(VIDEO) "He is faster!... He needs to be careful": Rafael Nadal's latest training clip divides fans

A new video of Rafael Nadal training has divided fans regarding the level he is showcasing.

Babolat, the racquet sponsor of Rafael Nadal, shared a video featuring the Spanish tennis star practicing with a sparring partner at his academy approximately five months after undergoing hip surgery, aligning with the projected recovery timeline. While some of Nadal's followers observe that he may still appear somewhat slow, there is a noticeable improvement evident in his performance.

Here are a few of their comments:

"He is looking slow. Hope he regains his lateral movement even more."

"Things are looking pretty good for him. It's ps much better than the clips we used to get of Rafa during clay season before the surgery."

"He is faster step by step!!

He needs to be careful!"

Rafael Nadal, who has only played four matches this season, with the last one on January 18th in the second round of the Australian Open, is experiencing the consequences of his extended period of inactivity due to a hip injury that required surgery.

Former world No. 1 will conclude the year as world No. 662 with just 45 ATP points earned from the Australian Open's second-round exit, where he was defeated by Mackenzie McDonald.

To find the last time Rafa held such a low ranking, one must go back to April 29, 2002, when he was positioned at 762. At that time, the tennis player was only 15 years old.

The 22-times Grand Slam champion continues his training with an eye on making a comeback in the upcoming tour in the antipodes. He has secured wildcard invitations for tournaments, and he also has the option to utilize his protected ranking. However, upon his return, he faces the possibility of challenging early-round matches against players currently in the world's top 10.