Days after announcing his return to the court at the Brisbane International early next year, legendary tennis player and 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal said he will participate in the tournament in Australia without any expectations.
The former World No. 1 brought fans closer to his current mindset in a philosophical message delivered in Spanish. The 37-year-old Spaniard has not played since losing in the second round of the Australian Open earlier this year due to a long-standing hip problem. The hip injury was a severe blow, forcing him to pull out from the French Open, a tournament in which he claimed 14 titles. The Spanish player stated he would return to action in January, with an Australian Open appearance planned for the following month.
Speaking ahead of his return, Nadal stated that the most difficult thing for him to control next year would be his own expectations.
“I have been afraid to announce things because in the end it’s [been] a year without competing and it’s a hip operation. But what worries me most is not the hip, it’s everything else. I think I’m ready and I trust and hope that things go well and that it gives me the opportunity to enjoy myself on the court,” Nadal said in a video posted on his social media handle X.
“I hope to feel again those nerves, that illusion, those fears, those doubts. I expect myself not to expect anything. This is the truth. To have the ability not to demand from myself that I have demanded throughout my career.