The anticipation is growing ahead of what is billed to be Rafael Nadal’s final year on the ATP Tour.
It might be difficult to accept for fans, but relentless Rafa’s retirement from tennis is inching ever closer. After all, Father Time remains undefeated.
Nearly a year after a hip issue saw him bow out of the Australian Open, Nadal returns Down Under to mount what could be his final charge at more greatness.
Ahead of his first match post-surgery at the Brisbane International, the Spaniard released a clip of him hammering balls from the baseline at his academy in his beloved Mallorca.
The draw for the ATP 250 tournament is yet to be finalised, but waiting for the 37-year-old are the likes of Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov and rising star Ben Shelton.
“He is ready to give his all, to go full steam ahead,” said his coach Carlos Moya in a recent interview with atptour.com.
“Of course, he knows that he’s not at his best level right now, but little by little he will increase it. That’s also part of our work.
“You start on the first level, then the second, and you defeat the bosses, who get a little more difficult each time. This is a very similar thing to me. Things get increasingly difficult, but your level as a player increases too. I think we’re on the right path.”
The 2024 Brisbane International begins on 31 December in Australia.
