Novak Djokovic believes Rafael Nadal should not be underestimated at the Australian Open despite his long injury lay-off.
Nadal, 37, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, is set to make his return in Brisbane this weekend ahead of featuring in the first major of 2024 in Australia.
The Spaniard’s last game was a second-round Australian Open defeat to Mackenzie McDonald in January.
Djokovic won three Grand Slams in 2023 to reach a record 24 for his career, overtaking Nadal’s best of 22.
The World No1 said ahead of the tournament: “I always expect him [Nadal] to play at his best, to be honest.
“Many times they’ve signed him out, they’ve done that with me as well. But we’ve proved them wrong.
“He’s not a kind of a player that will come back to the tour just to play — let’s say — on a medium level, play a few matches.
“He wants to win titles, he wants to be the best, that’s why he is who he is: a legend of our sport.
“I’m sure that his training and preparation is done with an intention to win a Grand Slam.”
Nadal has said 2024 is likely to be his final year on the tour after slipping down to 670th in the rankings following his hip surgery.
But World No2 Carlos Alcaraz has echoed Djokovic’s thoughts, saying he expects his fellow countryman to be in top form Down Under.
The Wimbledon champion added: “I saw some videos of him practising, he’s 100%.
“I hear from other players that they practised with Rafa in these past weeks and they said that he’s going to return to his good level. His top level.
“I think he’s ready for great things this year as well.”
