Rafael Nadal’s 2023 season is one he will always want to forget. After the Spanish star had defeated Daniil Medvedev in the 2022 Australian Open to win the title and defeated Casper Rudd to win his 14th Roland Garros in Paris, including losing only six times in 2022,
Fans were hoping to see Rafael Nadal spring up with more surprises this season but the 38-year-old has yet to play a game since losing to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the Australian Open due to a hip injury. Furthermore, Nadal has dropped to his lowest ranking on the ATP Live race for the first time since turning pro in 2003.
Rafael Nadal hits record low in ranking
Rafael Nadal, who has played just three matches and lost them this year due to ongoing hip and abdomen issues, and that has made him finish 2023 as the world number 664. The first two matches Nadal played were at the United Cup, where he lost to Britain’s Cameron Norrie and Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the round-robin stage.
At the Australian Open, the Spaniard was able to scale past Jack Draper in the first round before losing to Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets in the second round. That defeat to McDonald was the last match Nadal played, and it came on January 16. Meanwhile, in 2022 he lost only six matches and featured in all Grand Slam events.
As reported last month, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tilley says he has received personal assurances that Rafael Nadal will be ready for the 2024 Australian Open and perhaps a farewell season. However, Rafael Nadal was supposed to fall below the top 700 by now but has been under a protected ranking allowance within the ATP that keeps players who have suffered long-term injuries from having to start again from the bottom upon their return.
Nadal’s intense training regimen revealed in latest video
Rafael Nadal has returned to gym as prepares ahead of 2024 comeback season. In a recent video, the Spanish star was seen exercising his legs and weight to make sure he remained fit for the game.
In an interview earlier this month with his uncle Toni Nadal on Onda Cero Spanish radio station, Toni explained he expects Rafael Nadal to be ready to play in Melbourne but recognized the challenges he will face. “My nephew intends to be cautious, which is the right approach. But I believe that for the Australian Open, my nephew should be in good condition to compete, all going well, because I have seen him train,” said the 62-year-old.
“Every day he is improving a bit. It’s true that it has been a very long-term injury, but well, that’s how it is. In high-level sports, in the end, it’s almost obligatory to play with pain, unfortunately, because you push your body to the limit, and pushing it to the limit is what leads to all these problems.”
“He is aware that the situation is complicated. Let’s say he manages to get to Australia, it won’t be easy to compete again with an added problem. He won’t be a top seed, and from the very beginning he could face a high-level player,” Toni added.
Hopefully, tennis fans and lovers will see Rafael Nadal back to his best next year but the main concern would be how the tennis community is going to be without the Big Three and how acceptable they will be with the youngsters.
