Nadal Ready to Roar Back, But Coach Tempers Australian Open Expectations

• Rafael Nadal is set for a comeback at Brisbane International.
• Nadal still regaining form after hip surgery.
• This season was Nadal’s final one.

In order to get ready for the Australian Open in 2024, Rafael Nadal’s coach, Carlos Moya, played down expectations as the Spaniard got ready to make his eagerly anticipated comeback at the Brisbane International in January.

Despite Nadal’s impressive on-court progress throughout his more than two months of preparation, Moya recognized that competing at the highest level during a Grand Slam would be an entirely different experience.

“Rafa’s going to go from training, which he’s doing very well, to competing. It’s impossible to have the same conditions in training as in a match,” Moya said in an interview with the ATP Tour.

“Playing the best of five sets, win, rest, return to court two days later… That’s the doubt I have right now, especially for a Grand Slam. But we have time. If the Australian Open started tomorrow, it would be a real fear.”

Moya continued, saying that Rafa will be in excellent form by the time the event in Brisbane kicks off in one more month.

“There’s still a month left, a tournament before in Brisbane, demanding training … I think all of this will put him in a position to be able to endure it. But now that’s my fear.”

“I’ve never been of the thought that Rafa needs rhythm because he’s too good for that,” Moya said. “But now the situation is different.”

Not to mention, Nadal stated earlier this year in an interview that the 2024 season will be his final one.

At the Australian Open in 2023, the 22-time Grand Slam winner had a muscle ailment that required surgery in June. It will be over a year before he competes again on the court.

It is noteworthy that Nadal, who is presently ranked World No. 668, dropped out of the top 10 rankings for the first time in his brilliant career at the age of 20.

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