Rafael Nadal admits enjoying normal life amid injury issues was difficult: "What I missed is being healthy, honestly"
ATPMonday, 01 January 2024 at 11:30
Spain’s legendary tennis star Rafael Nadal has admitted that
he enjoyed normal life and stated that the one thing he missed the most during
his lengthy break from the sport was feeling ‘healthy’.
The 37-year-old, who is often regarded as one of the
greatest players in the history of tennis in the men’s single category, is set
to return to the sport after a gap of nearly one year. He missed three Grand
Slams in the process, largely because of a knee injury he sustained in the early
part of 2023.
Nadal, who is set to face Austria’s Dominic Thiem in the
first round of the ATP event in Brisbane, was recently quoted in a report where
he admitted that that one thing he missed the most during his time off the court
was feeling healthy and waking up ‘without pain’.
"I missed to feel myself ready to compete,” said the
former world number one. “I didn't miss the competition because during all this
period of time, my body was not ready to compete. So when you feel that bad,
you can't miss the competition.
“What I missed is being healthy, honestly. Wake up and don't
have pain. Have the chance to have a normal life because during the last year,
for such a lot of months, I was not able to have a normal life and enjoy
playing golf or doing the normal things that I like to do with my friends or
with my family. That's what I missed the most.
"Then when I starting to feel myself ready, like now,
of course I am excited to come back to the tennis courts and excited to come
back to the competition. Is something that I loved. If I don't have the
determination to do it and the passion, as I said before from Andy, I will not
be here.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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