“I am working and striving for starting the clay season” – Nadal
The Spaniard has not played since losing in the quarter-finals of Brisbane in early January
Rafael Nadal has said that he is doing his best so that he can be ready to start the clay court season, after injuries and setbacks have limited him to just one tournament since the 2023 Australian Open.
The Spaniard missed all of the 2023 season after the first Grand Slam of last year and then returned only in Brisbane this year. After going down in the quarter-finals there, he pulled out of this year’s Australian Open and then the Indian Wells Masters two weeks ago.
The 37-year-old is now working towards a comeback in time for his favourite stretch of the season but remains cautious.
I feel fine, I just haven’t managed to follow the schedule I would have liked to.
“I will do my best to try to start the clay season, which is my goal, I am working for that and striving for that goal, but I don’t dare to say anything about what might happen because lately it has been difficult for me to make predictions, unfortunately,” he said before the ceremony of the Second Rafael Nadal Foundation Awards as per Spanish media outlet Marca.
“I’ve not stopped training at any time. I’m trying all the time. I feel fine, I just haven’t managed to follow the schedule I would have liked to. Hopefully things can change, but as you can imagine I can’t say because I don’t know myself,” the 22-time Grand Slam champion commented.