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IMAGE: Rafael Nadal has not performed a aggressive match since bowing out within the second spherical of this 12 months’s Australian Open. {Photograph}: Miquel Borras/Reuters
Australian Open chief Craig Tiley stated he stays assured Rafael Nadal could be at Melbourne Park in January regardless of the 37-year-old’s struggles with accidents over the past couple of years.
Nadal, who gained two of his 22 main singles titles in Melbourne, has not performed a aggressive match since bowing out within the second spherical of this 12 months’s version of the Grand Slam when hampered by a hip flexor drawback.
“Rafa has been coaching, I comply with him carefully, most likely every single day, as a result of he is an enormous drawcard for us,” Tiley instructed reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.
“He desires to play, he is clearly planning on taking part in. All of it is dependent upon how he pulls up.
“Hopefully within the subsequent week or the subsequent two weeks, we get some particular affirmation of that. I am sure Rafa will likely be right here as a result of he is not going to wish to miss the chance to repeat what he did a few years in the past.”
Within the 2022 closing towards Daniil Medvedev, Nadal grew to become the primary man within the Open period to come back again from two units right down to win the title.
Nadal has expressed a need to play yet another French Open and characterize Spain on the Paris Olympics subsequent 12 months earlier than retiring on the finish of his twenty third season on the tour.
His staff have but to disclose any plans for his return to the court docket, nevertheless, and Nadal stated final week in Barcelona that he’s uncertain in regards to the timeline.
“I’ve been in a position to prepare a bit bit extra, the progress appears fairly good,” he stated.
“I do not know after I will likely be again taking part in, for certain it’s nearer than the final time I spoke to the media. If you’d like me to let you know after I’m returning, I am not going to do it as a result of I do not know when it will be.”
Tiley was much less bullish than he has been previously in regards to the prospect of native drawcard Nick Kyrgios collaborating in his dwelling Grand Slam.
Kyrgios has struggled with knee and wrist accidents since pulling out of final 12 months’s Australian Open on the eleventh hour and has performed just one tour match for the reason that Japan Open in October 2022.
“We have now spoken to Nick, and he clearly desires to do the most effective he probably can to offer him the most effective likelihood to play in January,” Tiley stated of the 2022 Wimbledon finalist.
“Whether or not he is taking part in, whether or not he is doing one thing else, Nick will likely be right here in January and to get him to play will likely be nice. However we have to take it because it comes and he is obtained to ensure he takes care of his well being.”
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