Toni Nadal has offered an updated on the Rafael Nadal’s training and comeback as he thinks his cautious nephew is taking steps in right direction ahead of the 2024 Australian Open return.
The renowned coach also believes that 22-time major winner “should be in a good condition to compete” heading into the Melbourne Park in January. Toni took the responsibility of coaching Nadal from the developmental years of his childhood to stop in 2017 and by the time his legendary nephew had won 16 of his 22 majors.
Toni is currently overlooking the work as a director of Rafa Nadal Academy back home in Mallorca and has also been working with ATP #19 seed Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime since 2021. Nadal is one the sidelines of the ATP tour since sustaining a hip injury in a R2 match against Mackenzie McDonald at 2023 Australian Open back in January. He had to undergo arthroscopic surgery on the injured hip muscle and was forced to miss the rest of season amid delayed comeback bids that only extended.
While recovering from the stubborn injury, Nadal missed his beloved French Open for the first time since 2004 and is currently training ahead to make a return on the Australian hardcourts in January 2024 which according to him will also be his final season of the career.
Talking to the Onda Cero Spanish radio, Toni spoke discussed the prospects of the former world No. 1’s comeback in Melbourne Park while addressing the challenges the 37-year-old may face on the path of rocky return.
“My nephew intends to be cautious, which is the right approach. But I believe that for the Australian Open, my nephew should be in good condition to compete, all going well, because I have seen him train,” said the 62-year-old.
“Every day he is improving a bit. It’s true that it has been a very long-term injury, but well, that’s how it is. In high-level sports, in the end, it’s almost obligatory to play with pain, unfortunately, because you push your body to the limit, and pushing it to the limit is what leads to all these problems.
“He is aware that the situation is complicated. Let’s say he manages to get to Australia, it won’t be easy to compete again with an added problem. He won’t be a top seed, and from the very beginning he could face a high-level player.
“When Rafa plays a Grand Slam and faces a manageable opponent in the beginning, he gains momentum and becomes dangerous starting from the quarter-finals.”
Craig Tiley, the Australian Open Tournament Director, revealed last month that Nadal informed him to participate in the upcoming edition of the event.
“We can reveal exclusively here that Rafa will be back. He’s been off for most of the year, and in talking to him over the last few days he confirmed he will be back, which we’re really excited about. That’s awesome,” said Tiley.
Nadal, however, as of yet has remained unable to confirm about his return specifically. The Spaniard won his last Grand Slam title at the 2022 French Open.