Rafael Nadal is still uncertain about whether or not he will be able to return at the 2024
Australian Open, despite that being his ideal aim.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has missed the majority of the 2023 season due to an injury he sustained at the Australian Open back in January. He then withdrew from several tournaments before announcing in May that he would be undergoing surgery and would therefore be absent for the rest of the year. He also suggested that 2024 could be his last season before retirement.
Since then, videos have emerged of him returning to training while his uncle Toni Nadal revealed that his nephew's goal was to return to the top levels of the sport at the major in Melbourne.
Nadal plays down hopes for Australian Open return
While the Australian Open's tournament director Craig Tiley has been very positive about Nadal's return, the player himself has been less optimistic. Recently, he re-iterated that the Slam was still just a goal and that he could not confirm anything yet due to the fact that he was still experiencing some discomfort while training.
"I am training more now than I did a month ago. That, for me, is progress. I have less pain, but I still have discomfort. I would like to increase the intensity.
"If I had less pain I would give you a return date, but I would *like* to return to Australia. I can't say for sure yet," he said.
Recently, Nadal also stated that he was not getting his hopes up regarding Grand Slam success upon his return.
"I want to be back on the court and compete, but I'm not expecting to come back and win Roland-Garros and Australia. That looks like very far away, even if not impossible. Things in sport change very quickly," he said in an interview with Movistar+.
