{"id":296388,"date":"2023-11-03T15:54:39","date_gmt":"2023-11-03T15:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/?p=296388"},"modified":"2023-11-03T15:54:39","modified_gmt":"2023-11-03T15:54:39","slug":"rafael-nadals-injury-return-laid-out-by-his-uncle-toni-ahead-of-australian-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/tennis\/rafael-nadals-injury-return-laid-out-by-his-uncle-toni-ahead-of-australian-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Rafael Nadal’s injury return laid out by his uncle Toni ahead of Australian Open"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rafael Nadal set for 2024 farewell after pulling out of French Open<\/h3>\n

Rafael Nadal\u2019s uncle Toni believes that his nephew will make his long-awaited return from injury at the 2024 Australian Open at the beginning of the year. The Spanish tennis legend has been out of action since this year\u2019s opening Grand Slam due to hip and psoas injuries, before confirming that next season could be his last.<\/p>\n

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley claimed that Nadal would be back in time for the tournament in January, though Nadal himself played down that prospect. He wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he \u201cappreciated the vote of confidence\u201d but would only make his comeback when he is ready.<\/p>\n

But Nadal\u2019s uncle Toni is of the opinion that with the 22-time Major winning stepping up his rehabilitation, that return could well take place in Melbourne. \u201cI believe that it will come at the Australian Open,\u201d Toni Nadal told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously my nephew intends to be cautious, which is what he has to do. Every day he is getting a little better. It is true that it has been a very long injury, but hey, it is what it is.<\/p>\n

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“It is a high-level sport; in the end it is almost obligatory to play with pain, unfortunately, because you push your body to the limit. Pushing it to the limit is what makes you have all these problems.”<\/p>\n

Nadal was overtaken by Novak Djokovic this year in the all-time race for most men\u2019s Grand Slam titles. He does have the opportunity to go ahead of his rival next year, but Toni explained that due to his drop in rankings and little momentum going into the tournament, competing for silverware again will be tough.<\/p>\n

“He is aware that the situation is complicated,\u201d Nadal added. \u201cLet’s say he manages to get to Australia; it will not be easy to compete again with an added problem.<\/p>\n