionally a “excessive proportion” likelihood he might not return subsequent summer season.
The 22-times Grand Slam champion had arthroscopic surgical procedure on the iliopsoas muscle in his left hip in June after sustaining an damage throughout his second spherical defeat on the 2023 Australian Open by Mackenzie McDonald.
Nadal had beforehand mentioned he anticipated to carry the curtains down on his glittering however injury-plagued profession in 2024, however in a press convention forward of his comeback on the Brisbane Worldwide he left the door ajar.
“The issue about saying it’s going to be my final season is that I can’t predict what’s happening 100% sooner or later. That’s the factor,” Nadal mentioned forward of a doubles match on Sunday with associate Marc Lopez. “That’s why I say in all probability.”
The Brisbane match is a tune-up for the Jan. 14-28 Australian Open through the peak of the nation’s summer season.
Nadal performs Austria’s Dominic Thiem in his Brisbane singles opener on Tuesday – a blockbuster rematch of their 2018 and 2019 French Open title clashes, each of which the 37-year-old Spaniard received.
“It’s apparent it’s a excessive proportion that it’s going to be my final time taking part in in Australia. But when I’m right here subsequent 12 months, don’t inform me, ‘you mentioned it’s going to be your final season’ as a result of I didn’t say it,” mentioned Nadal, a two-time winner of the Australian Open males’s singles title.
“You by no means know what’s happening, you recognize? I can’t predict how I’m going to be within the subsequent six months. I can’t predict if my physique will permit me to get pleasure from tennis as a lot as I loved the previous 20 years.”
In an interview on Dec. 13 with Spanish newspaper El Pais and printed on Sunday, Nadal mentioned he was already fascinated by the French Open, the place he has received 14 of his main titles.
He mentioned he would have extra readability about his future by then.
“After I arrive in Paris, I’ll know whether it is my final 12 months. And there shall be a previous announcement,” Nadal mentioned.
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“There may have handed 5 months on the circuit and I’ll know my actuality: one can sense this stuff, however till he feels them he can’t do something.”