Rafa Nadal had a bitter week in Australia. The Spaniard returned to the courts and did so with a pair of convincing victories at the Brisbane tournament, victories marred by injury in his quarterfinal match against Jordan Thompson and which prevented him from competing in the Open de Australia.
Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be a serious problem. and the former world number 1 will be back in a few weeks to continue his preparations for, above all, the clay court season which starts in April.
So far, the 50 points added in Brisbane have moved him up 221 places and this Monday he will appear with 95 points as number 451 in the ATP ranking, a classification that will last very little.
And missing the Australian Open would cost Nadal the 45 points he earned in Melbourne last year.so he will stay in his locker with the 50 points earned last week.
That will take you out of about 200 positions on the way back to around position 650.the ranking is more or less where 2023 ended and the current campaign began.
Rafa Nadal reassured his fans by confirming that the muscle microtear he suffered was not on the same side where he had the injury. So that, Rafa emphasized that despite this bump in the road, his goal is the same: “to be at my best level in 3 months.”
The “3 months” margin to regain his level coincides with the start dates of the clay court season, an area where Rafa is the historical king of world tennis and where he is likely to play his best again tennis. in 2024 that could be his last year in the elite.
In any case, the Spaniard wants to test himself in Indian Wellsin two months and on March 3 he has an exhibition in Las Vegas against Carlos Alcaraz.
Those are Rafa’s plans and it is clear that he will not jeopardize the season on the ground and his great goal, and also the desire and hope, which is nothing but to fight and win, if possible, his 15 Roland Garros. The evolution of the injury, his feelings and confidence are undoubtedly the ones that set the agenda of Manacorí.
Source: La Verdad
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