Rafael Nadal currently recovering from a hip injury is hoping to return to the 2024 Australian says his uncle and former coach Toni Nadal while claiming that Novak Djokovic ‘is without a doubt the best’ in the business.
The 23-time Slam champion Nadal has been out action for 8 months now after sustaining a hip surgery at the Melbourne Park in the beginning of 2023 season. As a consequence, the 22-time slam champion pulled out of his beloved French Open for the first time since 2004 and has since fallen out of the top 200.
According to Toni, 2024 will be the final year of his nephew on the ATP tour and after undergoing a successful hip surgery earlier this summer the Spaniard is set to make a comeback in the next couple of months.
“Rafa is good, recovering,” revealed his coach of 27-years. “If all goes well he wants to return to the court for the 2024 Australian Open.”
Toni Nadal also praised his nephew’s eternal rival Novak Djokovic adding another major title to his tally at the Flushing Meadows, as he weighed in on tennis never-ending GOAT debate.
“Djokovic is a great champion and it will be very difficult to reach him, not only for my nephew, but for anyone,” said the veteran coach. “It’s very difficult to determine who is the best in history…you have to opt for Djokovic because the titles support him.
“Although I think [Roger] Federer has sometimes managed to play at an even higher level, I think in the world of sport if we go by the numbers, Djokovic is without a doubt the best.”
Despite Toni implying his legendary nephew’s return at the Australian Open, Spain’s Davis Cup David Ferrer has claimed there is a chance of Nadal’s return at the Davis Cup Finals if Spain enters the Final.