Don't expect miracles, warns returning Nadal
Rafael Nadal will make his long-awaited return to tennis after an
agonising six-month knee injury battle in the Gulf this week, but has
warned he is not expecting any title-winning pyrotechnics.
The 26-year-old Spaniard joins world number one Novak Djokovic and
third-ranked Andy Murray in the six-player, three-day Mubadala
Championships ahead of his return to the ATP circuit at Doha from
December 31.
Nadal hasn't played since his shock second round exit to 100th-ranked
Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June, missing the Olympics, the US Open as
well as the Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic which his country
lost.
Although desperate to play again, Nadal is equally keen to play down
expectations.
"Abu Dhabi is a test. My goal is not this week, not Doha or the
Australian Open. My goal is to get fit, recover all my feelings. The
only thing I care about is the knee," the seven-time French Open
champion said.
"The idea is to go from there. I won't give much value to what will
happen next month or in two months. My real goal is to start in perfect
condition at Indian Wells and Miami and reach Monte-Carlo with good
feelings, to face the clay season in good condition." Nadal, an 11-time
Grand Slam title winner, has been plagued by knee injuries throughout
his career, a legacy of his all-action style.
But he shrugged off any fears that despite falling to number four in
the world rankings, he is no longer a threat to Djokovic, Murray and
world number two Roger Federer.
"I haven't forgotten how to play. I have played over 600 ATP matches
and I have spent two years without playing. My feeling is good. I won
Roland Garros and those emotions are still me," he said.
"I know I'm going to play in Abu Dhabi without the knee being great,
but I feel better. The doctors say it is fine and that is great news for
me. I still feel something, it's not perfect." Nadal insisted he is not
bitter over his recent experiences.
"I have accepted it as normal, as part of my career, part of my job.
It's another challenge," he told marca.com.
"All I can do is try. But people have to realise that when you're so
many months without competing you need time to progress." The tournament
in Abu Dhabi also features world number five David Ferrer of Spain,
world number six Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic and Serb Janko
Tipsarevic, the world number nine.
Nadal is expected to make his bow on Friday against either Olympic
and US Open champion Murray or Tipsarevic.
AFP |