Rafael Nadal Is Ready To Go For Australia, No Timetable On Retirement

Rafael Nadal is back on court practicing in Kuwait at his academy preparing for a return in Australia.

Nadal hasn’t been on tour since his hip injury suffered in Melbourne last year but will be back in Brisbane at the end of the month.

Nadal said earlier this week that he’s still not sure when the end is, but he will not announce it. He will be back, but for how long is unknown. It will depend on what his body will allow.

“It is a reality, there are many chances that it will be my last year, without any doubt,” Nadal said. “There are chances that it may only be half a year. There are possibilities that it may be a full year. There are possibilities that we may not be able to reach all that. These are things that right now I do not have the capacity to be able to answer. I am only in conditions to say that I return to compete. There are many possibilities that it is my last year and I am going to enjoy the tournaments in that way.”

Nadal added this via translation on social media outlets:

Hello everyone. Here’s more information following Friday’s announcement:

👉🏻 It’s been a long year…

👉🏻 Of course there have been many doubts, of course there have been times it seemed impossible…

👉🏻 I’m ready to go back, I don’t know what level, I don’ t know what to expect, I have no idea, but…

👉🏻 After many months I’ve been training good weeks at a level that allows me…

👉🏻 Up to today because I think it’s time to go back…

My final thought after the announcement… 📣
👉🏻 of course I thought there was no point (to compete again)… that’s a lot of years….

👉🏻 I have struggled and kept the illusion at all times

👉🏻 I’ve had the right people around me like I’ve always had in my entire career…

👉🏻 … people who want to see me play have made an impact…

👉🏻 There’s a lot of chances that this will be my last year, no doubt.

Thank you all.

Nadal’s uncle, Toni, added this on instagram (via translation): “Very excited to see @rafaelnadal. compete again. Even knowing this time will be “the hardest one yet”, I have great faith in him and believe he won’t disappoint.”

Mi última reflexión tras el anuncio… 📣

👉🏻 claro que he pensado que no tenía sentido (volver a competir)… que son muchos años…
👉🏻 He luchado y he mantenido la ilusión en todo momento
👉🏻 He tenido la gente adecuada a mi alrededor como siempre he tenido en toda mi carrera…… pic.twitter.com/xLnHMdZTqD

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) December 7, 2023

First practice between Rafael Nadal and Arthur Fils at Rafa Nadal Academy in Kuwait! 🔥

(🎥 azetaprod / alramezi.ali) pic.twitter.com/kQeNklGJmf

— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) December 8, 2023