Rafa Nadal says he genuinely believes he will play again soon, Novak Djokovic hopes for at least one more match against great rival | Tennis News

After an injury-marred year, there were concerns around Rafael Nadal’s return to the game. On Thursday, however, the Spaniard gave the strongest hint yet that there is still tennis left in him and a comeback is definitely on the cards.
Nadal, who has played just four matches on the tour all year, underwent surgery on a hip muscle in June after withdrawing from a spate of events during his favourite clay court season.
“I confirmed yesterday I’ll be back, Stay tuned these days when I decide and announce with my team when and where,” Nadal posted a message on his social media channels.
Elaborating his plans for a comeback, Nadal told ATP Tour that the hope was always there that he would play at some level once again but only can he confirm that he is ready to step back onto the courts once again.
“Until now I didn’t know if I would play tennis again someday, and now I genuinely believe I will. I’m still not ready to say when, but I’m able to train increasingly longer, and the progress is good,” he was quoted as saying.
“We know that the pain will never disappear, but I’ve taken a step forward,” added the Spaniard. “That’s a lot for me. Talking about tennis is another matter altogether, as is the level I’ll be able to play at. But the steps toward trying to play again have been big and positive, which is what we have been fighting for for several months. I’m confident I’ll be able to say something more specific in the coming weeks.”Most Read
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In May this year, Nadal had announced his withdrawal from Roland Garros, missing out altogether at his favourite tournament for the first time in his career. Back then, he had hinted that – if he is able to make a comeback after all – that 2024 could well be his last season as a professional. “I try to enjoy and try to say goode [to] all the tournaments that have been important for me in my tennis career during [next] year and just try to enjoy that that, being competitive and enjoying being on court,” he had said then.
“It would be nice for the sport to have at least one more match between Nadal and me,” Djokovic told reporters at the sidelines of the ATP Finals when asked about Nadal’s comeback. “That’s the biggest rivalry, in terms of the amount of matches played, that this sport has ever had. So hopefully that can happen. He’s a big warrior, he’s somebody who never gives up and with all the injuries that he had, keeps going. “That’s definitely something that you have to respect and admire about him and his spirit. For the world of tennis, no doubt that it’s amazing news that he will be back.”
Earlier, Australian Open director Craig Tiley announced that Nadal is set to feature in the season-opening Grand Slam, Down Under. But Nadal had been non-committal in the public, instead thanking the tournament for the vote of confidence and that he would continue to train hard to make it.